It’s essential to understand how many watts to run a refrigerator needs since it’s standard household equipment that runs continually. This will help you choose the correct wattage for your home’s electrical panel and save you from unforeseen costs. We’ll explain how many watts a typical refrigerator consumes and suggest reducing it.
What Is A Watt, And How Is It Measured?
The watt’s pace at which work is completed is measured in terms of power. One watt is used, for instance, when you turn on a light switch since it takes one watt to illuminate the light bulb. Watts are a standard unit of measurement for bigger appliances.
How Many Watts Does A Refrigerator Use?
The electricity used by a refrigerator ranges from 300 to 700 watts. It will require around 550 watts if the temperature is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. It will use around 620 watts when set at 40 degrees.
How Do I Determine The Wattage Of My Refrigerator?
Using Your Refrigerator’s Energy Guide Label
Check out the Energy Guide label on the front of your refrigerator if you’re worried about how much energy it uses. The methods below may be used to determine how much electricity your refrigerator uses:
- Search for the Energy Guide label. Detailed information about your refrigerator, including an estimated annual operating cost, is shown on a little chart attached to the door.
- To get the energy usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh), divide the wattage by 1,000. For example, if the label shows that your fridge’s yearly energy usage would be 1884 kWh
1884 (kWh) x 1000* = 1,884,000 watts
1,884,000 watts (W) divided by 365 = 5,162 watts
5,162 watts divided by 24
= 215 watts
As you can see, choosing the proper wattage for your home’s electrical panel requires considering how many watts a refrigerator consumes.
Utilizing The Volts And Amps Tag On Your Refrigerator
Find a label inside your refrigerator that provides volts and amps to estimate wattage and power utilization.
Let’s utilize a refrigerator’s label rating of 215V/4.5A:
215 volts (V) x 4.5 amps (A) = 967.5 watts (wattage)
967.5 watts divided by 3 is 322.5 watts (average power usage)
To find out how much electricity your refrigerator uses in a day and a year:
When you multiply 322.5 watts by 24 hours, you get 7,740 watt-hours, or 7.74 kilowatt-hours (7,770/1000 daily power usage)
7.74 kilowatt-hours multiplied by 365 days = 2,825 kilowatt-hours (annual power usage)
Using Energy Power consumption Meter:
If your refrigerator has no energy star rating, contact the manufacturer or get a KWH meter. An energy meter is the most accessible and accurate technique to assess appliance power use.
Your meter will come with instructions, but they’re straightforward to operate. The refrigerator is plugged into the meter, which is plugged into the wall. The meter calculates the device’s power use.
How Can I Reduce My Refrigerator’s Energy Consumption?
There are several things you can do to increase the efficiency of your appliances, even when you can’t change the refrigerator’s wattage:
- A refrigerator with an LED display and automated settings is a better choice. The annual energy cost savings from these measures may reach $50.
- If you keep the air filter in your refrigerator clean, you’ll save 5% of the time and energy you would have used.
- When you are at home, try to keep the temperature between 36 and 38 degrees, and when you are out, between 37 and 38.
- Wash your dishes using cold water since it uses less energy than hot water.
- To increase the efficiency of your refrigerator, clean the condenser coils once a year. Because of this, the compressor will be under less stress, adding six years to its life.
- Ensure that your refrigerator is located in a cold, dry area. The internal temperature will rise if it’s kept in a warm garage or kitchen, putting more significant strain on the compressor and increasing its wattage.
- To prevent losing cold air when the fridge door opens, keep it full. You will save around 5% as a result of your power bill.
- If you genuinely don’t need such a big fridge, choose a smaller one. A 500-to 600-lb. unit is 1,000 pounds more effective. Using a fridge, you may save roughly $20 a year on electricity expenditures.
- Keep your refrigerator away from appliances with heat, such as ovens and dishwashers.
What Are Some Economical Ways To Reduce The Wattage Used By A Refrigerator?
One easy way to lower the power of a refrigerator is to wait until the refrigerator door is fully closed before turning it on. Depending on the age of your appliance, different wattages are permitted. However, older models often have a cap of around 115 watts. The wattage of your refrigerator is easy to find on the label on the back.
A refrigerator will run as efficiently as possible if you keep it well-stocked and practice energy conservation. Avoid using an outdated model that can only chill a limited number of goods, and don’t leave the door open for too long.
To reduce energy usage, use the following advice:
- Make sure a surge protector is connected to the refrigerator’s outlet.
- Regular coil cleaning may increase airflow and cut down on energy use.
- If required, remove the refrigerator from the wall to make room for ventilation.
How Much Money Can You Save By Reducing The Wattage On Your Refrigerator?
By switching from a 700-watt refrigerator to a 500-watt one, you may save around 23 kWh per month. At $0.11 per kWh, you would save $2.60 a month on your power cost. Over thirty months, you may save $83.
However, you may save roughly 34 kWh per month if your refrigerator is currently a 500-watt model and you move to a 400-watt one. Your monthly energy bill savings would be around $3.40 at $0.11 per kWh. 30 months’ worth of savings would be $110.
Even though several companies make great energy-efficient refrigerators with up to 500 watts, it’s essential to know that these devices still use more energy than the average refrigerator.
Some refrigerator models are more energy-efficient and use as little as 200 watts. Still, they also tend to be more compact. These little refrigerators do not best serve large families.
However, suppose you want to get the most for your money. In that case, it’s advisable to get a 500-watt refrigerator and try to choose one of the most energy-efficient models available. It’s crucial to consider the new refrigerator’s wattage, not simply from a power consumption standpoint but also from a financial perspective.
Conclusion
Refrigerators are standard household appliances, so they’re not the most difficult to calculate. If you know the all appliances’ wattages factor in how many watts you need for other appliances like water heaters, air conditioning units, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.
FAQs
What Are The Most Efficient Fridges?
Refrigerators with less than 257 kWh of annual energy consumption are awarded the highest energy star ratings.
How Many Watts Does A Refrigerator Use On Standby Mode?
When in standby mode, most devices use between 0.1 and 0.2 watts, the same amount as a digital alarm clock, or around $2 more annually.
How Many Watts Does An Everyday Refrigerator Use?
A standard-sized refrigerator consumes roughly 510 kWh annually, which composes the energy consumption of a 42-inch TV that is on for four hours daily.
Do Newer Fridges Use More Power Than Older Ones?
Modern refrigerators consume less energy than earlier versions, primarily true of “energy star” certified models. Earlier versions used roughly 350 kWh annually.
How Many Watts Does An Everyday Fridge Use Per Hour?
Currently, a typical refrigerator utilizes around 1000 watts per hour. This suggests that the annual cost of a continually running refrigerator will increase by $25. However, if you turn it off at night, the yearly cost will only be around $5, which is almost half as much as a 60-watt light bulb.
How Much Power Consumes a Chest Freezer?
The annual energy consumption of a full-sized chest freezer is about 550 kWh or roughly the same as a 65-watt light bulb. A half-size model consumes a little bit less power.
