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Defrost your freezer. For manual defrost freezers, don't let ice build up more than 1/4 in. When this happens, the efficiency of the freezer drops significantly. |
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Keep your refrigerator and freezer away from heat. Try to locate your freezer in a cooler part of the house. Make sure you keep it out of direct sunlight and away from appliances that generate heat like ovens and water heaters. |
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Close the refrigerator door. Opening the refrigerator door accounts for between $10-$20 of a typical family's electricity bill each year based on 40-60 openings per day. |
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Inspect refrigerator door seals. Check the door seals on your refrigerator by closing the door on a dollar bill. If you can easily pull the dollar out then you would probably benefit by replacing the seal. The right seal for your refrigerator can be difficult to find, but you might try a refrigeration parts store. |
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Keep the refrigerator level. If it is not level the door might not close fully. |
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Keep refrigerator foods covered. Keep foods covered to prevent moisture build-up. Your refrigerator has to work harder if the air inside is humid. |
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Reduce the load. Refrigerators operate most efficiently when full but not overloaded. |
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Don't put hot food in the refrigerator. Allow leftovers to cool before putting in the refrigerator. |
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Give your refrigerator some space. Allow at least one inch of space on each side of the refrigerator for good circulation. Poor circulation can increase energy consumption by 10%. |
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Turn off moisture control when not needed. If your refrigerator has a moisture control switch ('anti sweat' heater) you can generally safely turn it off on all but the hottest days (and even then if you have central air), and reduce the energy cost of your refrigerator by about 10%. |
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Turn off spare refrigerators. An older second refrigerator consumes a significant amount of energy. It could be costing you over $200 per year! Plug it in only when needed. |
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Keep refrigerators in a cool spot. A five degree difference in air temperature can have a 20% impact on the energy consumption of your refrigerator. Keep spare refrigerators in the coolest part of the house. |
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Fill your freezer. Freezers operate most efficiently when full, and in the event of a power outage foods will stay frozen longer. |
