Nowadays, everyone is looking out for energy-efficient appliances. In effect, homes and businesses make sure they anticipate the electric bill by computing their appliance’s wattage. In this article, we’re going to do just that by learning how many watts does a refrigerator use.
Do you know that refrigerators are one of the appliances that cost the most on your electricity bill?
Refrigerators need to be always turned on to preserve food and drinks, and it’s only natural and reasonable for them to consume energy. But there are some ways to still save on electricity, and we will mention these tips later.
A Guide On Refrigerator Wattage And Energy Consumption
Part of learning how many watts does a refrigerator use is in understanding its power consumption.
Refrigerators are considered reactive devices. They use additional power to start because of the electric motor, but they use less energy while they’re on. Some units also have fans that operate intermittently, and some require additional power during a defrost cycle.
Step 1. Calculate the average wattage for refrigerators. You can do this by multiplying the voltage and amperes.
Step 2. Find the volts and amps figures in your unit. You can check inside the wall of the fridge on a sticker. Check the manufacturer’s plate below the refrigerator door or check the back of the refrigerator. You can also check behind the front kick plate.
Step 3. Make a computation based on the figures collected to obtain the wattage and the kilowatt-hours. The US Department of Energy uses 8 hours of operating hours a day because of how a refrigerator cycles on and off. If your refrigerator runs on 850 watts, multiply it by 8 hours. So, how many watts does a refrigerator use? In this case, it’s 6,800 watts. Divide the wattage by 1,000 to get the kilowatt-hours. In this example, it is 6.8 kWh.
Step 4. Compute the monthly cost of your refrigerator. Multiply your kilowatt-hours to your charge per kWh. If you are charged 10 cents per kWh, your refrigerator costs you 68 cents per day or $20.4 a month for 30 days.
Important tip: If you want to measure the wattage of commercial refrigerators, we recommend you use a plug-in power meter. This way, you can get an accurate reading of energy consumption.
Modern refrigerators have a starting wattage of 800 to 1,200 with a running wattage of 150 a day. Now that we know how many watts does a refrigerator use and how to compute an estimate of its total monthly cost, let’s look at some ways to save the refrigerator’s energy.
Tips To Save On Refrigerator Power Consumption
Tip 1. Position your refrigerator in the right location, so it doesn’t overwork its engine by expelling surrounding hot air. Place it in a cool area and keep it away from heat sources like windows or an oven.
Tip 2. Be mindful of leaving your refrigerator door open for too long. Don’t leave the refrigerator door open even if you’re moving items within short distances. The compressor starts working the moment you open the door of your refrigerator. Close your refrigerator door immediately.
Tip 3. Keep your refrigerator clean. Clean your unit every 3 months. Pull your unit away from the wall so you can check the coils and dust the area underneath it. Your refrigerator uses less energy if it is well-ventilated.
Tip 4. Set the appropriate temperature for the refrigerator and the freezer. Internal temperature should be set at 37 degrees F. Freezer temperature should be set at 0 degrees F.
Tip 5. Store cool or room temperature food to prevent overworking your refrigerator’s compressor. Keep your freezer slightly full, so it doesn’t exert effort to cool an empty space. Make sure you store food that is cool enough, so your refrigerator doesn’t struggle to cool it down.
Tip 6. Empty a partially filled refrigerator and consolidate it with another unit to save electricity.
Tip 7. Utilize timer switches for refrigerators that don’t contain any perishable food. Refrigerators in homes are responsible for 10% of energy consumption, which is significantly lesser than the energy consumption for commercial refrigerators—this isn’t an excuse to be complacent. If you haven’t decided on a unit, we will show you some of the factors to consider when purchasing a refrigerator.
How To Choose The Right Refrigerator
Knowing how many watts does a refrigerator use is just one of the other factors that should influence your choice for a refrigerator.
- Make sure you have kitchen space.
- Ensure your refrigerator has a few inches around all sides for ventilation.
- Ensure that refrigerator doors open unobstructed.
- Ensure the doors open in the right direction based on your kitchen space for safety and convenience.
- Choose a refrigerator that complements your eating habits.
- More fresh food requires a freezer-on-bottom unit for convenience.
- If you store more frozen meat, freezer-on-top models are best.
- Check on different model types that make your cooking and eating habits easier to manage.
- Choose an energy-efficient refrigerator without unnecessary features.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR mark, which is a certification on energy-efficient and environment-friendly models.
- Avoid built-in water and ice dispensers since these features consume a significant amount of energy.
- Refrigerators with top-mounted freezers consume less power compare to other configurations.
- A fridge with a defrost cycle also consumes more power.
Conclusion
Awareness for our appliance’s energy consumption hits two birds with one stone. Whether you’re after energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness or finding more ways to be eco-friendly at home, the outcome is the same: It’s good for you and the environment. Now that you know how many watts does a refrigerator use, you have enough information in your pocket to anticipate its cost on your monthly bill together with some tips to manage energy use effectively. Here’s how to learn more about power usage.