The refrigerator is one of those household appliances that we don't appreciate enough - until it breaks down in the middle of August while you're waiting for frozen squid. This quiet, reliable friend works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. And because it works non-stop, it also happily burns electricity - often more than we realize.
How to set it up correctly refrigerator? Here's a trick that many people overlook: a small adjustment inside refrigerator (yes, that confusing little wheel with numbers) can significantly reduce your electricity bills – especially in the winter months, when nature outside does half the cooling instead of the appliance.
A simple setting that reduces the refrigerator's energy consumption
Most refrigerators have a temperature setting – usually between 1 and 5 (or 6, if it’s a more ambitious model). In the summer, most people automatically increase the cooling setting, which makes sense. But in the winter? Nature is already doing you a favor, so you can safely reduce the cooling power – and therefore your electricity consumption.
Setting the temperature to 2 or 3, sometimes even 1, is more than enough in the winter. The temperature at level 1 usually keeps the interior between 2–5 °C – which is quite enough to keep food fresh. You can also adjust the freezer – even if you have half a ton of autumn fruits in there for the winter, lowering the cooling will still be safe in most cases.
Bottom line? Less cooling = less work for the compressor = lower electricity bill = more money for wine that you'll keep in the same fridge anyway.
The refrigerator is not just “on/off” – it adapts to your needs
Seasonal changes aren't the only reason to play with your fridge settings. How much food you store in the fridge is also important.
- Empty cold room? Reduce refrigeration – you're not refrigeration for a fruit museum.
- Full fridge? Raise the temperature (but not too much) – more content means more work for your cooling machine.
- Fresh fish in the freezer? Keep the settings around -18°C – bacteria are stubborn, but this temperature keeps them dormant like some frozen drama on Netflix.
Bonus: Additional tricks for a lower bill (without calling an electrician)
1. Refrigerator placement is key
If your refrigerator is blowing air on the left, and you've squeezed it between the wall and the stove, don't be surprised if it's acting as a heating device. Make sure there's good ventilation behind it and away from heat sources - because a refrigerator and stove are not a pair that should live together.
2. Don't be the one who stares into the refrigerator like an abyss of existential crisis.
Every time we leave the door open “just for a second,” that precious cold environment goes on vacation. The compressor then works overtime, and you pay for it.
3. Use glass or ceramic, not dinosaur-era plastic
Glass and ceramic containers retain the cold better. Plus, they look fancier if you want to make an impression during visits.
4. Clean it like you care
Every 1-3 months, check the grilles for dust buildup. Your refrigerator is not a dust collector. If it's not breathing, it's using more electricity. If it's using more electricity, you're out of luck.
Conclusion: only one turn of the wheel is missing
Small tweaks, big differences. With just one temperature change, you can reduce your electricity usage in the winter without your yogurt suffering from heatstroke. Add a little strategic placement, organization, and basic cleaning—and voilà, your fridge will become an energy champ.
And the best part about all of this? You don't need to be an electrical engineer, just a little more attentive user. Or at least someone who knows that the knob on the refrigerator is not just decoration.
