Steps to Reduce Your Refrigerator's Energy Cost

Properly maintaining your refrigerator will not only hlpe it to last longer, but it will help save energy as well. Check to make sure that the coils behind the refrigerator are all cleaned on a regular basis and free of dust. Keeping this clean allows for better airflow resulting in the compressor working less hard than if the coils were dirty. Another thing that you should do regularily is defrost the freezer. Frost buildup should never exceed one quarter of an inch as this will decrease the unit's energy efficiency. Making sure their is no air leakage is important as well. When cold air escapes, the compressor works harder to replace it. Perform the dollar bill test on your refrigerator door. Place a dollar bill between the door and the unit. If the bill slides out easily, air is leaking and the hinge needs to be fixed. If it is difficult to pull out the bill, the seal on the door is in good shape. Lastly, make sure that the compressor is running smoothly. The compressor is what regulates cold air in the appliance, if it is struggling to keep the unit cold, it is using more energy than necessary.