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Energy Efficiency Tips for Your Refrigerator

It happens to the best of us; you go to pay your hydro bill and you see a larger number than you were expecting. Frustrating, but it happens. Fortunately, there are methods to keeping the cost of that bill down. Keep reading for tips on how to save energy with your refrigerator; these tips will not only help you save energy, but they will help your refrigerator work better, and keep you from costly repairs.

If you need a refrigerator repair in Ottawa, give Ottawa Pro Appliance repair a call. We are qualified to work on all major brands, and offer same-day service so you don’t have to wait to get your fridge fixed.

Tips

Temperature: According to experts, the best temperature range for food is between 34 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between this range will keep your food from going bad, but won’t freeze it; your freezer should be set to 0 degrees to keep food frozen. You should not lower the temperature than the recommended amount as it is unnecessary and wastes more energy.

Tools: A refrigerator thermometer is a handy tool that lets you monitor the temperature of your fridge and freezer. These are available at most department stores, and can tip you off if there is a problem with your refrigerator, such as the temperature keeps changing.

Defrost: If you fridge needs to be manually defrosted, make sure that you do it regularly. Frost and ice will build up over time and increase the amount of energy the fridge needs to keep the motor running.

Close the door: Remember when your Mom used to yell at you to shut the refrigerator door? You should listen to her. Standing with the door open lets out the cold air and lets warm air in, which can cause your food to spoil faster. When you leave the door open for long periods of time, the refrigerator will have to use more electricity to cool down. It doesn’t take much to change the interior temperature, so keep the door shut. Also, make sure that the doors are sealed shut and there are no gaps to let air in or out.

Allow food to cool: As mentioned before, it doesn’t take much to change the temperature of your refrigerator. Putting hot food inside the fridge can also temporarily change the temperature, making the fridge work harder to keep the air cold. Let hot food cool off first before storing it in the fridge.

Keep fridge full: This isn’t just so you have more snack options; a fully stocked fridge can actually retain cold temperatures better than an empty or half full one. If you’ve been too busy for a grocery run, but water-filled containers inside to keep the fridge full until you can go. The cold items will help the fridge stay at a cooler temperature, even with the door being opened.   

Don’t overfill: Overfilling is when you have too much in the fridge. It can be due to a number of things, such as too much food on the shelves or in the drawers, and can prevent fridge from keeping everything at the right temperature.While the fridge does need to be kept full to help keep the air colder, overfilling is not a good idea. This will interfere with circulation of the cold air inside the unit, making the fridge have to work harder to keep interior cold.  

Keep away from heat: Keep your fridge away from other heat sources, such as your dishwasher, oven, and even direct sunlight. Might sound far-fetched, but a 10 degree increase in the surrounding area can actually result in your fridge needing 20% higher energy consumption. If possible, keep the fridge away from these things.

If your fridge needs a repair, don’t hesitate to call Ottawa Pro Appliance Repair at 1-(888) 508-8270!

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