How much does a refrigerator consume: per hour, day, month, how to choose an economical model

ХThe refrigerator is one of the leaders in the consumption of electricity among all household appliances. The reason is the round-the-clock operation of the device, albeit with periodic shutdowns (with the exception of devices with inverter compressors).

Below we will consider what the number of kilowatts consumed depends on, what energy consumption classes exist, how to calculate consumption per hour, month or year.

Separately, we present the factors that affect the consumption of electricity, consider real recommendations for savings and highlight the main tips for choosing the best model.

What determines the amount of electricity consumed

Five main factors affect the power of the refrigerator, namely:

1. Refrigerator volume.
2. Electricity consumption class.
3. Number of compressors.
4. Applied technology.
5. The temperature in the room.

Without analyzing these indicators, it is difficult to understand how much a refrigerator actually consumes.

Working space volume

When buying a refrigerator, pay attention to the amount of internal space. The larger it is, the higher the power requirements, and the more electricity is required to cool / maintain the desired temperature.

The exception is new models with a consumption class of A + or more. In them, the manufacturer has achieved a reduction in consumption without reference to the volume of internal working space.

Availability of No Frost technology

Today, more and more manufacturers offer models with the No Frost option. Its presence implies the absence of ice on the back wall, even during prolonged operation.

This is achieved through the operation of fans responsible for the movement of air flow in each of the sections.

Another element is a heater, which excludes the appearance of such frost due to heating.

The increase in consumption in refrigerators with No Frost is due to the need to power additional equipment, namely a heater and a fan.

The latter, by the way, when working in parallel with the compressor leads to an increase in noise.

An additional factor is usually the presence of an icemaker, which also requires power.

A special evaporator is used to create ice, but its consumption is minimal.

Number of compressors

Most refrigerators have one compressor, but such models consume additional electricity due to the increased load and the need to cool two chambers at once: a freezer and a refrigerator.

The main advantage of single-compressor devices is the price, which is significantly lower than 2-compressor devices.

Refrigerators with two compressors, in turn, are more economical. This is due to the separation of the functions of the two pumps and, accordingly, the reduction in power consumption.

As a result, electricity consumption costs are reduced.

The advantages of such models also include the ability to turn off one of the compressors without risking products in another section.

Room temperature

The amount of energy consumed is directly affected by the situation in the room where the refrigeration equipment is located.

The greater the difference between the temperature inside and outside, the higher the consumption.

This is due to the fact that the refrigerator is forced to turn on more often or even be in an active state.

So, in summer, during the heat, the device consumes much more than in winter, when it is cooler outside and in the apartment. You can already see the difference in consumption in utility bills.

Energy consumption classes

When buying a refrigerator, it is important to look at the amount of energy consumed per month.

The most economical are devices with the A +++ parameter.

If the manufacturer indicated this designation in the technical specifications, you can be sure of high efficiency. This issue is considered in more detail below.

Compressor type

Another factor affecting energy consumption is the type of compressor. Today, the industry produces devices of the following types.

Linear

Classic variant. Operates in start/stop mode. In other words, when the temperature in the refrigerator compartment rises above the set parameter, the intermediate relay is activated.

At the same time, the motor turns on and the temperature in the freezer decreases.

As soon as the desired temperature parameter is reached inside, the relay gives a command and the compressor turns off.

This is how most modern refrigerators work.

Pros:

1. Simplicity of execution.
2. Reliability.
3. Low equipment cost.

Cons:

1. Increased starting currents, which reduces the life of the compressor and electrical wiring.
2. Noisy work.
3. Increased energy consumption, because after turning on the unit works with maximum load.

Inverter

This is a more modern type of compressor that works on a different principle.

It does not have a start-stop option, and the emphasis is on continuous operation with smooth power control depending on needs. At the same time, the set temperature regime is maintained inside.

Pros:

1. Less electricity consumption.
2. Longer service life – from 10 years and above.
3. Low noise level due to low speed operation.

