WHEN you reach into your fridge to grab the milk for your cuppa, you probably don’t even think about the temperature inside.
But as it turns out, not having your fridge at the right temperature could be ramping up your energy bill.
GettyKeeping your fridge at the wrong temperature could be adding £50 to your bill[/caption]
And even more important is to make sure its settings are correct considering it has to stay on 24 hours a day.
Experts recommend fridges to be between 2°C and 6°C and a freezer should be less than -18°C.
But settings will vary between models, so it’s worth checking the manual that came with yours if you aren’t sure about the best setting.
Having your fridge at its optimum temperature can help it run more efficiently and is a vital way of making sure that it isn’t costing you more than it should.
Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at Uswitch, said: “Setting the fridge temperature too high will result in it running at its full power output — and could even cause some food items to freeze.
“Setting it too low runs the risk of food going off.”
You could be wasting £50 a year, based on the average fridge using 166kWh of energy to run for 12 months.
Plus, you’re pouring even more money down the drain if you’re having to throw food away because it’s been spoilt.
The Sun picked Ben’s brains to find out a few other ways you make sure your fridge is running efficiently to save you some cash.
How to save money in running your fridge
Regularly defrosting your fridge and freezer keeps ice under control and makes sure everything’s working efficiently.
But you should be cleaning more than just the inside of the fridge to keep it in good working order.
Ben said: “It’s recommended that you clean behind your fridge and freezer regularly to help keep them cool and working as efficiently as possible.”
It’s also important not to leave the fridge door open for longer than necessary.
Ben said: “This is especially important on warm days, as this will cause the temperature to rise, meaning your appliance will need to work harder to cool back down.”
Ben’s final tip is to keep your fridge as full as possible because it uses less energy when it’s well stocked.
He added: “You can also fill it with water bottles, which will do the job just as well and give you lots of cool drinks when it’s hot.”
Meanwhile, an appliance pro has revealed that you could be adding £100 to your energy bill by keeping your fridge freezer in the wrong place.
Plus, one savvy saver has revealed how she saved £3,000 by organising the food in her fridge.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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