Published 9 May 2015

Miranda on old fridges

We’ve all heard the joke “Is your fridge running?....Well you’d better go and catch it!” but how many of you know if your fridge is running efficiently, or if it is costing you more than it should?

Old, inefficient fridges need to work harder and use more electricity to keep your food fresh and cold. A standard fridge/freezer costs around $100 per year to run.

If your fridge is over 10yrs old it could be costing you at least twice as much and with fridges lasting around 16yrs, there are lots of old, inefficient models still running.

There’re a few things to check to find out if your fridge needs maintenance: first, the seals on the fridge should be tight - you can check this by sliding a piece of paper in the seal and closing the door. If the paper drops, the seals need replacing.

Another thing to check is if the fridge is continuously working to maintain the set temperature or if it struggles to keep to the right temperature (2 to 4 degrees C for fridges and -15 to -18 degrees C for freezers) or, if it’s more than 15 years old, it could be time to upgrade to a more energy efficient model.

When purchasing a new fridge, check for energy efficiency ratings. EECA Energywise website provides good advice on what to look for when choosing a new model, i.e. those with the Energy Star registered trademark will typically use 40% less energy than comparable models without.

The correct set up and regular maintenance will help to ensure that your fridge operates at optimum performance. Fridges should not be located near ovens and there should be a good air gap around all sides for proper ventilation.

If your fridge doesn’t automatically defrost, this should be done manually when the ice builds up at the back. Dusting around the coils at the back (if present) is also good practice.

If it is time for an upgrade, make sure your old fridge is disposed of responsibly.

Fisher & Paykel will organise for free collection and recycling of any fridge/freezer model.

Alternatively they can be recycled at the Southern Landfill (where it costs $25 to de-gas them). If you’d like us to assess the energy efficiency of your home, you can get a free 2 hour home energy assessment – check out the details here.