How to maximise the value of a new fridge

Have you just bought a new fridge to reduce your energy usage? Great, buying a new fridge is one of the best ways to reduce your energy consumption in a home. But did you know that there are other measures you can implement yourself that could potentially slash hundreds of dollars off your electricity bill?

Yep, that’s right. But first, let’s take a look at some energy consumption figures to put things into perspective.

According to Canstar Blue, a 100-199 litre fridge is estimated to use 358 kWh and costs $118.14 per year to run. On the other hand, a 200-299 litre fridge uses around 410 kWh and costs approximately $135.30 per year to run. These are only small-sized fridges.

On the large end of the scale, a 400-499 litre fridge uses approximately 495 kWh and costs $163.35 per year to run. A 600-699 litre fridge uses around 1356 kWh and can set you back as much as $447.48 per year to run.

On average, household appliances (including fridges) make up about one-third of a household’s energy use. There are literally hundreds of dollars in savings waiting to be taken advantage of by choosing the right fridge and maintaining it correctly.

Today, I’ll share a few handy tips to help maximise the value of your a new fridge. These tips will allow you to reduce your energy bills and extend the life of your new appliance.

1. Clean the fridge coils on a regular basis

Fridges have coils on the back and bottom that tend to collect dust with time. Dust reduces the efficiency of your appliance by making the condenser unit work more often.

By simply cleaning the coils on a regular basis, you can improve the efficiency of your fridge. This will help prolong the life of your condenser unit and your appliance.

Make sure to keep this in mind with your new fridge.

2. Fill your freezer

Freezers work at their maximum efficiency when they are kept full. So, if you can’t fill your freezer with food, fill it with water instead.

Grab old water bottles and juice jugs, fill them with water and stuff them into your freezer. This way, you’ll always have plenty of ice when you need it and your fridge will keep cool and run more efficiently.

3. Keep some space between your fridge and the walls

Many people push their fridges right up against the walls causing the condenser coils and compressor unit to generate heat.   This is something that you mustn’t do.

By keeping some space between your fridge and the walls, this heat can escape easily and your unit will run more efficiently. In fact, simply pulling the fridge two inches away from the walls can improve efficiency by up to 40%!

4. Use your fridge the right way

Finally, by using your fridge in the right manner, you can maximise its efficiency. Start by keeping the doors shut as much as possible.

Make sure you don’t overfill or cramp your fridge. While fridges may work most efficiently when they are full, you’ll need to leave some room for air circulation.

It’s also a good idea to defrost your fridge every once in a while. Here’s a neat little trick – you can defrost frozen items in your fridge. Just put in frozen goods 24 hours before eating and this will also keep your fridge cool.

There you have it – these are my top 4 tips on how you can maximise the value of your new fridge. Make sure to keep these tips in mind with your new fridge.

And, if you haven’t already purchased a fridge and you’re looking for quality fridges in Perth then be sure to view our range at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. I also suggest that you take a look at Energy Rating’s ‘Energy Consumption and Running Cost Calculator‘ before you make a purchase. This handy little calculator will give you an idea of the running costs of the fridge you’re planning to buy.

Conclusion:

There are a number of ways to maximise the value of a new fridge. You should clean the condenser coils of your fridge regularly. You should stuff your freezer and keep some space between your fridge and the walls. Finally, you should use your fridge in a proper manner to maximise its efficiency.

If you’ve not yet purchased your new fridge, then you need to visit Ross’s Discount Home Centre immediately. We have the highest quality fridges in Perth at the most competitive prices, each with great energy ratings. Our fridges offer exceptional value for money.

Get yourself a great fridge by visiting our showroom in Guildford today!