12 Useful Refrigerator Hacks You Need To Know
By LocalXR
Refrigerators are long-living appliances, and therefore, it’s vital that you maintain your refrigerator well.
Here are 12 useful refrigerator hacks you need to know to save energy and increase your refrigerator’s longevity.
1. Clean condenser coils.
Clean or dust your condenser coils once every six months. Condenser coils remove heat from your refrigerator and freezer. Condenser coils are at the back of your refrigerator, and they use more energy when they are dusty or filled with debris.
2. Cool foods outside.
If you want to store freshly cooked food in the refrigerator, let it cool to room temperature before you refrigerate it. Your refrigerator requires more energy to cool down warm foods.
3. Seal your doors.
Make sure that your refrigerator’s doors are well sealed. Otherwise, your refrigerator might lose most of its cooling and increase power consumption. You can try closing the doors with a dollar bill between the gasket (the rubber that lines your refrigerator’s doors). If you can pull out the dollar without effort, then you may have to replace your gasket.
4. Defrost
Frost buildup in your refrigerator increases energy usage and reduces efficiency. Also, ice absorbs unpleasant odors and forms solid blocks of ice in your freezer. To keep your refrigerator odor-free, defrost and replace your ice trays every month.
5. Say no to bleach
Use soft detergents and water to clean the gaskets in your refrigerator and freezer. Detergents clean your gaskets better than bleach and are also safer to handle. Clean gaskets keep your refrigerator’s doors well sealed and energy-efficient.
6. Get a star
“Newer refrigerators with EnergyStar labels are 15% more energy-efficient than current models.”
When you’re buying a refrigerator, look for the EnergyStar label. Newer refrigerators with EnergyStar labels are 15% more energy-efficient than current federal standards, 20% more energy-efficient than other unqualified models, and 40% more efficient than the conventional models.
7. Stock up
Always keep your refrigerator full. But be careful not to overstock your refrigerator as well. When your refrigerator’s compartments are full, your refrigerator maintains its cooling for a longer period and is prone to less fluctuating temperatures.
8. Set the right temperature
Set your refrigerator to the right temperature to ensure your fridge doesn’t use more energy than it needs. The optimum temperature is between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator and 0 degrees for the freezer.
9. Go small
Choose a refrigerator that fits your needs. If you are a small family with basic needs, opt for a smaller refrigerator, rather than a fancy double-door unit. Even small things make a difference. A refrigerator without an ice maker is more energy-efficient than a refrigerator with an ice-maker.
10. Get level
If your refrigerator isn’t in level with the floor, the doors won’t close properly. It adds extra strain to the motors and condensation in your unit, resulting is energy wastage.
11. Keep away from heat
Your refrigerator uses more energy when you place it near a heat source.
“A small increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit will lead to a 20% increase in energy consumption.”
Therefore, keep your refrigerator away from heat sources like direct sunlight, microwaves, ovens, and dishwashers.
12. Embrace glass
Compared to other plastic and metal materials, glass conducts and holds cold better and longer. Store your food in glass containers so that they cool faster. If your refrigerator can retain the cold for a longer period, it produces less cold and remains energy-efficient.
Keep these 12 hacks in mind to increase your refrigerator’s cooling prowess and have it running longer.