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Show New refrigerators more efficiento - By DR. STEPHEN POE USU Extension Energy Specialist From an energy conservation point of view, you will save the most by replacing older existing refrigerators with newer, more efficient models. If your current refrigerator is more than 15 years old, energy savings by upgrading to a more energy-efficient model may pay off the cost of a new refrigerator in just a few years. If, on the other hand, you have trouble understanding how spending $ 1 ,200 for a new refrigerator is really saving you money, here are seven tips to help boost the efficiency of your existing refrigerator. In so doing, the money you save can go toward the purchase of a new refrigerator later. Clean the condenser coils. Clean the coils located on either the back of the refrigerator or behind the front grill. When the coils become caked with dust and dirt, they are less efficient in transferring heat to the room. You can use either a brush or vacuum to clean the coils. If extremely greasy, you may want to use a mild detergent de-tergent with water. You should always unplug the power supply as a safety precaution. Check the door seal. Check the door seal or gasket on your refrigerator carefully. They tend to wear out or get twisted over time. To check, insert a $5 bill into the door at various locations. If it holds tight, you're okay, if it falls to the ground, then you're probably losing at least that $5 dollar bill's worth of electricity each month. If your refrigerator has a magnetic seal, you may want to stick a bright flashlight in your refrigerator (turned on). Close the door and examine the seal from a dark kitchen. If you can see any light, your gasket should be adjusted or replaced. Gaskets can be expensive expen-sive ($50 to $100) so you might want to consider upgrading to a newer energy-efficient model rather than sinking money into your older fridge. Check the temperature. According to the USU Extension Ex-tension Specialist Georgia Lauritzen, the refrigerator compartment temperature should be between 36 and 39 degrees and the freezer compartment from 0 to 3 degrees. You can use colder temperatures, but by keeping keep-ing the temperature 10 degrees lower than needed, you can increase your energy consumption by up to 25 percent. per-cent. - Check the power-save switch. Some refrigerators have a power-saver switch that will help eliminate condensation. con-densation. Unless you have a big problem with condensation, conden-sation, keep the switch in the power-saving position. Defrost on a regular basis. Manual defrost refrigerators and freezers should be defrosted on a regular basis. The buildup of ice on the coils inside the unit means that the compressor has to run longer to maintain cold temperatures. Move the refrigerator. If you have the option, move the refrigerator to a cooler location or to a place that is out of direct sunlight. In a cooler location, the refrigerator won't have to work as hard and will save energy. Manage the ins and outs. First, don't plan the menu with the door open. Second, avoid putting hot foods directly in the fridge. Third, cover all foods or containers. con-tainers. They release moisture and decrease efficiency. Fourth, mark all items in the freezer clearly with the date and contents to avoid spoilage and reduce the time the door is open. Fifth, if you are not utilizing a second fridge or freezer, unplug and remove the door for safety and energy savings. Sixth, keep the freezer section of your refrigerator full, a full freezer will perform better than a partially full one. |