Is your fridge over-consuming Yaka? Here are 10 ways to improve it's energy efficiency
There is a chance your fridge is consuming more Yaka than it should and sending your power bills through the roof. Fortunately, there is a way out. Here is how you can tell and how you can make your fridge more energy efficient.
Fridge
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Giving your fridge a cool place in the house and some room to breathe is a good way to start. While fridges are generally supposed to be in a kitchen, keeping them far away from the oven is the goal. The trick is to make sure it is not 'boxed' in a corner. Make sure there’s enough free space around the sides, the back and the top of your fridge for ventilation. Without this air gap, your fridge will not be able to release the heat from the compressor. This causes your fridge to heat up and work harder and longer to keep your food safe.
Well placed fridge where it can breathe
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Keep the door closed
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It’s easy to get distracted and walk away from the refrigerator for a moment, leaving the door open. But this lets all the cool air out and all the warm air in, so the appliance will have up its work rate to get things cool again. Try to keep door opening times to a minimum to put less stress on the appliance.
Close the fridge doors
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Keep your fridge organised
How does this help, you ask. Well, as it turns out, this is connected to the previous point. The more disorganised your fridge is, the more time you spend, looking for what you need while the door is open. And that is not good for power-effciency.
Well organized
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Keep your fridge fuller
One of the reasons your fridge is sucking all your Yaka units is because there is just one tab of yoghurt in it. A sparsely populated fridge is hungry for power. A fuller fridge has much less air to cool down and more cold food stuffs that need little work to refrigerate. But while you keep it full, leave some space for airflow. Tokyisussa.
Full fridge
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Use glass containers, not plastic
Glass containers are better than plastic ones because glass absorbs and retains cold better. Moisture inside your fridge will make it harder to stabilize the internal temperature. Bonus: Cover all foods and liquids to avoid over-working the compressor. So get rid of all those plastic 'boxes'.
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Glass containers
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No hot stuff, please
Hot food in your refrigerator means hot air in your fridge. This causes the appliance to work hard to bring that temperature back down again. Wait till the food has cooled down before putting it in.
Inspect your door seals
Ever notice that there is ssuction that keeps the fridge door closed tight? Of course you have. That is the work of the seals; the run ring around the door. It keeps the insight airtight. If that seal is compromised, warm air gets into the refrigerator, so it’ll have to work harder to maintain the set temperature. Keep the door seals clean and have them replaced if you notice any cracks or splits.
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Buy a thermometer
The temperature you set your fridge to isn’t necessarily the temperature you’re actually getting. This can go both ways—your refrigerator might be slightly warmer or slightly cooler that the temperature set on the dial. Somewhere between 2.2oC and 3.3oC is the ideal temperature. If your thermometer is telling you you’re at the lower end of this range, you could nudge your appliance’s temperature dial up a little. This will translate to noticeable energy savings.
Get a newer energy-efficient model
Lastly, if your fridge is from 10 years ago, it is the reason you are overpaying on Yaka. Newer models consume much less power than older ones. As you’re looking for a new fridge, pay attention to its physical as well as technological features. Frost-free, freezer top and freezer bottom models are generally more energy-efficient than multi-door models. If a large fridge will be hectic for you to keep filled, opt for a smaller fridge.
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