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Operation and maintenance tips for refrigerators
Choose an energy-saving setting.
Set your refrigerator thermostat to 37 to 40 degrees; setting it lower just wastes energy. If you notice your milk starting to freeze or ice build-up on food packaging, those are obvious signs that the temperature is set too low.
Keep it full.
Full refrigerators run more efficiently. To fill space, you can fill empty milk jugs with water and place in the refrigerator.
Close the door.
Leaving the refrigerator door open longer than necessary wastes energy.
Defrost it when needed.
If you don’t have a frost-free model, defrost the freezer before frost gets to 1/4 inch.
Check the gaskets.
Clean door gaskets regularly and make sure they seal tightly. Try this test: Close the refrigerator door on a dollar bill, and then pull on the dollar. If it slides out easily, then the seal isn’t tight. You might want to replace it. Find instructions on how to replace a gasket on the Reader’s Digest website. Or if it’s a pre-1994 model, consider replacing it.
Allow about two inches of air space around your refrigerator.
This helps it run most efficiently. Be aware that a refrigerator has to work harder if it’s in direct sunlight or right next to your stove or dishwasher (good to keep in mind if you’re planning a remodel).
Take notice if your refrigerator motor is running excessively.
That could be a sign that it’s no longer operating efficiently.
Turn off before leaving town.
If you’re leaving on an extended trip of a month or more, you might want to empty, clean and unplug your refrigerator to save energy. Prop the door open to prevent odors.
Recycle the second refrigerator.
If you keep a second refrigerator to store extra beverages, it’s probably wasting a lot more energy than you realize. That’s because many backup refrigerators are older castoffs. Depending on your backup refrigerator’s size, age and location (like a hot garage, back porch or storage shed), it’s likely costing you $100 to $200 a year or more to operate. Maybe it’s time to upgrade your main refrigerator; with a new ENERGY STAR® refrigerator, you might be able to get a bigger model that actually uses less energy.
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Shop for energy savings
Replace your old refrigerator.
Consider replacing your refrigerator if yours is pre-1994. Today’s refrigerators are much more energy-efficient because they have high-efficiency compressors, improved insulation and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms. Recycle your old refrigerator and get cash back from Energy Trust of Oregon. They will even pick it up for free!
Choose an ENERGY STAR refrigerator.
They use at least 20 percent less electricity than the federal energy-efficiency standards and 40 percent less energy than a conventional model sold before 2001.
Earn cash back.
There are often incentives and tax credits on qualifying models.
Be wary of used refrigerators.
Think you’ll save money by buying a used refrigerator? Think again. If the model is more than a few years old, you’ll end up spending more money on energy, month after month, outweighing any up-front savings.
Choose a more efficient style.
Side-by-side refrigerator/freezers generally use more energy than freezer-on-top or freezer-on-bottom configurations.
Water and ice can cost you more.
You might like the convenience of a through-the-door water and ice feature, but it can increase refrigerator energy use by 20 percent.
Buy the right size for your needs.
If you buy a bigger refrigerator than you really need, you’re just wasting energy.
See our appliance shopping guide for more information.
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