Prepping Your Fridge for the Holidays
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f your fridge is more than a decade old, the holidays might be too much for it. Consider replacing your old fridge, and this time, buy one that bears the Energy Star label, which means it uses at least 15% less energy than federal standards require and 40% less than one that’s been around for 10-plus years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. By replacing your refrigerator with a new, energy-efficient model, you also could save up to $300 in electricity charges over its lifetime. When shopping for a new refrigerator or freezer, be sure to read the EnergyGuide label. It tells you how many kilowatt-hours of electricity the unit will consume over a year of operation. The smaller the number, the better. Look for refrigerators that have a freezer on the bottom or the top, as side-by-side designs consume more energy. Chest freezers also are typically better insulated than upright models. Whether you’re buying a new
fridge this year or not, follow these tips for more efficient use around the holidays: • Brush or vacuum your refrigerator’s coils regularly to improve efficiency by as much as 30%. • Keep your refrigerator full, as doing so will help your unit retain cold better. If you have trouble keeping it stocked, fill the extra space with bottles or containers of water.
• Reduce the refrigerator’s temperature if liquids are frosty in the morning. • Set the refrigerator temperature between 36 and 40 degrees, and your freezer between zero and 5 degrees. • Put a dollar bill in the fridge door’s seal to see if it is airtight. If the dollar slips out easily, so will cold air.
Exhaust Fans: A Problem-Solver
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n exhaust fan’s primary purpose is to remove moisture from a room, but it also removes bathroom and cooking odors, and helps reduce fumes from cleaning chemicals. Plus, they can save the paint on walls. Excessive moisture on bathroom walls can cause paint to bubble, peel and chip. The excess humidity with every shower you take can cause mold to accumulate. Exhaust fans help prevent those problems, and taking good care of an exhaust fan can make a home safer
Canoochee EMC Newsletter
and more comfortable. So, invest in good ones, and hire a pro who knows how to install them properly. Choose a quiet model so it won’t annoy you when you turn it on. And remember to turn it off once the air in a room clears. As helpful as an exhaust fan is, it can suck the heated or air-conditioned air out of your home if you let it run after it has done its job of removing odors and humidity from your kitchen or bathroom. A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative
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