How to Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Refrigerator
Location
Is your refrigerator located near a dishwasher, oven, heater vent, or near a sunny window? The heat generated from these sources can cause a refrigerator to work overtime. You can improve your energy efficiency by moving the refrigerator away from these heat sources and into a cooler part of the kitchen.
Regular defrosting and vacuuming
My old 1950 GE needs to be defrosted once a month to keep working at peak efficiency. For older styles of refrigerators, a good rule of thumb to follow is to defrost the freezer unit when there is more than a 1/2 inch of ice build up.
After the freezer compartment has been defrosted and wiped dry, the refrigerator should be pulled away from the wall and the coils vacuumed of dust and cobwebs. Keeping the coils clean and dust free will improve the air circulation and lower energy use.
Proper air circulation
The air that is warmed up by the condenser coils needs a place to escape. Instead of pushing the refrigerator up against the wall, it's best to place it a few inches away from the wall instead. If your refrigerator fits tightly into a cabinet, avoid using the top of the refrigerator as storage for place mats, boxes of cereal, or other items. These items can block the escape of the hot air that has been generated from the condenser.
Working seals
The seal is the rubber liner that fits around the edge of the refrigerator door and keeps the cold air inside where it belongs. The seal should be free of cracks and must fit snugly against the refrigerator box when the door is closed. Loose or broken seals means the loss of cool air and a condenser that is running full time to keep food at the proper temperature.
Keep the door shut
Even worse than a broken seal is the constant opening and shutting of the refrigerator door. To lower your energy use, you may have to retrain both you and your family to open the refrigerator only during meal preparation and snack times.
While the best solution to lowering your energy consumption is by replacing that old refrigerator with a new model, these easy tips will help you reduce your energy use in the meantime.
Published by C. Jeanne Heida - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Jeanne is a small business owner with 25 years experience in the real estate industry. A consistent Y!CN Top 100 writer, her articles can be found at Y!Finance, Shine, Your Wisdom, DEX, and the Scripps Net... View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentI came back to reread this one. Last night, we tried to get to the coils to get the dust off but even my long attachment as well as a duster and other things would not reach. Short of tipping the fridge, how do I get that dust and dirt out of the coils? I'm really looking for answers from anyone because the coils are right UNDER the fridge. I can get off the front panel under the fridge but not reach the coils with anything I have. I even tried a blow dryer to blow that dust away. Next step (gulp)...the leaf vac or blower? My husband says...no.
I'm betting the frig in here is at least 15 years old. It's awful!
Fantastic tips!! Thank you for sharing this very helpful info.
What great tips!
Excellent information.
Really great tips here.
What good tips! You are awesome at coming up with great article ideas that are so useful.
good tips. we all need more energy..lol
I could increase my fridge's efficiency if I could somehow remember what it was that I wanted when I opened the fridge... that would reduce my "standing in front of the open fridge in a stupor" energy costs significantly.
Good tips, the fridge must be the hardest working item in the house.