You’ve been using your fridge freezer all wrong – six mistakes that are pushing up energy bills
KEEPING your fridge freezer running efficiently can be costly – especially as it’s one of the only appliances that is left on constantly.
And simple mistakes, like leaving the door open, or creating a mini ice age in the freezer tray, will only push up the prices you’ve got to pay each month.
If you’re using your fridge freezer all wrong, you’ll only be making the situation worse – and you might face paying more for energy.
With energy bills rising by £149 annually for the average household at the beginning of this month, we’re all looking for ways to save.
Here are the mistakes you’ve been making, and how to cut costs.
DEFROST IT
If you don’t defrost your freezer compartment it could add as much as £150 a year to your bill, experts have previously told The Sun.
The frost buildup in increases the amount of work your freezer’s motor has to do.
And if the motor is working harder, then this means it’s using more energy.
You can chip away at any build up once it starts to look a little glacial inside and then your energy bill won’t have to take such a hit.
DON’T OVERLOAD IT
When you have too much food in your fridge or freezer, the appliance struggles to keep all the items of food cold, and uses more energy as a result.
Unclutter your fridge, so make sure your fridge isn’t packed to the brim.
Especially near the ventilating outlets as keeping space at the top and sides of your fridge helps the cool air move around easier.
But with that said you shouldn’t leave it empty either.
If you haven’t got any goods in the fridge then it will be working for nothing – that’s especially the case when you go on holiday.
If you’re off on your travels and you’re leaving nothing behind, make sure to switch off the fridge, otherwise it could be wasting energy for absolutely no benefit.
CLOSE THE GAPS
If the food shop has been a bit sparse this week but you don’t want your fridge over-working to stay cold, there’s ways to keep it stocked-up without filling it with food.
Keep your fridge and freezer filled with things like bottles of tap water that will slot into the empty space.
You can also fill empty space in the freezer with screwed up newspaper.
Both DIY items can quickly freeze over – and once they do they’ll keep the rest of the contents cooler, so the appliance won’t have to work as hard.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.
You’ll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you’ll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
POSITION IT
Where your fridge sits in your kitchen is important.
No, it’s not so much about the feng-shui, but there are spots in the kitchen that could be troublesome if you’re looking at keeping coasts to a minimum.
Experts at Uswitch have said that if it’s practical, place your fridge away from your cooker and make sure it isn’t in direct sunlight.
That’s because it’s always going to operate better if it’s in a cool spot.
Beside the cooker it might have to battle with heat coming off the second appliance, and the sun shining onto your fridge might impact its temperature too.
They also advised that you should also keep the fridge at least 10cm from the wall, as this will allow the coils to work most efficiently.
CHECK THE SEAL
Check seals on your fridge are in good order.
This is a bit like when you’re plugging up your home from nasty draughts – you don’t want either the cool air to escape or hot air to creep in.
Both scenarios are only going to make your fridge work harder, using more energy in the process.
A good way to make sure the seals are working as intended is by opening the door, holding a bit of paper where the door shuts, and then shutting it, says Which?.
If the paper can’t be pulled out whilst the door is shut, then everything is okay; but if the paper comes out, then the seals need to be sorted.
You can simply tighten the hinges if you’re a dab hand at DIY or, if you have a bit of spare cash, replace the seals.
New seals are often available online for £30 to £100.
SHUT THE DOOR
Keep the door shut to stop unwanted draughts too.
When you’re taking food out of the fridge, you want to get in and out as quickly as you can.
Every time the fridge door is opened, cold air escapes and warmer air enters and this exchange pushes up the temperature inside so the fridge has to work harder.
It’ll use more energy to get back down to temperature and cost more on your bills.
SCRUB UP
You shouldn’t forget about the back of your fridge freezer either – it needs just as much TLC and taking the time to clean it up could save you money on your energy bills.
Dust on the condenser coils can prevent your appliance from cooling properly, and if it’s particularly thick it can reduce the efficiency by as much as 25% says Which?.
You can vacuum away the dust and dirt to get your fridge freezer working more efficiently again which should bring down your energy usage.
Hacks for Keeping Food Fresh in Your Fridge
IF you want your food to stay fresh, you'll need to try out this useful hacks...
- Herbs in Water: Store fresh herbs like parsley and coriander in a glass of water, then cover with a plastic bag to keep them fresh for weeks.
- Wrap Greens in Paper Towels: Wrap leafy greens in paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag. The towels absorb excess moisture, preventing wilting.
- Use Mason Jars: Store salads, chopped vegetables, and even leftovers in mason jars. They are airtight and keep food fresher for longer.
- Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle a bit of water on stale bread and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to make it fresh again.
- Baking Soda for Odours: Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours and keep food tasting fresh.
- Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil: Chop herbs and freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. This preserves their flavour and makes them easy to use.
- Keep Cheese Fresh: Wrap cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper allows the cheese to breathe, preventing it from becoming slimy.
- Store Avocados with Onions: Place a cut avocado in an airtight container with a slice of onion. The sulphur compounds in the onion slow down oxidation, keeping the avocado fresh.
- Use Vinegar Wash for Berries: Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar to three cups of water) before storing. This kills bacteria and mould spores, extending their shelf life.
- Egg Freshness Test: To check if eggs are still fresh, place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while old ones will float.
Implement these clever hacks to maximise the freshness of your food and make the most of your groceries.