Nowadays, it is hard to imagine a house or an apartment that would manage without a refrigerator. Yet, how often do we take care of this device or think about its power consumption? Elektrum Energy Efficiency Centre would like to share some tips on how to maintain your refrigerator and use it efficiently.

The power consumption of a refrigerator is significantly affected by these three factors:

1. The temperature set in the refrigerator. Set the temperature at +5 °C in the fridge compartment and -18 °C in the freezer. The refrigerator’s power consumption increases by about 5% per each unnecessarily lowered degree. If the refrigerator has a temperature regulator without specific temperature graduations, the set temperature can be checked by inserting a thermometer suitable for such temperatures in the refrigerator. It is advisable to measure the temperature on the middle shelf, as it will have approximately the set temperature, while the temperature on the upper shelf will be higher and the temperature on the lower shelf will be lower. Refrigerators with a possibility to regulate the temperature separately in the fridge compartment and in the freezer are particularly energy efficient.
2. Filling the refrigerator with food. To avoid excessive consumption of electricity, it is recommended to keep the refrigerator at least 60%, but not more than 90% full. The products must not be pressed against the back wall of the refrigerator and cover the ventilation openings and sensors. Besides, the products must not touch each other to ensure proper air circulation.
3. Placing the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be placed away from heat sources, such as a radiator, stove and other devices that generate heat during their operation, as well as from direct sunlight. If necessary, an insulating board may be used. Moreover, it is not advisable to place the refrigerator too close to the wall, in a corner of the room or in a niche, as air circulation will not be provided and power consumption will grow. There should be 5 to 10 cm of free space around the refrigerator for air circulation. The refrigerator’s power consumption can also be reduced by placing it in a cooler place, such as in the hallway, but keep in mind that each model has a different minimum operating ambient temperature, such as +10 °C or +16 °C. This information is specified in the manual of the device. Remember that only a refrigerator intended for that purpose may be built in the kitchen furniture. By building in a freestanding refrigerator, electricity consumption will increase disproportionately. When purchasing a new refrigerator, it should be kept in mind that built-in refrigerators consume about 20% more power than freestanding devices.

Closing the door

Do not open the refrigerator door too often or leave the door open for long periods of time. Otherwise, warm air will enter the refrigerator, creating the need for lowering the temperature again. Check for any obstacles that prevent the refrigerator door from being completely closed. Many devices are equipped with an alarm function which emits a signal if the door is not closed. Also, check how tightly the refrigerator door shuts. If it is difficult to pull out a sheet of paper squeezed in the refrigerator door, everything is fine. If the sheet slips out of the door, it means that the door fails to shut hermetically and the cold air flows out, while the refrigerator needs to use additional electricity to ensure the set temperature. It is therefore necessary to clean the door gaskets regularly or replace them if damaged.

Storing food

Store food in closed containers or wrap it. Thus the food will stay fresh for longer and there will not be any unwanted moisture and smell in the refrigerator. Also, do not put hot food in the refrigerator, as steam contributes to ice buildup in the refrigerator cooler, which increases the power consumption. Before freezing food and putting it in the freezer, it is recommended to cool it down (by placing it in the refrigerated food container on the bottom shelf) and pack it into airtight packaging to avoid frost mist in the freezer section.

Arranging food

If the food in the refrigerator is not arranged properly on the refrigerator’s shelves, but is placed in a random order, with vegetables next to meat and fruit next to dairy products, this will contribute to bacterial growth and faster deterioration of food. Therefore, it is advisable to place dairy products on a separate shelf, while fresh meat should better be stored in a drawer.

The top and middle shelves of the refrigerator are suitable for storing dairy products, eggs and ham, as well as products that should be kept in the refrigerator after opening. The compartments on the refrigerator door have a slightly higher temperature, so they can be used for storing milk, water and drinks. Remember not to place too many heavy products in the door compartments, as their weight may prevent the door from closing completely.

Store fruit and vegetables in the drawer intended for them, but keep in mind that they should only be put in the refrigerator when they are fully ripened. It should also be remembered that it is better to store certain products, such as tomatoes, exotic fruit, etc., at room temperature, as they may lose their original fragrance and taste in the refrigerator. Refrigerators with a Zero/Fresh drawer, where the temperature of 0 °C is maintained, are also available. This drawer is suitable for storing meat, fish and cooked food and defrosting frozen products in a safe way.

Refrigerator care ABC

1. Unplug the refrigerator from the power supply before cleaning!
2. Defrost and air the refrigerator and the freezer at least once a year, as each centimetre of ice in the freezer increases the power consumption by about 10%.
3. Wipe the door gaskets.
4. Wipe the dust from the condenser coils or plates at the back of the refrigerator at least every three months, as the dust prevents cooling.
5. Wipe the dust from the refrigerator.
6. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator, clean the shelves and compartments and clean the condensate drain hole in the lower part of the inner wall.
7. After cleaning, wipe the refrigerator dry and leave the door ajar for a while to air the device.
8. If you need to get rid of an unpleasant odour in the refrigerator, it can be eliminated by:

- placing a dish with some freshly ground coffee;

- placing a few pieces of activated charcoal;

- placing coarse salt in a small dish;

- placing a half cut lemon or onion;

- cleaning the inner walls with vinegar solution (diluted with water 50/50);

- washing the fridge with soda water and then leaving an open dish with soda, which should be replaced every 3 months;

- in more complex cases when the fridge has been washed, but the odour still remains – by cleaning the inner walls with liquid ammonia and leaving the door open for the whole day.