In order for an energy efficient refrigerator to reduce household electricity costs, its correct use is a key factor in electricity consumption. In many cases, this household appliance can be the main reason for high electricity bills. This is mainly because almost all households have at least one refrigerator and it runs 24 hours a day. However, this does not mean that you cannot reduce the amount of electricity required for its operation. Here is some useful information and tips to help you.
How to best operate an energy-efficient refrigerator
You may need to leave your fridge and freezer running all the time. Keep food fresh and at the same timeto save energy, can provide a helpful boost to strained budgets. Therefore, make sure that an energy efficient refrigerator can use as little energy as possible. For example, you can fill the freezer compartment with food so that it can work optimally. The freezer works most efficiently when it is packed as full as possible. You can also add ice cubes for cold drinks or ice packs for summer picnics to an empty freezer space. Additionally, full freezers keep food frozen longer if the power goes out.
However, unlike the freezer, the refrigerator needs air circulation to keep food at a consistent temperature. So if you pack your device too tightly, some foods will become too cold and may even freeze, while others won't stay cold enough for proper storage. Therefore, let the refrigerator breathe to keep food fresher for longer. Try to keep the interior about 2/3 full without overfilling the refrigerator.
An energy efficient refrigerator, despite its energy rating, can use more electricity to replace all the cold air that blows out every time someone opens the door. If you keep the fridge and freezer at least 2/3 full, only 1/3 or less of that air can escape. This is especially important if you or your family members open the doors frequently.
Match food to the right microclimate
Because hot air rises and cold air sinks, and because each refrigerator has its own unique weather pattern with cool breezes, you should be careful to assign foods to the proper indoor neighborhood. A cold spot near the cold air intake is a good home for meat or poultry, but will cause salads to freeze or spoil. To preserve such foods, keep products such as meat cool and do not place hot foods directly into them.
When you place food in your refrigerator or freezer, it should cool naturally first. The less work your fridge-freezer has to do, the less energy it uses. Do not leave the door open when taking out food. The longer it is open, the more cold air escapes and the more energy is required to lower the temperature again after the door is closed.
Keep an eye on temperature and ice formation
A thermometer can be a key if you want an energy-efficient refrigerator to save electricity. Temperatures that are too low waste energy, while temperatures that are too high can cause food to spoil prematurely. So make sure the temperature is not set too low or too high. Refrigerators should not be set below 5°C, while freezers work optimally at -18°C.
Be especially careful when the seasons change. A temperature setting that works well for the winter months may need to be adjusted in hot weather. If you need to manually defrost your freezer, you should also ensure that you do so regularly to prevent frost buildup. The more ice it contains, the more energy the device uses. For example, if the ice inside is more than 1 cm thick, you will need to defrost the freezer.
Energy efficient refrigerator thanks to frozen food and ventilation
Use frozen foods to your advantage. When defrosting food from the freezer, you can place it in the refrigerator and defrost it overnight. This helps keep the interior of the device cool without consuming energy. Also make sure that there is enough space around your fridge-freezer for air circulation. Keep it away from external heat sources, including direct sunlight. If you store a lot of things on the top and sides of your home appliance, it will work harder to get rid of the hot air created by the cooling process. So keep the refrigerator clear and it will work more easily, which means you will also use less electricity.
Regular cleaning and care
Check the device's cooler regularly for dust. This is because the condenser coils do the hard work of producing cold air, but they cannot radiate heat properly if their surface is covered with dust or dirt. So if these are dusty, you can turn off the fridge-freezer and use a suitable brush or vacuum cleaner to clean the parts behind or under the fridge. Do this 2-3 times a year to keep the device clean. Additionally, clean coils cost less to operate, and because they cool the air faster, cleaning extends the life of your refrigerator.
Also make sure that the seals on the doors of your device are working properly. For example, if you have condensation on the outside of your fridge freezer, that's a sure sign that you need to replace the seals. Leaking door seals are the main cause of energy loss in refrigerators and freezers. Accordingly, improperly sealed doors allow cold air to escape, causing the appliance to work harder and compromising food quality. You can check door seals using the “paper” test. To do this, close the refrigerator or freezer door on a piece of paper. A well-sealed door should be able to hold the paper in place. If the blade falls out or slides around easily, it's time to clean or replace the seals.
