Appliances

Three ways to reduce the cost of powering your refrigerator or freezer

Refrigerators require a lot of energy to function. Here are three ways to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption and stop costly repairs.

1. Replace the gasket (rubber door seal).

A gasket may be the rubber seal that outlines your refrigerator and freezer doors. It's an often overlooked part that has the critical job of sealing out warm air.

Over time, gaskets wear and no longer seal the way in which refrigerators/freezers need it to do. In fact, it's common for gaskets to weaken, loosen and tear in just a few years. When this happens, warm air enters the inside of the refrigerator or freezer. It has to work harder to remove the heat. Which means more energy consumed and higher bills for you.

Fortunately, gaskets are inexpensive and easy to replace.

Find the gasket specifically for your refrigerator model by entering it here.

2. Clean from the condenser coils.

Condenser coils are responsible for removing heat from refrigerators and freezers. They're the big, radiator-like coils located at the back or underneath the unit. When dust and dirt hang on to the coils, it's harder for the refrigerator to remove heat. The result is increased energy consumption. Without regular cleaning, this may lead to problems and costly repairs. Make use of this long-handled bristle brush and a vacuum to easily and efficiently clean from the coils.

3. Know what you want before you open your refrigerator/freezer.

Yes, your mother was right. The more you keep your refrigerator or freezer doors open, the greater money you’re spending. Any time you open its doors, your refrigerator or freezer needs to use more energy to remove the heat and return the inside to its set temperatures.

You’ll conserve energy by looking into making a decision on what’s for supper before opening the doors.

Some people report a noticeable dip in their monthly energy bills after completing these steps. Monitor alterations in your refrigerator's energy consumption by plugging within an energy usage meter.

Anything you’d add to this list? Please share in your comments ought to below!

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