Perhaps the refrigerator is your household's most hardworking appliance, and with them consuming energy daily, homeowners should consider energy saving methods at home.
Compact Appliance writes that homeowners often fail to consider the consumption properties of their fridges as they are more focused on efficiency and comfort.
But, did you know that you can have an efficient, comfortable, and energy-saving refrigerator without spending and compromising your appliance?
Refrigerators eat up a lot of energy, so to lower your costs, here are five quick, easy, and practical tips you can follow:
1. Out With The Old And In With The New
A refrigerator unit can last up to 15 years, but older refrigerator units may cost more to maintain than buying a new one.
Not only does the cost of repair outweigh the replacement cost, but the life expectancy of a new one is longer over time, Compact Appliance writes.
However, the most important thing to consider is that buying a new refrigerator can give you the opportunity to get a cost-saving, energy-efficient one.
Older refrigerators can eat up a lot of electricity, which is why it is wise to invest in a new energy-efficient one not only for your pockets, but also for the environment.
Most importantly, on buying a new fridge, you should always read the information label, which can give a clear indication of its energy efficiency.
2. Keep Your Temps Rights
The optimum refrigerator temperature is up to five degrees Celsius only, but whenever the temperature goes lower than this, 6% more electricity is consumed.
Nopec writes that whenever the refrigerator's temperature goes lower and lower, it uses more and more electricity to maintain the lower temperature.
An accurate temperature setting can surely save you some money directly.
3. Defrost and Clean
The build up frost inside the refrigerator can accumulate on the coils inside the unit, making it more difficult for the appliance to maintain the right temperature.
Liebherr writes that the thickening of ice forms an insulation in the freezer that can cause a large waste of valuable energy and cost a lot of money.
Nopec also recommends that you brush down and vacuum the coils under your fridge if possible, and remove dust and dirt to reduce repairs, add energy efficiency, and extend its life.
4. Check Your Doors
It is also important to check the rubber seal on your refrigerator doors because it provides insulation, and prevents heat exchange between the outside and the inside of the fridge.
It is important to keep the refrigerator doors closed to reduce energy usage, and to make sure that the food inside will not get spoiled from the warm temperate that might come in.
You can also keep the refrigerator door closed to avoid the electric bill from going up, which is why it is advised that you make a decision on what you want to get before opening the fridge.
In limiting the times you open and close your refrigerator doors daily, you can conserve a great deal of money and electricity.
5. Move Your Fridge
Liebherr also emphasized on the importance of choosing where to put your fridge as keeping it next to the heat source and direct sunlight can impact the amount of energy it uses.
Make sure that the refrigerator has sufficient room for ventilation, and that the compressors do not have to work overtime every day.
If your kitchen permits, you should definitely find a clear and cool place for your fridge.
These are just some of the ways you can conserve energy and money through checking in on your refrigerators, but these easy steps can be a great start towards energy efficiency at home.
