FORGET Feng Shui, where you put your fridge freezer could be having a major impact on your energy bills – but there's a simple way to fix the problem.
Experts say that where exactly you place the appliance in your home could be ramping up your energy bills without your realising.
With energy bills expected to hit more than £2,800 by October and food prices rising, families are looking for ways to cut their costs.
And while you might not be able to find a cheaper energy deal any time soon, there are still ways to cut costs.
How you use your appliances can significantly affect your bills each month.
And experts have pointed out that even where you place your appliances in your home can impact your bills.
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Experts at Repairaid say: "If your fridge doesn’t have the right ventilation, or lacks space around it, then this can drive energy efficiency down by as much as 15%."
From leaving things on standby to not using the available eco-settings, simple mistakes can become very costly.
A fridge/freezer's main job is to stay cool – stopping your food from spoiling.
But if the appliance is boxed in it has to worked harder to keep cold.
That's because refrigeration appliances require ventilation to work properly.
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Without a steady air flow, the appliance won't be able to regulate temperatures inside properly, making it work harder.
This means it has to use more energy to keep cool, adding to your bill.
A study by Cambridge Energy found that placing a fridge freezer in a cool and ventilated area will mean it uses around 216kWh less energy a year – saving you around £60,
Uswitch also suggests you keep your fridge away from your cooker if you can, and make sure it isn't in direct sunlight.
Anything that's going to heat up the appliance – from sun to oven heat – will increase the work it needs to do to stay cool.
It's worth noting, too, that improper ventilation could result in the fridge freezer failing to work altogether – and repairing or replacing it will be costly.
Where should I store my fridge freezer for better ventilation?
A fridge freezer needs a clear source of cool air entering from the bottom, and warm air needs to be able to exit from the top.
So the first thing you should do is remove anything stored on top of your appliance to prevent warm air from becoming trapped.
And make sure nothing is stored around the outside of your fridge at the bottom so cool air can reach it without obstruction.
Try to avoid storing the kitchen essential in a stuffy room with no windows or doors, as this will restrict fresh air too.
Equally, don't sit your fridge in direct sunlight where heat will beam on the appliance throughout the day.
Pop it in the coolest spot in your kitchen, and make sure there's room between the back of the appliance and the wall by at least 10cm to allow the coils to work most efficiently.
Also, create some distance between your fridge freezer and your cooker or other hot appliances to avoid making it work harder to stay cold.
Elsewhere, we reveal the vampire appliances that could be adding £500 to your energy bills.
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Did you know, turning the thermostat down by 1 degree could save you £100 a year off your heating bill.
And you might be reading your energy bill all wrong which could be pinching unnecessary pennies from your savings.
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