Play all audios:
The fridge is one of the hardest working appliances in the home, so it will benefit both your bank balance and the environment if it works efficiently. Whilst brand new fridges are
constantly innovating ways to be energy efficient, it is expensive to keep up with the latest tech. With that mind, it is helpful to know some easy tricks and tips on how homeowners could
save some money on their energy bills from their fridges, no matter how old the appliance is. SET YOUR FRIDGE TO THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE The higher the number households set on their fridge
dial, the colder it will be. Most fridges have dials set between one to five - in this case five would be the coldest setting. Speaking exclusively to Millie Hurst, Ideal Home’s Senior
Content Editor, she shared what the “ideal temperature” a fridge should be set to, but warned that it is also dependent on certain factors. She said: “The ideal temperature for a fridge
depends on how much food is in there. But the consensus by kitchen experts is to set it at between three and five degrees Celsius according to the manufacturer’s guidelines to prevent food
from rotting and to help maximise its nutrients. “If you’re concerned about how accurate your fridge’s temperature is, you can place a thermometer in a bowl of water and put it in the fridge
overnight. READ MORE: CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TO SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS - ‘LASTS YEAR AFTER YEAR’ “The optimal temperature for a refrigerator is between three and five degrees Celsius. Freezers
should be set at -18 degrees.” KEEP THREE-QUARTERS FULL This might be a surprising tip, but how full the fridge is can have a large impact on its energy efficiency. Millie said: “To operate
at maximum energy efficiency, fridges should be kept three-quarters full ideally, allowing for effective air circulation. A full or empty fridge may be less energy efficient, so why not
store glass bottles of water to help fill it more.” Thomas agreed, as he said: “There’s a simple way to make your fridge run considerably more efficiently that most people don’t know about,
and that involves making sure that it is roughly two-thirds full. Not crowded with food, but certainly not empty. READ MORE: ‘FASTEST’ METHOD TO REMOVE MOULD FROM WINDOWS WITH 99P ‘MAGIC’
SPRAY “This golden standard rule allows for refrigerated air to circulate optimally and be more energy efficient.” Plus, to help drive the efficiency of your fridge, keep your freezer full
too. The fuller the freezer, the better a fridge will work. This might also come in handy, in the case of a power outage. The more food and drinks that are in a freezer, the longer it will
take for any of the food in the fridge to go off. KEEP THE DOORS SHUT Whilst this might be an obvious point, keeping the door of the fridge shut ensures that cold temperatures stay inside
and that the appliance does not have to work harder. No matter if the fridge is new or old, it is advisable to only open the fridge for short periods of time. Simply think about what you
would like to eat or drink before opening the fridge, rather than deciding with the door wide open. CLEAR THE FRIDGE/FREEZER According to Millie, clearing out the fridge freezer on a
reasonably regular basis will also assist with the fridge’s energy efficiency, and the freezer part should be defrosted once a year to keep it working effectively. She claimed that it is
recommended to keep freezers stocked full at -18 degrees Celsius to help it work more efficiently and to reduce energy consumption, as this reduces the amount of air that needs to be
re-cooled each time the freezer is opened.