The refrigerator is one of the appliances that consumes the most energy in the home, as it works continuously 24 hours a day. However, a small oversight that many people inadvertently make can cause their electricity consumption to skyrocket, affecting not only the efficiency of the appliance but also the electricity bill.
The most common mistake: not allowing proper ventilation
One of the most frequent mistakes is to place the refrigerator too close to the wall or surround it with furniture and objects that prevent proper air circulation. Most current models need enough space around them to dissipate the heat they generate during the cooling process.
When this heat cannot be released properly, the engine must work twice as hard to maintain the internal temperature, which causes a considerable increase in energy consumption and accelerates wear and tear on the equipment.
Other errors that also increase consumption
In addition to the bad location, there are other small daily habits that also increase the energy consumption of your refrigerator:
Opening the door too often or leaving it open for too long. Each time it is opened, hot air enters the environment, and the engine must work harder to cool the interior again.
Store hot foods. Introducing freshly cooked meals forces the refrigerator to expend more energy to reduce its internal temperature.
Frost buildup in the freezer. A thick layer of ice acts as a thermal insulator, making efficient cooling difficult.
Air leaks from deteriorated rubber seals. If the door rubbers are damaged or do not seal well, the refrigerator constantly loses cold.
