Posted on January 04 2016
While your refrigerator may not use as much energy as your air conditioner, it can still put a dent in your electricity bills. According to The California Energy Commission, a refrigerator consumes 13.7 percent of a household's energy costs. By making a few simple changes, however, you can reduce the amount of energy your refrigerator uses and extend its life. Here is some advice on how to make your refrigerator more efficient:
Cover food up
Putting food in your refrigerator without properly covering it will not only lead to spoilage - it can also decrease your refrigerator's efficiency. When food isn't covered, it can leak moisture and force your refrigerator to work harder to get rid of it. Make sure to put food in FoodVacBags vacuum sealer bags before placing it in the refrigerator.
Check the door seal
If your refrigerator's door seal isn't tight enough, cool air can easily escape and run up your energy bills. According to Green Living Ideas, an easy way to test the seal is to put a dollar bill in the refrigerator door and gently pull on it. If the dollar comes out easily, it's time to replace the seal.
Put water jugs in empty spaces
If your refrigerator isn't completely full, consider putting water jugs in the empty spaces. According to the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, doing this will prevent your refrigerator from working too hard to keep the empty spots cool. When you open up your refrigerator, warm air won't have any room to come inside and take over the cold air.
Vacuum behind the refrigerator
Vacuuming behind your refrigerator is probably the last thing you want to do, but it can help improve the appliance's efficiency. All the dust and dirt that gets caught behind your refrigerator over time can accumulate in the condenser coils, which can prevent the refrigerator from running efficiently. After you pull the refrigerator away from the wall and unplug it, use the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove all the grime from the coils.
Keep clutter off the top of the refrigerator
If you're like a lot of homeowners, you're probably used to putting cereal, chips and other items on top of your refrigerator. However, according to Lowe's, having clutter on your refrigerator can trap heat inside the appliance and cause it to work harder to keep things cool.
Have any other energy-saving tips? Share them in the comments below!
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