Four Fridge Freezer Fixes

All fridges and freezers are given efficiency ratings and under the simplified energy efficiency ratings, A is the most efficient. According to the Energy Saving Trust, choosing the most efficient model of fridge freezer can save you hundreds of pounds over the lifetime of the product. But of course, this has to be offset against the cost of upgrading your appliance.

Here are some suggestions on how you could make sure your fridge freezer is running as efficiently as possible:

1. Keep it full

If you have unused space in your fridge freezer, you are paying to cool down the air and making your appliance work harder. By filling that space, your appliance will work more efficiently, saving you money. Fill that space with items that you perhaps don’t currently keep in the fridge, such as jams or sauces. But anything will do the trick – even bottles of tap water and even scrunched up newspaper. Make sure you use something that won’t expand and crack the container when frozen.

2. Dust it twice a year

It’s probably not on your list of things to dust, but dirt and dust can accumulate at the back of your appliance, which will not only mean it has to work harder but can affect how long your appliance will last. The good news is it’s a simple job to dust it – simply turn the appliance off and use a duster or suction attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt and dust.

3. Defrost as needed

When frost sticks to the sides of your freezer, it effects the appliance’s ability to run efficiently. If you have a modern fridge freezer, it may defrost itself automatically. If not, you will need to defrost it when ice and frost start to interfere with its normal operation. Here’s how:

• Turn it off to let it defrost in its own time
• Layer some towels around the base of the fridge freezer to soak up the water
• If you’re scraping off ice, use a plastic ice scraper. This will prevent you accidentally damaging your appliance
• Clean the inside of the fridge freezer with some warm water and a drop of detergent, then wipe it dry before replacing the contents

4. Clean the door seal

The door seal is often the first part of a fridge to wear out, meaning that the air you are paying to cool is escaping. Keeping the seal clean will prolong its life, but once it is damaged, you may need to replace it.