Do you know that your refrigerator is the appliance that gobbles up the largest amount of power in your home? It is. Your washing machine and dryer eat up a fair amount between them but your refrigerator tends to eat up even more. If you have noticed your energy bill going up then it is likely that your fridge is to blame.
The good news is that you do not have to sit back and watch your energy bill get larger and larger before your eyes. There are some very basic things you can do to improve the efficiency of how this major kitchen appliance works. Let us look at that now.
1- Use the Temperature Setting
All refrigerators have a temperature setting in them that can be adjusted according to the seasons. Your refrigerator setting need not be the same in the hotter months as it is in the colder months. If you have never paid much attention to this small element of your refrigerator then you are missing out on a means of saving energy and lowering your power bill. The temperature should be higher in the summertime than it is in the wintertime. Most fridge settings are located near the front of the appliance and have numbers and read “Off”, “Normal” and “Coldest” (or something thereabouts). Get acquainted with your setting and alter it accordingly.
2- Automatic Defrost Vs. Manual Defrost Models
Most individuals prefer automatic defrost refrigerators because they are not as much work on account of the fact that they defrost on their own without needing you to do it for them. Automatic defrost fridges are often more expensive to purchase in the first place in relation to their manual defrost counterparts. The manual ones do tend to be more energy efficient as long as they are defrosted when they are supposed to be. Once the ice in the freezer has reached a thickness that is greater than one quarter of an inch then it is time to go through the defrosting process. If you allow the ice to get even thicker before you defrost then this will reduce the level of energy efficiency so it is important to keep abreast of when defrosting has become necessary.
3- Defrosting Your Food
If you wish to defrost some food that you have in the freezer then take it out of the freezer and place it on the top shelf of your refrigerator the night before you plan to use it. This helps to cool your refrigerator down and it minimizes energy consumption. As well, defrosting food on the countertop or in your drain pan is not recommended because of the potential for the growth of bacteria.
4- Vacuum the Fridge’s Coils
In order for your refrigerator to function at its highest level and to offer maximum energy efficiency it needs to be free of dirt, dust, cobwebs and any type of debris. There are coils at the back of your fridge that need to be kept clean. Vacuum them at least every six months. This will improve the work of the refrigerator tremendously. At the same time you should also make a mental note to yourself to inspect the door gasket. What you are looking for specifically is that the seal on it is intact and is not broken or damaged in any way. If it does need to be fixed or replaced then do that right away. This will have an effect on the amount of money that you paying on your power bill.
5- Energy Saver Switch
If you have a refrigerator that comes with an energy saver switch (also sometime referred to as an anti-sweat switch) then use it during the summer but make sure you leave it off during the cold winter months. Do read and familiarize yourself with the instructions for your refrigerator. It is always best to do this when your fridge is brand new in your home.
