Fridges And Freezers

After the central heating fridges and freezers are often the largest electricity users in the home. Following the tips below can make a big difference to the amount of electricity fridges and freezers use. For some costed examples of the electricity and money that can be saved with fridges and freezers take a look at the electricity cost saving example pages. When buying a fridge or freezer never be afraid to ask for details about power consumption, don't be be dazzled by the energy rating which may be misleading.

Fridge/Freezer Tips To Save Electricity

Open fridge and freezer doors for as short a time as possible
Set the fridge temperature to 4 degrees centigrade
Set the freezer temperature to -18 degrees centigrade
Defrost the fridge and freezer regularly
Keep the freezer full - fill unused space with sealed plastic boxes, leave air gaps for air to circulate
Don't put warm food in the fridge, let it cool first.
Defrost frozen food in the fridge
Keep the door seals clean and free from ice, make sure doors shut properly
Keep the radiator on the back clean and free from dust
Make sure fridges and freezers are well ventilated at the rear
Make sure the fridge/freezer isn't in direct sunlight
Keep fridges and freezers away from ovens and radiators

Fridge/Freezer Door Seals

If the doors don't close properly energy is being wasted, usually this is caused by a build up of ice, regular defrosting helps managed this. To check the door seal use a piece of paper and test that it is gripped firmly all the way round the door. If not and the seals are are clean a replacement seal may be required.

Fridge/Freezer Temperature

There is no point in setting the temperature of fridges and freezers too low - you just use more electricity with no benefits. The optimum temperature for fridges is 6 degrees Centigrade and for freezers -18 degrees Centigrade.

Keeping Fridges and Freezers Clean And Ventilated

Keeping the radiator at the back of the fridge clean and free from dust can save as much as 30% of the energy used by fridges and freezers. Defrosting regularly to remove the buildup of ice also improves the efficiency of fridges and freezers.

Positioning Fridges and Freezers

For optimum efficiency fridges and freezers need to be in a well ventilated space away from sources of heat such as ovens and out of direct sunlight. If a fridge or freezer is fitted beneath a work surface and enclosed on three sides it will be worth looking at extra ventilation to improve the cooling efficiency. It may seem like a good idea to put the fridge or freezer in an unheated garage but remember the operating temperature range may be exceeding - in practice I haven't come across any problems doing this but be cautious as technically you could invalidate the warranty..

Energy Ratings For Fridge And Freezers

New models of upright freezer are now labeled A+++, A++, A+ or A, based on their energy consumption, with an A+++ rating the most efficient. Chest freezers are an exception and are rated down to C because they tend to be bigger and require more energy to run than a standard freezer. The energy rating is determined using an index which links the energy consumption of the appliance against the internal volume of the compartments. This means two different-sized fridges can still carry the same energy rating. In December 2010, a new energy label for fridges including an A+++ efficiency rating was rolled out.