Despite some of our best efforts to lower our electricity consumption, it can oftentimes be some of the major appliances within our home that are responsible for our high power bills. For example, while your refrigerator and freezer can keep your items cool and fresh, that doesn’t mean that it’s functioning optimally or consuming energy wisely. For many, dual fridges and freezers or individual products can be high energy consumers. If you’re aware that these items are using up a lot of electricity, here are some ways you can begin to reduce the energy use of your fridge and freezer.
1. Find a better power plan to offset costs.
If your fridge and freezer are partially to blame for your high power costs, it’s only rational to figure out ways to make sure that they consume less energy over the year. Before we dive into some of these recommendations, however, one of the best ways to lower your electric bill is to find energy providers that’ll charge you less and lower the cost of your monthly utilities. Of course, there are generally multiple electric suppliers to choose from in the energy market. Set aside some time to use a comparison tool like iSelect to find and compare various electricity providers near you so that you can find the best rates and ensure that you’re paying less moving forward.
2. Make sure that your fridge is properly organized.
Although most of us try to get the most out of our fridge space, overloading your fridge or freezer can actually make it work harder to keep your food cool. The key to lowering your energy use is to allow plenty of space between items so that cool air can flow through your items seamlessly. You should also aim to position your fridge so that it’s not blocked by counters or close to heat sources that will prevent it from functioning optimally. The more space available inside and outside of the appliance, the more efficiently it can run.
3. Perform regular maintenance.
Just like other appliances, refrigerators and freezers also need regular maintenance. This includes making sure that the condenser coils are clean, the temperature is set correctly, and the door seals aren’t letting any of the cool air out. It’s important to also conduct a regular cleanup on the exterior of your appliances so that there isn’t a ton of dust built up on the outside of the fridge and freezer. If all of these important things are taken care of, your fridge and freezer should run smoothly.
4. Consider replacing your fridge or freezer entirely.
Older appliances weren’t designed for energy efficiency, and older homes that have these appliances are known to deal with higher energy bills in order to achieve the same functions. This means that until you get a new fridge and freezer, you’ll continue to experience high charges on your energy bill. Whether you’ve already been Googling, “kitchen remodel tips” and are considering getting a kitchen renovation, or you want to upgrade to new appliances, use this information as an incentive to find a new fridge and freezer that meet energy-efficient standards. This will also help you lower your monthly electric rates.
When appliances are the cause of your high utility bills, it’s important to find out what the main problem is and how you can fix it. If your fridge and freezer are the culprits, use these four tips provided to learn more about what can be done to make sure that these items are using less energy over time.
