Maintaining Your Refrigerator and Freezer is an Easy way to Save Money and Conserve Energy
Posted by Darrell Erickson on September 30, 2015
Transitioning from the cooling season into the heating season is a time when our energy bills tend to level off since our air conditioners and electric heaters are not running, and we are still able to grill outside. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways we can still lower our bills. Some of the biggest energy hogs – refrigerators and freezers – are still running every day. But there are a few things you can do to conserve energy with your fridge and freezer, while making sure they work properly.
Energy Star rated appliances have come a long way in reducing the amount of energy they consume annually, these appliances can still account for up to half of your energy usage. If you are like me, you take the owner’s manual from your new appliance and file it away, never to look at it again until there is a problem. But in that manual is a section titled “maintenance,” and now is the perfect time to show your appliances some tender love and care.
One common way to maintain your fridge and freezer is to keep the coils and blower clean of dust. Excessive dust buildup causes the compressor to work harder and longer to cool the inside of the refrigerator. Have someone help you move the appliance to get at the coils and carefully vacuum them off using a brush. Be sure to unplug the appliance first. 
Another of area of concern is the door seals. Take some warm soapy water and thoroughly wipe all door seals and contact surfaces clean. Once dry, close the door on a piece of paper. It should give some resistance when you try to remove it.
Keeping your refrigerator or freezer full helps to maintain the temperature inside of the appliance. Just be careful not to overfill it to the point of blocking the airflow inside. Allowing some space on the sides and back of the appliance will help the airflow on the outside.
These are just a few things you can do to conserve energy while also getting the most out of your appliances. And remember to contact us to learn more about Wright-Hennepin’s appliance repair program.
