Test the seals on your refrigerator and freezer and replace them when needed. Warped or damaged gaskets on your refrigerator or freezer not only waste energy, they can lead to drips and mold. To test their effectiveness, place a dollar bill in the door and close. Gently tug it. If the dollar comes out easily, the gasket is not working properly, and you are losing energy and money. Learn more about how to replace your refrigerator gasket. Watch this fridge gasket replacement video or freezer gasket replacement video.
Defrost your freezer when you notice that a layer of ice has built up. Frost can prevent the evaporator coils from cooling your food effectively and efficiently. To defrost, remove food from the freezer, turn off the freezer, and mop up ice as it melts. Alternatively, you can scrape ice out of the freezer.
Keeping refrigerator coils clean can help you save money and avoid service calls. To clean the coils, first move the appliance away from the wall carefully and unplug it. Locate the coils - either on the back or at the front bottom of the fridge. If they're at the bottom, remove the grill in the front covering them and use a coil cleaning brush (available at hardware and appliance-parts store) to loosen the dirt; then remove it by vacuuming. You may also need to remove the back panel and clean it from the back. If the coils are on the back, clean them the same way. Do this at least twice a year (more often if you have pets) to help keep your refrigerator operating efficiently. Watch this coil cleaning video to learn more.
Check temperature settings on your refrigerator and freezer
The EPA recommends keeping refrigerators between 34 to 40°F and freezers between 0 and 5°F. To test the temperature in a freezer, place a thermometer between frozen packages and check the reading after 24 hours. For the refrigerator, place a thermometer in a glass of water and set it in the center of the fridge for 24 hours before taking the reading. Limiting the frequency of opening and closing doors helps to keep the temperature consistent, saving energy and preserving food longer. Learn more about refrigerator and freezer temperatures from EnergySavers.gov.
Eliminating the use of a large appliance can be one way to reduce the overall energy consumption of household appliances. When appliances reach the end of their useful life, consider if a replacement is really necessary. Also remember to recycle or properly dispose of old appliances when you purchase a replacement. Continuing to run an inefficient appliance, such as an extra refrigerator in the garage, can be costly. Not only will the old unit be less efficient than its replacement, but it may even use more energy by being operated in an unconditioned space.
Wash clothes in cold water at least 75% of the time
When you wash your clothes in hot water, only 10% of the required energy goes to running the machine; 90% goes to heating the water. In most cases, cold water cleans clothing just as well as warm water. Cold water washing results in the biggest energy savings, but even switching temperature settings from hot to warm can cut the energy used to heat a machine load of water in half. Learn more about the benefits of washing in cold water and other energy-saving laundry tips.
You can reduce the amount of energy used for water heating by needing less water when you shower. Federal regulations mandate that new showerhead flow rates cannot exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch. A low-flow showerhead can achieve water savings of 25-60%. Learn more about low-flow showerheads from EnergySavers.gov. Check out this video to learn how to install a low-flow showerhead.
Potomac Edison customers with electric hot water can receive a low-flow showerhead with a Home Energy Check Up
Choosing a low-flow showerhead does not mean that you have to sacrifice the great feeling of a therapeutic shower. There is a wide variety of showerheads available to suit your specific needs. Look for products at your local hardware store with the WaterSense label to ensure maximum water savings.
Aerators cut water use by 30% or more and save money on water and energy bills. By installing faucet aerators, the average household can save over 500 gallons of water per year. Learn more about low-flow aerators from EnergySavers.gov.
Low-volume faucet aerators are very inexpensive and can be installed without replacing the entire faucet. Look for products at your local hardware store with the WaterSense label to ensure maximum water savings. A newer kitchen faucet usually comes with a low-flow faucet aerator that restricts flow to 2.2 gpm, but should you need to replace it, or install one on a bathroom faucet, be sure to select one with a flow rate of no more than 1.0 gpm.
Potomac Edison customers with electric hot water can receive a low-flow aerator with a Home Energy Checkup
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