How Much Electricity Does A Refrigerator Use (2024)

One of the biggest appliances in your home is your refrigerator. This may lead you to believe that it is one of the biggest energy hogs in your home. But how much electricity does a refrigerator use?

Refrigerator Energy Consumption

The amount of electricity a refrigerator uses varies based on the model, brand, how full it is, how well it has been maintained, your refrigerator’s age, and several other factors. According to Reduction Revolution, the average refrigerator will use between 1 to 2 kilowatts per hour each day, averaging about $150 per year.

Compared to other kitchen appliances, refrigerators often use the most electricity over the course of a year. Even though they often use fewer watts per hour than many other appliances, refrigerators are constantly running so their consumption adds up over time. (Reliant.com)

If you are curious about how much energy your specific refrigerator uses, you can look up the Energy Guide for your refrigerator’s model to get a general idea. Energy.gov also provides great step-by-step advice on how to estimate all your appliances’ energy consumption with more accuracy for your home.

Shopping for an Energy-Efficient Refrigerator

If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, upgrading to a newer model could reduce your energy consumption drastically. Over the past several years, refrigerator energy efficiency has improved drastically.

If you are shopping for a new refrigerator, estimated energy usage should play a key role in your decision. When shopping, be sure to look at the Energy Guide on each model to compare the cost you will likely have over the course of each year and factor that into your decision.

Purchasing an EnergyStar-rated refrigerator can save you money in the long run by reducing your electric bill and lengthening the lifespan of your refrigerator.

Tips to Improve Energy-Efficiency

Even though your refrigerator has an estimated amount of energy usage per year, there are several things that you can do to save on energy consumption and improve your refrigerator’s efficiency.

Here are some of the top tips we have for our customers.

• Install your refrigerator properly. Installing your refrigerator properly is vital to its performance. You will need to make sure your refrigerator is level and that all the vents have adequate space.

• Do not overfill your fridge. It is important for air to circulate easily throughout your refrigerator for optimal performance. Take care to not pack your fridge too full and leave plenty of space for air to move freely.

• Clean your refrigerator regularly. Cleaning your refrigerator regularly will not only help ensure spoiled food is not cluttering up your refrigerator but can also help improve performance. Be sure to fully clean the shelves, drawers, and entire interior of your refrigerator at least a few times each year. Here’s our step-by-step advice on how to clean your refrigerator.
*Be sure to pay attention to and keep your refrigerator’s coils clean by removing dust and pet hair regularly.*

• Keep up with regular maintenance. Replacing filters or seals and repairing any issues as soon as they arise will keep your refrigerator running more efficiently. Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators from the leading brands help you stay on top of regular maintenance with smart apps that alert you to any issues and remind you when filters need to be changed.

• Defrost your refrigerator and freezer as needed. As frost builds up over time, your refrigerator and freezer’s performance will deteriorate. Defrosting your refrigerator regularly will prevent it from being overworked. Here’s our advice on how to defrost your refrigerator quickly.

• Keep your refrigerator’s doors closed. We have all heard someone in the house say, “close the refrigerator door” and there is definitely a reason. The more time you spend with your refrigerator door open, the harder your refrigerator must work to get back to temperature. Try to think ahead about what you will need to get out at mealtime and grab it all at once and keep a list of what is in your refrigerator rather than opening the door to look. LG’s Instaview refrigerators are helpful because they allow you to easily see your refrigerator’s interior without having to open the door.

Purchase A New Refrigerator at Queen City

At Queen City Audio Video Appliance, we carry countless energy-efficient refrigerators. Choose from our top-freezer refrigerators, French door refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators, bottom-freezer refrigerators, chest freezers, and more.

Our appliance store has several locations you can choose from serving the Carolinas in Charlotte, Salisbury, Morganton, Monroe, Pineville, and our new store coming soon in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.