Tune Up Your Fridge for Performance and Savings

With summer in full swing, you’re probably using your refrigerator a lot; eating more cold foods, hosting barbecues, and grabbing a glass of ice water from the convenient dispenser in the fridge door. Up to 30 percent of energy and gas costs come from the kitchen, with the fridge making up a significant portion of those costs, so it’s worth doing a quick check to make sure it’s running as efficiently as possible. 

Note, if your refrigerator is more than 15 years old, it might be time to think about replacing it. Appliances tend to grow less efficient as they age. Plus, newer appliances will have the latest energy efficiency technology, making them less expensive to run compared to their older counterparts. 

Check the parts, knobs, and switches

Grab your refrigerator manual (Manuals Online probably has yours) and get ready for a quick checkup. By making sure all the parts of the fridge are in working order, you’ll maximize efficiency while minimizing energy output. The result? A lower energy bill, more money in your pocket, and a longer life for your appliance.

Seals around the doors

Start by looking at the rubber seals. Do they seal completely when you close the door? Do they have any cracks? What about discoloration? Damaged seals are letting cold out all the time, even when the door is closed. This means your refrigerator has to work harder, and you may notice the food in the door doesn’t feel as cold as the food on the shelves. You can order replacement seals from your manufacturer; install them yourself if you’re handy. This video could be helpful.

Temperature settings

Next up, use a meat thermometer to make sure your temperatures are set just right. Optimal temp for the fridge is 37°F, the freezer’s is 2°F. Since older refrigerators don’t show you the actual temperature, it’s important to make sure you aren’t over-cooling your food! If you notice items in your fridge are frequently a little bit frozen, that’s a good hint that it’s time to double-check those temperature settings. 

TIP: Setting the refrigerator or freezer temps too low makes your appliance work overtime, costing you money and potentially damaging your food.

Power save switch

Here’s a more specialized trick: check your power saver switch. Most refrigerators have a small heater in the back, in addition to the cooling elements. This heater is designed to prevent condensation from accumulating on the outside of the fridge in the hotter months, but with modern air conditioning, this feature typically isn’t needed. Check the manual for your fridge to determine the location of the switch, and try turning it off. If you don’t notice any condensation after 24 hours, you can leave that feature switched off and save yourself some money!

Managing Food Storage in the Refrigerator (WEB EXCLUSIVE!)

You may not think about how you put food away, but it can actually have a big impact on the energy needed by your fridge and freezer.

Don’t put away hot food

We know it’s tempting to throw the leftovers right into the fridge as you’re plating up dinner, but making the refrigerator do all the work to cool that hot food will cost you! Instead, wait until your freshly-cooked meal has cooled off a bit before putting it away. You don’t want to wait too long and allow time for bacteria to build up, but letting leftovers come to room temperature will give your fridge a break. Plus, putting hot foods into the refrigerator can heat up the other food, making it doubly difficult for the fridge to keep everything cool, but easier for bacteria to grow.

Choose your containers wisely

Always make sure your containers have a cover of some sort when you put them in the fridge. Skipping the covers means more energy will go directly into cooling that particular food, when that really isn’t needed.

Organization is key

The more organized you keep your refrigerator and freezer, the better. This is because when you stand with the door open, the cold air escapes. The longer the door is open, the more air the longer it takes the refrigerator - and the food in it - to get down to temp again. So keep things organized, use labels, and only open the door as long as you have to.

Bonus tip: If you can, locate your fridge as far away from the stove, oven, dishwasher, and direct sunlight as possible. These appliances put off heat, and will kick your fridge into overdrive to compensate. That being said, we know it can be tough or even impossible to relocate your fridge, so take this one as a “nice-to-have.”

Replacing your fridge

If your fridge is older than 15 years, consider replacing it with one that conforms to modern performance and efficiency standards. There are several factors to consider when choosing.

• Size: Think about the size of your current fridge. Do you have too much, too little, or just enough space? A larger fridge is going to cost more to run, since it has more space to cool. Try and get the smallest fridge you feel your family can realistically get away with. 
• Model type: There are three main model styles to consider. In order of least to most efficient, they are: side-by-side, freezer on the bottom, and freezer on top. 
• ENERGY STAR certification: Always look for the ENERGY STAR certification. This indicates that the appliance meets the current energy efficiency standards, meaning it will cost you less to run over the long haul.

TIP: Though convenient, extra features like an ice maker or water dispenser will increase the energy usage of your refrigerator. Same goes for “smart” refrigerators. Always consider whether these features are worth the extra cost.

The bottom line: Take steps to make your fridge run more efficiently and save money. If your refrigerator is getting up there in age, consider replacing it using the guidelines we’ve laid out. Happy summer!