Home Improvement : Old Refrigerators Cost Cold Cash
QUESTION: My old refrigerator/freezer has required several service calls lately and I should get a new one. Is there much difference in the energy-efficiency of refrigerators and what should I look for?
ANSWER: An old refrigerator/freezer can be the energy-hungry appliance in your home. There is a tremendous variation in the energy-efficiency of refrigerator/freezers. The electricity savings from replacing your old refrigerator/freezer with a new, efficient one can pay back its purchase price over its lifetime.
Energy-efficient refrigerator/freezers use smaller motors and compressors that run less. Therefore, they should be virtually maintenance-free and quiet. Also, since they have more insulation, food stays colder for longer periods during power outages.
The most efficient design has the freezer above the refrigerator. This design provides the most efficient flow of cold air throughout the unit. It also requires the least amount of door gasket length, an area of great energy loss.
A typical side-by-side refrigerator/freezer uses about 25% more electricity than a comparable freezer-on-top model. It is inefficient and difficult to keep a tall vertical freezer cold enough, and there’s more door gasket area.
Select the smallest refrigerator/freezer that is an adequate size for your needs. A larger one loses more energy through its greater wall surface area. Also, a reasonably full refrigerator uses less electricity than a more-empty one.
A manual-defrost model is most energy-efficient. In order to automatically self defrost, electric heaters come on inside your refrigerator and freezer several times a day to melt the frost. In addition to using electricity for the heaters, the compressor must run longer to cool it down again.
A model with separate temperature controls for the refrigerator and freezer sections saves energy. Particularly, if you plan to keep frozen foods for extended periods, you can set the freezer section colder without needlessly lowering the temperature of the refrigerator section too.
Some new energy-efficient models have a small door within the large refrigerator door. You can put frequently used items there so you won’t have to open the large door as often. An exterior ice dispenser saves energy. This greatly reduces the loss of cold air and any frost buildup.
You should select a model that has an energy-saver switch. There are small heaters near the door gasket area to reduce sweating. This switch turns these heaters off when sweating isn’t a problem.
You can write to me for Utility Bills Update No. 267 showing model numbers of 100 of the highest-efficiency refrigerator/freezers from 12 to 28 cubic feet, capacities, and estimated annual electric operating costs for each. Please include $1 and a self-addressed business-sized envelope. Send your requests to James Dulley, c/o Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.
Leveling Insulation in Attic Good Idea
Q: I looked up in my attic and the blown-in insulation was high in some spots and low in others. Is it worthwhile to take a rake and level it better?
A: It would probably be a good idea to inspect it closer. Leveling it will reduce the overall energy loss through your attic floor. Wear a breathing mask and goggles when handling the insulation. Also, make sure that the insulation did not settle over the soffit vents and block them.
Letters and questions to Dulley, a Cincinnati-based engineering consultant, may be sent to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.
