Energy-Saving Tips for Refrigerators

Even if you follow all of the energy-saving tips we've posted over the last year, there are still more ways you can cut down on the amount of energy you use and save on your utility bills. Take your refrigerator, for instance. According to Chris Hall, president of RepairClinic.com®, refrigerators are the most attention-deprived household appliance.

"It's true that refrigerators just keep on ticking—often with minimal care—but many problems we see are a result of homeowners not taking simple steps to ensure their refrigerator is operating at peak efficiency," says Hall.

Here are some areas RepairClinic.com say need attention often, and some fixes you can easily implement:

1. Keep the door shut - The refrigerator and freezer door gaskets provide a tight seal to keep the cool in and warm air out. If the gaskets are torn or bent, or if the door isn't closing tightly, the refrigerator will have to work overtime to keep its contents cold.

To avoid this problem, inspect the gaskets all the way around and check for any tears or rips. If the gasket is torn, replace it. If there is a gap where the gasket meets the refrigerator/freezer, you might be able to correct this by loosening the screws that retain the gasket to the door. Then, gently twist the door so that the gasket makes contact, and tighten the screws.

2. Look for dusty coils - The condenser coils on self-defrosting refrigerators are fan-cooled and must be kept clean. Look for black, radiator-like coils underneath the refrigerator -- you may have to remove the toe-kick grill on the front to gain access to them. On older refrigerators, they may be on the back.

To keep them clean, use a special condenser cleaning brush (a long, narrow bristle brush), fitted to your vacuum cleaner to remove deposits from the coils once a year. If you have pets, clean them more often.

3. Don't crowd the appliance - If the refrigerator never seems to stop cooling, there may be inadequate clearance around the appliance, restricting airflow to the cooling coils.

If the condenser coils on your fridge are on the back, make sure there's at least one inch between them and the wall behind the unit. If they are underneath, make sure the bottom front of the refrigerator is clear so that cool air can reach them.

For additional maintenance and cleaning tips, as well as more information about RepairClinic.com, check out the press release RepairClinic.com Publishes Energy-Saving Tips for Refrigerators.