Saving Energy with Appliances

Your appliances are expected to do a lot. No one understands that fact more than our appliance experts at Target Appliance Repair. We demand a lot from our fridges, stoves, dishwashers, and other major items. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget that in order for these appliances to be at their very best, we need to take steps to ensure that. We aren’t talking about substantial, time-consuming tasks here (generally not). Simple appliance maintenance can go a long way towards making certain your appliances will function in optimal fashion for the whole of their average appliance lifespan.

That aspect of optimal functionality is important to keep in mind. This is because it isn’t just a matter of making sure your appliances perform as they are supposed to. We are also talking about the amount of energy your appliances use. This is something we often forget.

How Much Energy Do Our Appliances Use?

Suffice to say that your major appliances are likely using a lot of energy. To be sure, new appliances are more energy efficient than ever. Homeowners are always looking for green-friendly initiatives to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. The manufacturers of appliances are definitely aware of that.

Still, we sometimes forget a very important fact with the appliances we currently own: If your appliances are working harder than they are supposed to, the energy costs are going to go up. With things like a fridge, which is running consistently from one day to the next, the unnecessary energy usage can add up in a hurry. Basic appliance maintenance, as well as a few other simple steps, can go a long way towards establishing your appliances as items that only use as much energy as is necessary to carry out their features and responsibilities.

How to Save Energy with Your Appliances

When it comes to cutting down on your monthly energy costs, there are a number of different things that you can do. Our appliances are not always first and foremost on our minds in this arena, but it is something that is worth keeping in mind all the same.

If you are eager to cut down on your energy bills, while making sure your appliances don’t wear themselves out by working too hard, here are some easy things to keep in mind:

• There should be a few inches of space behind your refrigerator. Not surprisingly, your fridge is probably using more energy than any other appliance in your home. A lot of our tips are going to center around making sure your fridge is getting all the support it needs. The space between your fridge and the wall should be such that it ensures air will circulate properly around your condenser coils.
• The condenser coils themselves should be gently cleaned every few months. You can accomplish this easily enough by pulling out your fridge and using a vacuum and brush. If you have pets, you will probably want to clean the coils every month.
• Check the temperature on your fridge. For the actual refrigerator portion, the temperature should be somewhere between 37-40°F. For the freezer, the temperature should be somewhere between 0-5°F.
• Make sure the fridge is full. The more stuff you have in your fridge, the more evenly the air inside will circulate. If you don’t keep a lot of things in your fridge, put some jugs of water in there. This should take care of things nicely.
• Check the gasket on your fridge. Anything with holes or cracks is unacceptable and should be replaced as soon as possible. A gasket keeps the cold air inside your fridge while keeping the cold air out.
• If you can wash your clothes in cold water, then you should certainly consider doing so. Most of the energy used by your washing machine goes towards heating the water. If you have a cold/warm/hot setting for the water, and you can’t do cold water, consider warm as a compromise.
• The lint trap on your dryer should be cleaned after every use. Failure to clean the lint trap will not only raise your energy bills, but it also leaves you susceptible to a serious fire hazard.
• The “auto” setting on your air conditioner probably seems like the most efficient option. Believe it or not, but leaving the AC unit “on” is actually a better idea. It does a better job of making sure the air is being properly circulated.
• Make sure your dishwasher is full when you’re running it. There is obviously a pretty fine line between full and overloaded.

Remember that it’s not just about saving on your energy bills, in terms of the suggestions we’ve run past you in this article. The harder your appliances have to work, the more likely it is that they will eventually break down. The benefits of all the tips we mentioned above are indeed numerous and long-lasting.