Why your fridge should be standing on an angle
Many of us are orderly creatures – we like things in the right place, in the right way, at the right angle (to the wall or floor, preferably). But sometimes, we have to fight these urges for the good of all. Well, for the good of our energy bill and our food. The refrigerator is one of those exceptions, and that’s because, well, physics mostly. Let’s take a look.
When you look at your fridge, you may think that it’s perfectly level, but if it was installed by someone from the shop, chances are that it’s tilting slightly backwards. It’s worth checking if your fridge is sitting at an angle because a perfectly level fridge can be prone to ice build-up, or can contribute to a larger power bill. By setting the front of your fridge 0.5 – 1.2cm higher than the back, you’re creating a natural angle at which the door should close by itself.
If you check your fridge and it isn’t at this angle, you should correct it. Before doing anything else, consult your machine’s user manual (if you can’t find it, a quick search online should uncover it). Most fridges will have simple instructions for safely angling the fridge. In most cases, it will be as simple as turning some screws a few times. You should always have someone give you a hand with this procedure – no matter how easy it seems.
Now, speaking of refrigerators, did you know that they can account for more than ten per cent of your monthly energy bill? If you think about it, this shouldn’t come as a surprise – it’s running 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. To help keep your fridge efficient, you should also be keeping it at about 80 per cent full. Anything much less than this and the fridge works harder to maintain temperature when the door is open; anything more and you hinder circulation, which creates warm pockets.
Have you checked your fridge’s angle yet?