Electric Bill Too High? Try Defrosting Your Freezer

Energy costs are on the rise, rising an estimated 5% last year. With inflation continuing to drive utility costs higher, evaluating your energy usage is one crucial way to cut back on expenses — and one of the biggest energy sucks in your house is your refrigerator. Fridges are designed to work around the clock to keep food fresh, but your appliance may not operate efficiently. Here are six fridge maintenance tasks you can do right now for a lower electric bill.

Replace Rubber Seals

If you notice warm food or condensation on items in your fridge, your gaskets may need to be replaced. The rubber seals running along the inside of your refrigerator door wear down over time, causing your appliance to waste extra energy trying to keep temperatures low. Place a piece of paper along the door frame to check your seals and close it. If you can easily slide the paper back and forth, it’s time for new seals.

Clean the Coils

Refrigerator coils are responsible for cooling the whole appliance — and cleaning them can make your fridge 30% more energy efficient. These coils are often found under a panel at the back of the fridge. To clean them, unplug your refrigerator and vacuum the coils with a flat attachment to remove dust, or use brushes to clean fridge coils.

Defrost the Freezer

While many modern refrigerators have an automatic defrost feature, ice may still build up in your freezer, obstructing the cooling mechanism and making your fridge work harder than it needs to. If you notice a layer of ice more than a quarter-inch thick, there might be an issue with your automatic defrost. You can fix this by manually defrosting your fridge once a year. Surround your appliance with old towels, unplug it, open the doors, and let the ice completely melt. After you’re done, allow your fridge to return to the recommended temperature before returning your food items.

Adjust the Ambient Temperature

The ambient temperature of your home may be forcing your refrigerator to work harder than necessary. Any degree above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will cause your refrigerator to use roughly 2.5% more energy to keep items cool. That means if your kitchen is 90 degrees Fahrenheit at room temperature, your refrigerator uses 50% more energy than needed. Keep your home close to the expert-recommended temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit for best results.

Encourage Proper Air Circulation

If the food in your refrigerator is too densely packed, it can strain the cooling system and cause it to overheat. Space each item in your fridge far enough apart, and set your fridge to the optimal temperature range (between 35 degrees and 38 degrees Fahrenheit) for better air circulation and energy efficiency.

Practice Good Habits

Leaving the refrigerator door open, opening it too frequently, and placing hot food in the fridge are bad habits that can increase your electrical bill. Practice better habits — make sure the door is shut when you close the refrigerator, limit how often you leave it open, and allow food to cool before putting it away.

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