Hi, I'm Amy from eSpares.
In this video, I'll be teaching you
how to save energy with your fridge freezer
and save money on your household bills too.
We have a range of videos on appliance usage
to save energy and money.
So we'll link the whole playlist at the end of this video.
But for now let's get started with your fridge freezer.
So your fridge freezer works the hardest
of all your household appliances as it's constantly running.
So it takes up a large portion of your household bills.
So it's important to make sure that your fridge freezer
is as energy efficient as possible
to benefit both the environment and your wallet.
The good news is it's simple and easy to do.
So let's get started making sure your fridge freezer
works smarter not harder.
First of all the installation.
You want to make sure that your fridge freezer is installed
in a cool dry room with adequate ventilation.
You want to make sure that it's not in any direct sunlight
or near a direct heat source such as a radiator or an oven.
Being exposed to heat will mean the compressor has to work harder.
Which will use up more energy
and will also shorten the life of your appliance.
Ensure that there's plenty of space
at the left, the right, the top
and the back of the fridge freezer when you install it.
Make sure there's plenty of space
at the air exhaust at the refrigerator base
and the back wall of your fridge freezer.
Also check that no air vents or grills are blocked.
If there is no air gap
your compressor won't be able to release heat.
So it will heat up and use up a lot more energy
to keep your food safe.
So now that our fridge freezer is correctly installed.
Let's look at maintaining it
and still saving energy at the same time.
Make sure that you clean the
back of your fridge freezer regularly too.
As a build-up of dust and debris
will increase energy consumption.
Make sure that you keep the condenser coils
at the back and the underside of your fridge freezer dust-free.
You can do this by using a bristle brush
or better a handheld vacuum.
Dusty coils have to work harder
increasing energy consumption
and putting your appliance at risk of potential faults in the future.
It's also just as important to keep
the inside of your fridge freezer clean and dirt free too.
If you do notice any strange or unpleasant smells
coming from your appliance.
You can watch our video up here on how to cure a smelly fridge.
Next up is the temperature.
You need to make sure that your fridge and freezer
are set to the correct temperatures in order to save energy.
To provide the greatest efficiency
set your refrigerator to 5 degrees Celsius
and your freezer to minus 18 degrees Celsius.
If your appliance does not provide exact degree readings
setting your unit to the midpoint of the
temperature dial usually does the trick.
As a rule of thumb
for each additional degree of refrigeration output
about six percent more electricity is used.
An accurate temperature setting
can directly save you money.
Bear in mind that once you've chosen your new temperature setting
it can take up to 24 hours to fully take effect.
But you should start to notice your energy usage going down
by the time you get your next bill.
So now that your fridge freezer is set up in the right place
and at the right temperature.
Let's look at how to use it more efficiently.
Keep an eye on your door seals too.
As an ineffective door seal will allow air to escape
so your fridge freezer will use up more energy keeping your food cool.
Also check for general wear and tear and damage
and if there is any replace if necessary.
A good way to check for this
is with a five pound note
and you just place the note between the door seal and the fridge freezer
and if it drops down or moves
then you're in need of a replacement
and if you do need to replace your door seal
we'll link a video up here demonstrating how to do so.
Another energy saving tip when it comes to fridge doors
is to make sure they stay closed as much as possible.
Simple but effective.
Leaving your fridge doors open will allow air to escape
so your fridge freezer will use up more energy keeping your food cool.
So as soon as you've taken something out the fridge
make sure that you shut the doors right away.
Make sure to regularly reduce frost build-up
if too much it can accumulate on the coils inside your fridge freezer
causing them to work overtime.
This can also make it harder for your appliance
to maintain cooler temperatures.
So if your fridge freezer does require manual defrosting
make sure you do this every six months
or when you notice a frost build-up.
Our final tip is when storing cooked foods or leftovers.
Make sure that they're fully cooled down
before you put them in your fridge freezer
to prevent heat escaping into your appliance.
So there we have it.
Follow these simple and easy steps
to make your fridge freezer as energy efficient as possible.
This will prolong the life of your appliance
protect the environment and save you money too.
Take a look at our playlist on appliance usage down below as well
and make sure you subscribe to our channel
for useful maintenance and repair advice.
Thanks for watching.