Now that seasons are changing, many homeowners are searching for ways to save money and consume less energy without losing any comforts they are used to in their home. Unfortunately, many do not consider ways to save energy on their freezers. Not only are freezers one of the most important home appliances, they are consuming energy every second of the day. The good news is that saving energy for your freezer is extremely easy, inexpensive, and can be done in many ways. Let’s take a look at the various ways you can help your freezer save energy.
PROPER MAINTENANCE
Properly maintaining your freezer will not only allow it to last longer, but it will help save a significant amount of energy as well. It is important to make sure that the refrigerator has no leakage of air. When cold air escapes from the freezer, the compressor will have to work twice as harder to replace it, hence consuming more energy. Additionally, do make sure that the compressor is working well as it is in charge of regulating cold air in the unit. If the compressor is having difficulties keeping the appliance cold, it is consuming more energy than required.
SET THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
If you keep the temperature of your freezer unnecessarily low, you may end up using more energy and spend more money on electrical bills. It is recommended for freezers to not be set too cold. The ideal temperature for freezers is 5 degrees. Upright freezers that are used for long storage can be set at 0 degrees. To check the temperature of your freezer, place a thermometer in between packages and check the reading after 24 hours.
DEFROST THE FREEZER
An important energy saving tip is to defrost the freezer regularly. Frost can accumulate and build up on the coils that are responsible for removing heat from the freezer. For heat to be removed, it is necessary that these coils be in contact with the warmer air. However, if there is ice in the way, the freezer will have to work much harder than usual. Frost buildup should never be more than one-quarter of an inch, as it will result in a decrease in the energy efficiency of the appliance.
FILL THE FREEZER
The freezer will work most efficiently when it is packed as full as possible. If you need to occupy some space, you can place cold packs for picnics or extra ice for cold drinks inside the freezer. Keeping the freezer filled to the brim also has a bonus: full freezers can keep food frozen for a longer time if a power outage happens.
CHECK THE SEALS
The freezer seals ensure that the doors are closed tight, which helps keep unwanted hot air out. It is important to do regular checks to make sure that the seals are fully intact and sealed tightly. Leaky door are the number one culprit for energy loss in both upright and chest freezers. Doors that are not properly sealed will result in cold air escaping, making the freezer work harder, reducing food quality, hence consuming more energy than necessary.
