Chilly Facts: How to make your fridge energy efficient
Can't afford a new refrigerator? Rather tinker with your old one than dump a new one on the landfill? There are plenty of ways to make your old fridge (and freezer) as efficient as possible.- Keep your fridge and freezer as full as possible. An empty fridge will cycle more frequently than a full one. If you live alone or are a light eater, simply fill jugs with tap water and keep them in the fridge.
- Allow foods to cool before putting them in the fridge. It takes more energy to cool hot food than cold.
- Try to keep all foods and liquids covered. Uncovered food and drink means more moisture, and the appliance has to work harder to defrost itself.
- Defrost the freezer regularly to remove frost build-up.
- Disengage your automatic ice maker and freeze ice cubes in trays instead.
- Clean the door gasket and replace the rubber sealing strip, preventing excess air from escaping
- If you have it, turn on the power-saving/summer-winter switch.
- Set the fridge temp between 35 F and 28 F, and your freezer between 10 F and 15 F, for optimal energy use. Don't rely on the fridge thermometer, though - go out and buy your own.
- Once a year, move your fridge out from the wall and vacuum the condenser coils underneath, which will help the fridge to transport waste heat more quickly, resulting in shorter cycles.
- Make sure your fridge is as far from the oven as possible. It will have to work harder if it's next to a heat-producing appliance.
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