A fridge is an essential piece of kitchen kit for keeping food and medication at a safe temperature, and as it is running 24/7, it definitely increases your energy bills. As fridges and freezers play such an important role in the safety and health of your family, it’s really important to ensure they are running efficiently.

Keep your fridge well maintained for maximum efficiency

Your fridge’s manual will often have a trouble-shooting section that you can check for different issues like drips, thawing or strange smells. Another reliable source of fridge help is the website White Goods Help. But here are some simple checks you can make to ensure your fridge is working as it should.

Is your fridge running too cold?

Fridges are most useful when maintained at 5 degrees Celsius or slightly lower. Freezers should be maintained at -18 degrees Celsius. Too cold or too warm and you risk spoiling food. You can check your fridge temperature with a fridge thermometer. Many people keep one in there permanently so they can keep an eye on how their fridge-freezer is running.

Check your fridge’s door seal

The door seal is what keeps the warm air out of your fridge and the cold air in. If it’s too loose, your fridge or freezer will be working too hard to maintain its cool temperature. You can check the seal on your fridge by shutting a slip of paper in the door. If it falls out, the seal needs adjusting or replacing.

Clean up round your fridge

The back of your fridge needs to be kept dust-free so that air circulates well – this is essential for the heat-exchange process.

Give your fridge some space by decluttering

Your kitchen is very much a working space, and it shouldn’t be used as a dumping ground for items – including cooking kit – that you don’t use regularly. Appliances – in particular fridge freezers, often need space around them to work efficiently. Avoid using the top of your fridge as a surface for storing things as this can affect how they work, and it may make it harder to clean around your freezer. And certainly don’t use your fridge as an extra cupboard for things that don’t need to be kept chilled!

If necessary use self-storage to give yourself extra space in the kitchen to keep your white goods working as they should. You can insure kitchenware kept in your storage unit with Store and Insure. If you’re adding some kitchen appliances or utensils to your storage unit, get a quick quote to see if you can save on your self-storage insurance by switching to Store and Insure.

When buying a new fridge…

Newer fridges may be more energy efficient than older models. However, it’s not usually beneficial to spend out on a new fridge if your old one is working and meeting your needs. But when you come to buy a new fridge or freezer, consider running costs in decision-making, and also ask about efficiency. Also think about whether your old appliance was the right size for you – bigger refrigerators are more expensive to run, and if yours is half empty most of the time, perhaps you could get away with a smaller model. Look out for the energy label, and aim for appliances that have an A-rating. The Energy Saving Trust runs a site called Topten UK, which highlights the most efficient appliances, including fridges and freezers.

The bottom line is…

A more efficient fridge-freezer will keep your food fresh, save you money on your household bills, and it is better for the environment.