Do Minifridges Use A Lot Of Electricity? Small Fridges And Power Consumption Mini Guide

Fridges often consume more electricity when the internal temperatures are high; for instance, when you put hot foods inside, they consume much less electricity when temperatures are low. Like bigger fridges, smaller fridges will force cooler air into the inner chamber when temperatures are high, and the fan supports this. When temperatures are constantly high, the thermostat may be forced to remain in a closed position, thus pushing more cool air into the fridge compartment and making the device work harder than average, and drawing more energy than usual.

So, Do Minifridges Use a Lot of Electricity?

Yes, minifridges use a lot of electricity because the average fridge uses between 233 and 310 kWh per year while the much bigger fridges use up to 420 KWh a year.

How Much Electricity Does Your Minifridge Consume?

Though the average electricity consumption of a minifridge should vary between 233 and 310 kWh per year, it all depends on the brand, size, material design, and insulation type of the minifridge.

Power consumption in a minifridge is measured in wattage, and there are many other factors aside from design material, model and insulation, that can determine electricity consumption. For instance, the internal temperature settings of the fridge, the room temperature, the volume of contents inside the fridge, and how often you open the fridge’s door can determine how much electricity is consumed.

In most cases, a minifridge consumes between 55 and 85 watts of electricity per hour, especially when turned on. To work out the total energy consumption of your minifridge, you need to convert the wattage used to Kilowatt.

The simple calculation for power consumption, in this case, is wattage x Hours per day which equals wattage-hours per day. To convert the wattage into Kilowatt, divide your result by 1000, that is; Kilowatt-hours per day= wattage-hours/1000.

It has been observed that the minifridges lose less cold air, especially when their doors are opened, than the regular bug fridges. Minifridges lose less cool air because they have less volume and they have less capacity, which is often below 4.5 cubic feet. Many standards, large fridges may have between 9 and 30 cubic feet.

What Factors Affect Energy Consumption In Minifridges?

Several factors can affect the way your minifridge consumes electricity, and fortunately, you can adjust most of these to force the device to consume much less energy.

1. Model

Unfortunately, not all models are energy-efficient. Modern minifridges are more energy-efficient than older traditional options. The material type used in the design and the A++ energy rating is two things you can use in identifying the minifridges with lower energy consumption. You may want to avoid minifridges with C or D ratings, and they are the least-energy efficient options in the market.

2. Size

The length, height, and width of a minifridge may also determine how much electricity it consumes. The larger minifridges tend to provide more storage but also consume more electricity, especially when they are accompanied by a small freezer compartment.

3. Age

The older the minifridge, the more energy it will likely consume more electricity. Older fridge models are known to be less energy-efficient compared to newer fridges. New minifridges come with great technological advancements that reduce the amount of energy needed to keep items cool.

4. Settings

Some factory settings can cause your minifridge to consume more energy than usual. This is why it is important to check the pre-set parameters of the fridge when you purchase it. Try to choose a thermostat setting for less energy consumption, and you can vary the settings later if you want better results.

5. Location of the Minifridge

Naturally, a minifridge kept in a warmer location or space will consume more energy than one located in a cooler location. Minifridges kept in warmer locations tend to work double as they should to keep up with the energy supply.

6. The Usage

The usage of your minifridge will also determine how much energy it draws to keep your items cool. If you open your minifridge too often, for instance, or leave the door opened for a longer time, more air will leave the fridge, and the compressor will have to work extra to replace the lost air and provide more cooling power.

7. Season

Minifridges consume more electricity in the summer than in the winter. This situation is so because the air outside is cooler in winter, and there will be little electricity needed to cool the items inside the fridge, unlike the warmer summers.

What Are Some Key Ways To Reduce Your Minifridge’s Energy Consumption In The Home?

Though you may have limited power to reduce your minifridge’s electricity consumption, there are several ways through which you can save yourself a significant amount of money with smart moves.

1. Allow More Ventilation

Minifridges consume more electricity when they are placed in tight places and too close to other substances. Though it can fit into tight spaces, you should not squeeze your minifridge inside your cabinets. The appliance will require some space to allow its heat to properly move around and be replaced with cool air within. The less the space around your minifridge, the more the work it performs to keep your items cool.

2. Use the Timer

Setting the timer is another way of reducing your minifridge’s reliance on constant electricity usage. You can set the fridge’s timer to determine how long the fridge can turn on to cool the items within. This means the timer will automatically go off once the time to supply gas and cool the temperature is reached. Allowing your minifridge to run on electricity all day can cost you a lot of money.

3. Change the Default Temperature

By default, your minifridge will come with a low temperature, and this temperature will likely exceed the average cold temperatures. You need to check the thermometer and change the temperature at which the fridge operates to ensure that it doesn’t consume much electricity to cool the items too frequently.

4. Remove Dirt and Grime from the Condenser Coils

Many fridge owners often underrate the effects of grime and dirt on condenser coils, and that is the reason your minifridge is working extra hard to cool your food items. Clouds of dust and debris can be trapped inside coils as air is drawn through them. You must switch off the minifridge first before using a clean cloth or a vacuum cleaner to clean the coils.

Cleaner coils will increase your fridge’s cooling capacity and make sure it doesn’t force itself to work more to use up more energy to cool your food items. Experts recommend that you clean the coil and compressors once a month. The coils and compressors are often located at the back, bottom end of the minifridge, and make sure the appliance is turned off before cleaning to prevent electrical shocks.

You must also pay attention to the wall sockets and plug connecting the appliance to the electric outlet. The appearance of dirt and debris inside sockets may cause constant sparks and likely fire outbreaks. Such dirt and debris will also reduce the amount of current passing through, leading to slower cooling and consumption of more electricity.

5. Reduce the Opening and Closing Frequencies

You may never know that it makes more energy sense to open your minifridge door less frequently. When you open the fridge’s door too frequently, its compressor will work harder to compensate for the lost air. To maintain the inner temperature of your fridge, reduce the number of times you open its doors and remove as many items as you can at a time, instead of returning several times to remove different items.

6. Have A Look at the Gasket?

One of the maintenance routines most fridge users ignore is checking certain key components, such as the gasket. The gasket is that rubber lining of the fridge’s door, and if this component becomes loose or broken, then your minifridge will constantly switch on because the temperature within will constantly rise, forcing the compressors to use more electricity to keep things cool.

While small cracks can be sealed with tape, major problems with the gasket will require professional help. You must fix gasket issues as soon as you discover them to ensure that your fridge doesn’t have to overwork itself.

Conclusion

Perhaps the most important step you can take is to find an energy-compliant minifridge if you are buying a new one. For older fridges, you have to pay more attention to all factors that can cause the appliance to draw more current to cool your food items within. Regular maintenance schedules will not only help you reduce the electricity consumption of the fridge it will also help you reduce the risks of expensive repairs and prolong the lifespan of the appliance. A minifridge should be as efficient as larger fridges when properly maintained. Regular maintenance means cleaning the appliance every 1-3 months.