Cool ideas for running your fridge
Appliances account for about 20 percent of your household’s energy consumption, with refrigerators among the top energy-users. But the following tips can help you put the chill on the cost of operating your refrigerator:
If shopping for a refrigerator, look for one with automatic moisture control. Models with this feature have been engineered to prevent moisture accumulation on the cabinet exterior without the addition of a heater. This is not the same thing as an "anti-sweat" heater. Also, models with an anti-sweat heater will consume 5 to 10 percent more energy than models without this feature
If your refrigerator or freezer is in the sunlight or next to your stove or dishwasher, move it to a cooler location.
Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment and 5°F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0°F.
To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.
Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers; frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running. Don’t allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment or the seal may need replacement.
Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture, making the compressor work harder.
Let hot food cool before storing it.
Mark items in the freezer for quick identification so you don’t have to keep the freezer open as long looking for the item you want.
Both the freezer and the refrigerator work more efficiently when relatively full. Items in the refrigerator should be spaced a little to allow air to circulate around them. If your freezer isn’t full, fill plastic containers with water and freeze them. When no longer needed, you can break the ice in them for use.
Move your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum its condenser coils once a year unless you have a no-clean condenser model. Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods with clean coils.
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