These are some very useful tips offered by our construction company in Costa Rica
Make room for your refrigerator: Place the refrigerator in a cool, ventilated place, away from humid places (sinks) and at a distance of not less than 10cm from the wall; This will allow an adequate ventilation of the same. Do not locate it in closed cubicles or furniture.
Place the refrigerator away from color sources: Avoid placing the refrigerator near heat sources such as: ovens, kitchens or windows where solar radiation enters, as this can cause the exterior walls of the refrigerator to warm up and the inside.
Check the condition of the gaskets: Check that the gaskets of the doors are in good condition mainly that there are no openings in the closure and some elasticity. Note that if the door is brought closer to the refrigerator the packaging tends to stretch to the minimum, giving a feeling that the door is being pulled, otherwise the packaging may be damaged. In addition, perform a test by inserting a paper between the packaging and the door, if the paper is held without slipping or when trying to pull it feels some resistance, indicates that the packaging is in good condition, otherwise the packaging is damaged. Repeat this action along the door.
Do not insert hot food: Never put hot food in the refrigerator, allow it to cool outside until it reaches room temperature.
Take advantage of the cold of food: When you remove a food from the refrigerator to consume the next day, defuse it in the cooler instead of the outside, in this way take advantage of the cold content. This will make your refrigerator more efficient.
Defrost often (semi-automatic refrigerators): If you have a frost-free refrigerator, defrost it before the ice layer exceeds 3mm thick, with this action you will save up to 30% on consumption in electricity consumption.
Temperature control: Selects intermediate values in the refrigerator temperature control setting. If they are very high, the energy consumption will be higher, causing the cooling system to work more often for the internal temperature of the refrigerator to fall. The position of the recommended temperature control should be the intermediate position.
Clean the grill (condenser): If your refrigerator has a visible “grill” on the back, clean it at least three times a year using a cloth with water or a vacuum cleaner. This will improve the operation of the refrigerator and achieve a reduction in electricity consumption. If it is not visible, look for it at the bottom (usually covered with an easily detachable carton) and proceed with cleaning.
Do not dry clothes: Never use the “grill” located on the back of your refrigerator to dry clothes, shoes, among others, as this causes an increase in electricity consumption. Costa Rica home builders
Keep the freezer full: Keep the freezer as full as possible, so frozen foods will help preserve the cold and facilitate the cooling of incoming foods.
Use the refrigerator door properly: Open the door as little as possible and for short periods of time (no more than 10 seconds). If you need to squeeze foods from the refrigerator, determine which foods you need and proceed to remove them at one time. Do the same when entering them.
Cover containers that hold liquids: Cover containers with liquid products to prevent increased internal moisture and increase efficiency.
Store Food Properly: Avoid storing food in pots or closed plastic bags with large amounts of air, as this increases the duration of the cooling process.
Do not obstruct the circulation of cold air: Avoid obstructing the spaces through which the cold air circulates inside the refrigerator, this will guarantee a better operation of the same and a reduction in the consumption of electricity.
Refrigerate only what you need: Do not refrigerate products that can be kept at room temperature or cooked shortly after purchase.
Reduce consumption when using the Ice Maker and decrease the use of the cold water dispenser: If your refrigerator has Ice Maker, turn it off when there is enough ice in the tray; Further seduce the use of the cold water dispenser. The intensive use of these elements can increase energy consumption by 12% even 14%.
Provide maintenance to your refrigerator: When possible hire at least once a year, a refrigeration technician who checks the proper operation and condition of the equipment.
Make sure that the refrigerator is not uneven with respect to the floor: If the base of the refrigerator or the floor are uneven, the door seal will seal badly and let in hot air.
Purchase the refrigerator that fits your needs: Do not buy a larger refrigerator than you need, but the one that best suits your storage needs. Remember that the larger size and quantity of accessories (Ice Maker, water dispenser, screen with web access, etc.) more electricity consumption has. Refrigerators between 9 feet and 11 feet (258 liters – 315 liters) are recommended for families of 2 persons, between 14 feet and 17 feet (400 liters – 486 liters) for homes with 3-4 people. For each additional member, increase the volume by 2 feet (58 liters).
Buy an efficient refrigerator: If you are going to buy a refrigerator, use the information contained in the energy label and select the most efficient one. Compare the energy consumption values (indicated on the label as KWh / year) for units of the same storage capacity (indicated on the label as volume set in dm3, liters or feet) and select the one with the lowest value of consumption.