Defrost properly and regularly
With many refrigerators, more or less thick layers of ice repeatedly form on the rear walls of the devices. These should be removed regularly, as they insulate the interior of the refrigerator like an insulator, making it more difficult to cool. As a result, the devices have to expend more energy to keep the cold. The increased power consumption then costs the owners more money. It is therefore advisable to defrost the refrigerator once or twice a year, depending on the severity. To do this, take all the food out of the refrigerator, switch off the device and let it warm up with the door open. According to a tip from op-online, anyone who wants to speed up the defrosting process can also place a saucepan or bowl of hot water in the interior and close the door. Likewise, wooden or plastic tools can be used to help remove the layer of ice. However, one should be particularly careful and make sure that the coating on the walls is not damaged. Otherwise there is a risk of having to buy a new refrigerator. The resulting condensation water can be caught either with towels or with containers and baking trays.
The timing of the defrosting is of particular importance. The food that is still available must be further cooled. It is therefore advisable to carry out the project in winter in order to temporarily store the items that have been removed outside. Otherwise, another fridge, for example at the neighbor’s, should be available for storing your own products. The constant and uninterrupted cooling is not only necessary for the preservation of the food, but also for the energy-saving effect of the campaign. After defrosting has taken place, the device must cool down again. Adding hot food would only result in even more power consumption.
Don’t leave heat in the fridge
The advice not to put hot foods and meals in the refrigerator is not just limited to refilling the appliance after defrosting, but rather is a general guideline. Any addition of heat to the interior of the refrigerator requires a greater power output to maintain the cold. When using it yourself, you should always ensure that there is minimal cold withdrawal. Whoever opens the door unnecessarily and leaves it open for a long time or regularly puts warm goods in the refrigerator uses more electricity to operate the appliance.
According to co2online, the heat supply also promotes the formation of a layer of ice. As already explained, this also causes higher power consumption, so that you damage your wallet twice. If you make sure that you only store goods in the refrigerator that are at maximum room temperature and only open the door for as short a time as possible, you may also save yourself the de-icing time. It is also helpful to pack the food airtight and impermeable to water.
Dispose of old devices and buy new ones
When it comes to energy requirements, old refrigerators and freezers can mutate into real power guzzlers. Daniel Glanz therefore recommends in Liebherr’s FreshMAG blog to dispose of old and particularly wasteful appliances and to buy a new refrigerator. Before making this decision, however, you should carry out a small cost-benefit analysis and evaluate whether a new purchase is really worthwhile. Modern devices are of course much more economical than their predecessors, but their price always plays an important role. If you want to look out for particularly efficient refrigerators when buying them, you have to look at the information on the energy label. “The rule of thumb is: the more “+” there are after the A, the more energy-efficient and economical the device is,” explains Glanz at FreshMAG.
Set up and adjust the refrigerator correctly
The location within the apartment or kitchen is also crucial for energy-saving operation of the refrigerator. The device works most efficiently in a cool environment. The right place is therefore far away from ovens, stoves and heaters. Sunlight should also be taken into account. In addition to protection against heat, air circulation is also important for power consumption. The information portal Kuehlschrank.com therefore advises never to place the refrigerator directly against a wall. A distance of six to nine centimeters is ideal. Ideally, this distance should also be maintained from adjacent cabinets and devices.
Once the installation is complete, it is time to set the refrigerator up correctly. The optimal internal temperature is between five and seven degrees Celsius. For freezer compartments, between -15 and -18 degrees Celsius is recommended. If you set your devices even colder, you also pay additional money for the extra performance. In the FreshMAG blog, Daniel Glanz describes this interaction again with a simple rule of thumb: “About six percent more electricity is consumed for every degree of additional cooling capacity. That’s why the exact temperature setting can be worth hard cash.”
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