Refrigerator Upkeep Pays Nice Dividends

Cars aren’t the only things that need periodic maintenance. Your home appliances also need a few minutes of attention occasionally to keep them operating at peak efficiency. A poorly maintained home appliance won’t leave you stranded by the roadside like a car could, but, like a car, it will cost more to run and fail sooner than an appliance with proper upkeep.

Fortunately, basic appliance maintenance is easy to do yourself. A good place to start is with the refrigerator, which in most homes consumes more energy than any other appliance. (Space heating and water heating use the most energy in the house.) Here are some actions you can take to improve its energy efficiency:

* Begin by checking the unit’s temperature. It should be 37 degrees to 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the main compartment, and about zero degrees to 5 degrees F in the freezer. If your refrigerator is set just 10 degrees colder than these recommendations, it’s working too hard and consuming too much electricity. It could be using up to 25% more electricity than necessary, according to the book “Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.”

* Check to see if your refrigerator has an “energy saver” switch inside. This controls a heater built into the unit’s walls that limits the amount of moisture on the outer walls of the appliance. Unless you have experienced condensation on the outside of your refrigerator, you can leave the switch in the energy-saving position.

* Make sure the seals around both doors are in good shape. It’s time for them to be replaced if they appear to be cracked, or if you can feel cool air escaping past them. The expense of a new seal will be quickly offset by lower operating costs.

* Defrost your freezer when frost buildup is a quarter-inch or more. Any more buildup than that will reduce energy efficiency dramatically. Regular defrosting will keep the unit’s compressor from working too hard (short cycling), while making room for items you can actually eat.

* Inspect the condenser coils, usually located on the back of refrigerator. These tend to attract a coating of dirt and dust, which inhibits the coils’ ability to cool the refrigerator. If yours need cleaning (most do every four to six months), unplug the refrigerator and brush or vacuum them, taking care not to bend or break the thin tubes.

* Don’t risk your health in the quest to save energy. Cooling foods to room temperature before refrigerating provides minimal savings and can invite the bacteria that cause food-borne illness. Washington State University’s Cooperative Extension Service suggests that foods be refrigerated immediately after meals, and divided among smaller containers, if necessary, to encourage faster cooling.

The owner’s manual that came with your refrigerator can provide more information about what you can do to keep your unit running as efficiently, and as long, as possible.

Prepared by the Education and Information Network of the Washington State Energy Office.