Do you ever wonder about how much electricity your fridge uses? Depending on its size and age, your refrigerator’s power use can widely vary, and you’ll need to consider that when budgeting for your electricity use. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce the amount of energy used by your fridge and save on electricity bills. In this blog post, you’ll learn about how many watts a refrigerator uses and some tips for increased energy savings.
Key Takeaways
- Knowing how many watts your fridge uses is vital to determining your electricity budget and seeing if you can save money on energy costs.
- Calculating the wattage of your fridge requires knowing its amps and volts and then multiplying it by the number of hours it’s run daily.
- To reduce power consumption, make sure your refrigerator is set below 40 degrees, keep the door closed, check the seals, allow for proper air circulation behind it, and position it in a cool corner.
How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?
The running wattage used by a refrigerator can vary significantly, depending on the size and age of the appliance. Additionally, a fridge runs 24 hours daily, which needs to be accounted for. A standard-sized top or bottom freezer fridge typically uses between 100 and 400 watts. But smaller or older models, such as a mini fridge, may go as low as 50 watts, while larger fridges may consume more than 500 watts.
Additionally, refrigerators with an ice maker or water dispenser may increase energy usage compared to models without these features. So ultimately, the type of refrigerator you own will determine your energy use and monthly cost of electricity.
Calculating Wattage
Watts Per Hour
Figuring out how many watts a refrigerator uses per hour can help you save money. To calculate the wattage per hour, you’ll need to figure out the amps and volts for your fridge. Take the number of amps listed on the nameplate and multiply it by the voltage. Then, because the compressor only runs about 30% of the time, divide this total by 3. This will give you the average wattage of your fridge per hour.
For example, on average, a refrigerator with 6 amps and 120 volts uses 240 watts per hour.
- 6 amps X 120 volts = 720 watts
- 720 watts divided by 3 = 240 average running wattage per hour
Using this calculation, you’ll be able to determine how much electricity your fridge uses and adjust your budget accordingly.
Watts Per Day
To determine the watts a refrigerator uses in an entire day, you’ll need to multiply the wattage per hour by the total number of hours in a day, which is 24.
For the example above, a 6 amps and 120 volts refrigerator would use 5,760 watts each day (240 X 24). With this figure, you can calculate how much electricity your fridge uses each day and how much it costs to run. First, you need to get the kilowatt-hours, which will help determine the hourly cost of running your fridge. That process will look like this:
- 5,760 watts / 1,000 watts = 5.76 kWh
Next, you’ll need to find the cost of your electricity per kilowatt-hour. You’ll find this on your electricity bill. Let’s say the cost per kilowatt-hour is 10 cents, so you’ll multiply 5.76 kWh by 0.10 to get the cost per day:
- 5.76 kWh x $0.10 = $0.58 per day
You can then multiply this figure by 30 to get the cost per month or 365 to get the price per year. In this example, that would mean you’re spending approximately $17.40 per month ($0.58 x 30) and $209 ($0.58 x 365) per year on electricity for your refrigerator alone. Use these figures to determine if you need to make changes to your electricity budget or take steps to reduce energy costs.
Fridge Tips: How to Save Energy
Once you know the energy costs of your refrigerator, you can start to look for ways to reduce energy consumption and save money. Use these tips to get started:
Set the Right Temperature
Set your fridge below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting it too low can cause the motor to work harder and increase electricity usage, while putting it too high may decrease the longevity of your food.
Keep Your Door Closed
Make sure to close the door quickly and firmly every time you open it. This will reduce the energy your refrigerator uses and help keep your food fresh longer.
Check the Door Seals
Check the seals around your fridge door to make sure they are tight. If there are any gaps, replace them with new seals to help keep cold air from escaping, thereby increasing energy efficiency.
Allow Circulation Behind
Ensure at least 1-2 inches of space behind your refrigerator for air to circulate. This will help keep it running efficiently and reduce your refrigerator’s power consumption.
Keep Your Fridge in a Cool Corner
Position your fridge away from direct sunlight and heat. Placing it in a cool kitchen corner or a well-ventilated area will help it use less power.