It's cool that you want to keep your fridge humming efficiently, but the amount of food you store in it doesn't matter. “A full refrigerator doesn't decrease energy use,” says researcher Jacob Talbot of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
In a full fridge, the compressor won't need to cycle on and off as much, which will extend the life of the compressor and reduce running costs. So keep your fridge stocked, while leaving room for air to circulate.
Usage: Continually opening and closing the fridge door lets warm air in hence adding extra pressure to the compressor. This means your fridge and freezer will need to use energy to keep the fridge at its desired temperature.
Their representative told us: “A freezer full of food should maintain its temperature better than an empty one”—with “lower temperature fluctuations when the door is opened.” As they explained, though: “[Y]ou also need to get that food cold in the first place, which will take a lot more energy than cooling air.”
The national average price of electricity hovered around $0.14 per kWh (it shot up to $0.16 in late 2022) and the average home's total consumption is 10,632 kWh a year, which totals $1,452.12 yearly. So, in other words, your fridge accounts for a bit more than 10% of the average home's total electric bill.
What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
If you suspect one of your appliances is using excessive amounts of electricity, find out for sure with a wattage tester, such as the MECHEER power meter. Simply plug your appliance into the tester, plug the tester into the outlet, and then run the appliance as usual for 24 hours.
“A full refrigerator doesn't decrease energy use,” says researcher Jacob Talbot of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Your fridge's foodstuffs most likely don't displace enough space to reduce the amount of energy needed to keep it chilled, he explains.
The Dangers of Fridge Overfilling
As a result, the fridge is going to have to work harder to cool everything down. Having too much food in your fridge doesn't just cause it to work harder, but it could also lead to blocked vents, which can damage your fridge.
The majority of the energy your freezer uses goes towards cooling down the air that comes in when you open the freezer door. When your freezer is full, there is less room for warmer air to take up, and the items that are in there help to cool down any air that does sneak in. So keeping it full means less energy used.
On average, a standard refrigerator consumes between 1 to 2 units (kWh) of electricity per day. This can increase if the refrigerator is frequently opened or if it operates in a warmer environment. Energy-efficient models with higher star ratings typically consume less power, making them a cost-effective choice.
Temperature will raise when the doors are opened often, which will cause the refrigerator to run more. In order to keep your unit cool, try to limit the continuous opening of the doors.
A fuller fridge has less air to keep cool, so doesn't have to work quite as hard as a sparsely populated appliance. When sufficiently loaded, items help keep each other cool. You should be able to keep your refrigerator at least 2/3 full.
Your fridge should run from around 35% of the day to around 85% of the day.
According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the average “second refrigerator” is likely between 15 to 25 years old and uses about 750-1000 kilowatt-hours every year which amounts to between $97 to $130 on your electric bill.
Don't overfill your fridge. Inside your fridge the cold air needs to be able to circulate, as this is how it keeps the food chilled throughout. If your fridge is crammed full, the unit has to work even harder to make sure the air can circulate.
Another common cause of compressor failure is a build-up of dirt and dust. This can happen if the fridge isn't cleaned regularly or if there's a lot of dust in the air. Over time, the dirt and dust can clog up the compressor, causing it to overheat and break down.
A freezer will run more efficiently when full. This is because it doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the internal temperature. It is therefore cheaper to run a freezer that is full. Do old freezers use more electricity?
The amount of food that you have inside your refrigerator does matter to its efficiency. An empty refrigerator doesn't stay cool as easily as one that has the right amount of products inside, while a refrigerator that is too full won't cool the contents as easily.
Finally, consider the placement of your fridge. If possible, avoid placing it in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as an oven or radiator. This can cause the fridge to work harder to maintain the correct temperature, leading to higher energy consumption.
If you have recently changed your lifestyle, for example by adding new energy-hungry electronics or appliances, this may be a contributing factor to the high electric bill. In addition, any significant changes in usage, like running the air conditioner more frequently, can also cause your electric bill to skyrocket.