Volume matters
There are usually numerous ways to save electricity in the home. Especially in the kitchen there are usually some electrical devices that are real power guzzlers. Right at the forefront: the freezer. The decisive factor here is the volume that the device measures, as the energy supplier Entega explains. While freezers with a volume of 100 liters have an average annual consumption of 100 to 215 kilowatt hours, devices with a volume of 300 liters consume between 160 and 325 kilowatt hours a year.
Rule of thumb: 60 liters per person
If you have an increased storage requirement, it is worth buying a larger device that consumes less energy in proportion. However, you should only do this if you actually get the freezer full. As a rule, one calculates a volume of 60 liters per person in the household. However, if you have to freeze a lot of food on a regular basis, a chest freezer can also be worthwhile. A chest with a volume of 300 liters only consumes between 120 and 280 kilowatt hours per year and therefore slightly less electricity than a freezer of the same size.
View of energy efficiency class
How high the electricity costs caused by the freezer actually are depends primarily on the energy efficiency class of the device and your own electricity tariff. While devices with an energy requirement of 100 to 120 kilowatt hours per year cost between 28 and 34 euros, models with more than 350 kilowatt hours cost around 98 euros per year, the energy provider continues. When buying a new one, you should definitely pay attention to good energy efficiency. Freezers rated A+++ have long been considered the most economical. According to Entega, up to 60 percent of electricity can be saved compared to an A device. Devices that came onto the market after March 2021 now only cover the spectrum of classes A to G. A+ to A+++ are no longer awarded.
However, other factors can also influence the consumption of energy-intensive household appliances.
temperature adjustment
For example, the devices do not necessarily have to cool at the highest level. As a rule, it is perfectly sufficient if food is frozen at minus 18 degrees Celsius. The packaging of purchased frozen food usually provides information on the shelf life at different temperatures. “Stiftung Warentest” also advises not to use the super frost function that some devices come with. This reduces the internal temperature of the freezer to less than minus 18 degrees, which should lead to the food being frozen particularly quickly. However, this is usually not necessary, which is why you can usually do without the power-intensive function.
Instead, you should get frozen food home from the supermarket as quickly as possible and ideally work with cool boxes. This means that the items heat up less and do not have to be cooled down quite as much in the freezer. In addition, the food remains safe to eat.
Close the door as soon as possible
The groceries should also be put away as quickly as possible after shopping so that the freezer is not left open for too long. If warm air gets into the freezer, a layer of ice quickly forms, according to “Utopia”. That’s why there should always be order in the freezer so that you have the food you want quickly to hand and don’t have to search around for a long time. By the way: Although you shouldn’t leave the freezer door open for unnecessarily long periods of time, keeping the door open when storing food consumes less energy than closing it again and again in the meantime. Nevertheless, one should act as quickly as possible, advises the comparison portal “Verivox”.
Check seals
It may also be worth checking the unit’s seals regularly. If these do not close with the openings, warm air can get into the freezer despite the door being closed. According to Utopia, one indication can be that the door no longer closes properly. The portal advises putting a switched-on flashlight in the device and checking whether the light can be seen from outside – despite the closed door. If the flashlight shines through, the seal is probably defective. However, this can be replaced by the manufacturer for a few euros. There is no need to buy a new refrigerator. If the door cannot be closed, but there are no defects in the seal, you should check the device for overloading. Bulky food packaging can prevent the door from closing.
Defrost freezer
If, despite the utmost care, a layer of ice has formed, the only thing that will help is defrosting the freezer. Stiftung Warentest advises that ice crusts should be removed at least once a year, unless the device has a no-frost automatic defroster. Because with thick layers of ice, not only does the space in the freezer decrease, but also the cooling efficiency. If the defrosting process can be delayed, it is advisable to postpone it until the winter months. Frozen products can also be temporarily stored on the balcony or terrace until the layers of ice have melted. Here, however, it is important to pack the food well and protect it from sunlight and wild animals. In addition, the outside temperature should be kept in mind so that the safety of the frozen goods is guaranteed.
site selection
Electricity can also be saved when choosing the location. If the freezer is in the warm kitchen, for example, the power that the device has to put into cooling down the food also increases. Heat sources such as radiators or ovens should also not be in the immediate vicinity of the freezer. Instead, accommodation in a cool basement is recommended, according to Stiftung Warentest. There is also no danger of additional heating from the sun’s rays, as Utopia adds. The devices should also be at least a hand’s breadth away from the wall to prevent heat build-up, as the sustainability portal reports.
Buy new as a last resort
However, if the power consumption of the freezer is at a high level despite these measures and the device is more than ten years old, according to Entega it can also be worth buying a new freezer. Although the new purchase is associated with higher costs, these can usually be recouped in a few years – at least partially. Consumers should definitely pay attention to the already mentioned energy efficiency class.
Editorial office finanzen.net
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