On average your appliances account for 17% of your homes total energy use. A couple of the biggest culprits are your home refrigerator and range. With a few simple tips and ideas you can help to reduce electricity and natural gas costs these appliances generate. Read on and remember to apply these tips for best results.
REFRIGERATORS
[1] The recommended temperature for fresh foods is between 37 and 40 degrees and 0 to 5 degrees for frozen foods. You should periodically check the thermostat for accuracy. To do this you will need to check the temperature of your fridge by placing a thermometer in a glass of water in the fresh food compartment and a thermometer by itself in the freezer compartment. Leave these in place for 24 hours and remove. The temperature reading on these are an accurate reading and you can adjust your control dial accordingly.
[2] Older model refrigerators should be defrosted regularly. Don’t allow frost build up to exceed one quarter of an inch in thickness. Frost build up decreases the efficiency of the freezer.
[3] Test the door seals. These seals need to be air tight. Simply close the doors over a sheet of paper. If the paper falls or if you can pull it out easily then your seals may need replaced or your door latch may need to be adjusted. This assures no cool air is escaping.
[4] The average refrigerator lasts about 14 years. It might be time to consider purchasing a new energy efficient refrigerator.
RANGES
[5] Keep your range reflectors clean. This will help to reflect the heat more evenly which in turn will help you save money on your natural gas and electricity costs.
[6] Use a microwave or other small appliance whenever possible. They use much less energy than your range. Remember to cover foods you microwave to reduce radiation intake.
[7] If you are using a natural gas range you should watch for yellow colored flames. They indicate that gas is burning inefficiently. In that case you may need to make adjustments to the gas dispense valve which is usually located behind the oven.
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If you find yourself in need of a new energy efficient refrigerator or range and you are in the Columbus Ohio area, feel free to stop by Appliance and Mattress Center located at 1942 Parsons Avenue to see our full line of new and used appliances today. Any questions, please call 614-445-8840.