Good advice on fridges
Calculate the energy consumption of your fridge and use it energy efficiently.
4 good tips for fridges
- Buying
Check the price and quality before you buy.
These can vary enormously from appliance to appliance. Look for the Trust’s Energy Saving Label when you decide to buy, and be aware that the most energy efficient fridges are labelled A+ or A++.
Buy a fridge that gives you the option of digitally setting the temperature or one that has an electronic thermostat. This provides the most accurate temperature. If you buy a fridge with a built-in freezer, the fridge and the freezer section should both have a thermostat; otherwise the temperature will not be accurate.
- Location
A fridge should, preferably, stand in a cold environment whenever possible and not against a warm object or be located in direct sunlight. However, not all fridges can operate in temperatures under 18° C so ask your retailer before you buy.
Fridges must be able to discharge heat. This also applies to built-in fridges. Check the manual for minimum requirements in terms of ventilation gap.
- Use
The recommended temperature in a fridge is 3-5 °C. If you increase the temperature you will shorten the shelf-life of your food. 3-5 °C is a slightly lower temperature than that normally recommended. The reason for this is that the temperature in some fridges is not absolutely accurate and there is therefore a risk of the fridge being too warm at the 5 °C setting.
Check the temperature by measuring it in a glass of water placed in the middle of the fridge. If the temperature drops below 0 °C some food can be damaged as the fridge is too cold. Use the natural temperature differences inside the fridge; it is typically coldest at the bottom and the back, and warmest high up and in the door.
- Don’t let the door stay open for too long.
- Defrost food from the freezer in the fridge.
- Cool food down before you put it in the fridge.
- Care and maintenance
Where possible make sure that no dust accumulates on the back of the fridge. Replace worn door seals. Defrost the freezer if there is more than 5 mm of ice, because ice causes the energy consumption to rise.
Page last updated 06.10.2008