How to save energy when using your fridge

Open fridge door with food inside

With energy bills rising across the country, now is a better time than ever to find ways to save energy with your home appliances. As fridges are always running and therefore tend to use more energy than any other appliances in your home, they are a great place to start. Here are some tips and hacks to help you save energy when using your fridge.

Check the position

Man moving a fridge to make space

The position and placement of your fridge can have a huge impact on its energy use. Make sure your fridge isn’t in direct sunlight, otherwise it will have to work extra hard to stay cool. If possible, also make sure your fridge has some space around the sides or back. This will make sure the air vents can vent properly, further preventing your fridge from working too hard and using too much energy to maintain a cool temperature.

Clean the back

Condenser coils on the back of a fridge

Remember to regularly clean the condenser coils at the back of your fridge. If these coils get too dusty, not only will it increase your fridge’s energy use but it will also put it more at risk of faults. Simply removing dust with a vacuum cleaner or a dry brush every now and then will be enough to keep your condenser coils safe and in working order.

Keep the temperature right

Fridge thermometer on fridge shelf

Make sure your fridge is set at the right temperature for optimal energy usage. For the best efficiency, your fridge should be set to 5 degrees Celsius and your freezer should be set to -18 degrees Celsius. If your appliance doesn’t provide degree readings, setting the temperature dial in the fridge to roughly the medium setting will usually provide the most efficient results.

Fill it correctly

Food containers inside fridge

Another way to prevent your fridge from wasting energy and struggling to maintain the correct temperature is to fill it efficiently. If you overfill your fridge, it will have to work extra hard to keep all the items cool. However, if you underfill your fridge, it will have to work harder to keep all the extra open space cool too. Ideally, a fridge should be kept at around three-quarters full to allow cold air to circulate efficiently.

Add some water

Bottles of water in open fridge

However, food in your fridge gets eaten and you can’t always keep it at exactly the optimal three-quarters full. Therefore, rather than constantly going out to purchase new food, you can fill the extra space with bottles of water. The most efficient places to store bottles of water are the top shelf, in the door and at the back of the fridge. This will help you keep your appliance filled to the most energy-efficient amount.

Hopefully, with these tips, you will now be able to use your fridge in a more energy-efficient manner. For some more energy-saving tips beyond your fridge, don’t miss our blog post on how to save energy and money around your home.

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