How to Make a Refrigerator Run More Efficiently

Appliances require a lot of your household's energy—and that's especially true of refrigerators. There are several things you can do to make sure your fridge is running efficiently and not using up more energy than it needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vacuum

1. Give your fridge some breathing room. One of the easiest things you can do to increase efficiency is make sure there are a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator. This will keep air circulating around the condensing coils.

2. Keep the coils clean. Dust, dirt and pet hair can clog the coils and prevent them from working efficiently. To clean them, simply remove or flip up the grill. Use your vacuum cleaner's brush attachment to gently remove any debris. Check your owner's manual for details.

3. Check the temperature. If your fridge is too cold, you could be wasting energy. The recommended temperature is between 37 and 40 degrees F. The freezer should be set to about 5 degrees F.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your fridge is the right size for your needs. A large fridge requires more energy to cool.