The 5-minute refrigerator hack that will cut your energy bill

Having one of the best refrigerators ensures that your food is kept at a stable and chilled temperature, and that the storage is functional for your needs, so you don’t have to cram everything in or be left with an inefficient refrigerator with empty shelves.

But however careful you are in choosing a refrigerator that suits your needs — so you’re not paying to keep an empty space chilled — there are other ways your refrigerator could be using energy unnecessarily.

Think outside the box

To help you get back on track and save money on your energy bill, there’s a speedy, five-minute hack that will restore your refrigerator’s energy use to an efficient level.

Glen Peskett, DIY expert at Saxton Blades, has revealed an easy method to cut your utility bills, which most people never think to do. It’s not one of the seven tips to make your refrigerator more efficient, or setting your refrigerator to the correct temperature. In fact, it’s nothing to do with what’s inside your refrigerator — it’s at the back.

The secret to this refrigerator efficiency hack is the coils.

“Fridge coils are hidden away at the back or underneath, so most people don’t even realise they’re there, let alone that they get clogged up with dust,” says Peskett. “When they’re dirty, your fridge has to work much harder to keep food cold, which means it’s using more electricity and costing you more money.”

And he says that the fall is the ideal time to clean your refrigerator coils. “With colder weather and heating season just around the corner, tackling it now means your fridge will run more efficiently, helping to cut bills and extend its lifespan,” he explains.

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The problem with dust

It helps to know what problem dust causes when it settles on refrigerator coils. Layers of dust prevent heat from dispersing, which means your refrigerator doesn’t cool as effectively. And if you have pets in your home who shed hair, you may find that dust builds up more quickly.

How to clean your refrigerator coils

The only tricky part of this cleaning efficiency hack will be moving your refrigerator to gain access to the back. However, if you have a free-standing appliance, such as GE Profile’s PFE28KYNFS, French–style refrigerator, recommended as the best overall appliance in our buying guide, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Here’s what you need to do:
1. Start by turning off the appliance and unplugging it.

2. Pull out your refrigerator so you can locate the coils. You’ll find them at the back or underneath, behind a grille.

3. Remove dust with the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner, then wipe down the area with a clean cloth.

4. Replace the panel and remember to turn your refrigerator back on.

5. Keep up the maintenance and clean the coils again in six months.

By regularly cleaning the coils on your refrigerator, setting the thermostat at the correct temperature, loading your food correctly, and placing your refrigerator in the correct location, you'll be doing all your can to run your appliance efficiently.

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