Cons:

1. The complexity of design execution, which means repairs are more expensive.
2. Higher price, which in most cases makes the purchase not economical. For example, the difference in price between devices with a linear and inverter compressor is 4 – 10 thousand rubles, and the difference in the cost of electricity consumption per year is 400 rubles. Those. the acquisition of a seemingly modern device will pay off in 10-25 years.

Additional factors

A number of less significant factors affecting energy consumption can be added to those discussed above:

1. Number of features. The more of them, the higher the power consumption.
2. Tightness. Electricity consumption directly depends on the tightness and quality of thermal insulation. The better these parameters, the less cold comes out, and the lower the load on the compressor.

The indicators considered above in a complex affect consumption and should be taken into account when calculating / choosing.

Energy classes

As noted above, the energy class has a significant impact on the amount of kWh consumed per year.

For convenience, we summarize the information in a table.

Note that G, E and F are no longer found due to high consumption. This group, as a rule, includes obsolete equipment, produced even more than 20 years ago.

If you give figures, refrigerators with A +++ consume an average of 130 to 180 kW per year. For comparison, for models with the C-class, this parameter is about 900 kW.

The energy efficiency class is assigned by specific EU directives on energy and transport.

For example, document number 1060/2010 indicates the need to use new classes, namely A +, A ++ and A +++. At the same time, 10 classes are already indicated on the labels, starting from A +++ to G.

How to calculate the cost per hour, month and year

Most modern refrigerators wind up 220-460 kW per year.

For example, let’s take a calculation for the LG DoorCooling + GA-B459MQQM model.

This device has an energy efficiency class of A++, which corresponds to 243 kWh / year. The available information is sufficient for calculations:

1. This refrigerator model consumes 243/12 = 20,25 kWh per month.
2. For a day – 243 / 365 = 665 W / h.
3. In time, the refrigerator takes 665 / 24 = 27,7 W/h.

If you bring these parameters to the cost of electricity, you need to know the rates in your area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbresidence.

So, in the Russian Federation, the average price for 1 kWh is 3,6 rubles, and this allows you to calculate the costs of the owner of the refrigerator for different periods:

1. Month – 72,9 rubles.
2. Day – 2,394 rubles.
3. Time — 0,099 rubles.
4. Expenses per year will amount to 874,8 rubles.

Please note that the above data is an average, and the actual parameters may vary up or down.

To obtain real information, it is necessary to insert an ammeter into the chain, use current clamps or an energy meter.

The latter option is more convenient, because the device is enough to be inserted into the socket, and already the plug from the refrigerator is inserted into it.

In this case, the device will show the actual power consumption and even convert information into rubles, taking into account the established tariff.

But this is already for those who want to study this issue very scrupulously, although in most cases this is not necessary, especially if you often turn on the electric oven or constantly use the boiler.

Against their background, the power consumption of the refrigerator is “tears”.

Using a Power Meter

Now let’s take a closer look at the features of the Power Meter device, which allows you to take many useful parameters: current strength, voltage, power consumption, and others.

The device is powered by a built-in battery. Before you start using, you must enter the settings and set the price for your region.

To do this, hold down the Cost button and set the current parameter.

To change the characteristic, use the UP key, and to go to the next function, use the Function.

For a couple of weeks of operation of the refrigerator, the device showed that the device wound up 51 rubles, 14 kW (for 4 days out of 7).

Also in the menu you can see the minimum and maximum consumption of watts (up to 1 kW).

During operation, the device consumes 150 watts, and with a light bulb – 164 watts.

The main factors affecting the increased energy consumption

There are four main factors that affect the amount of kW that are consumed by the refrigerator.

The main group includes:

1. Chamber load (number of products inside).
2. The number of defrosts during the entire operation of the device.
3. The frequency of opening doors when the cold comes out into the room.
4. The temperature in the room.
5. The location of refrigeration equipment near a gas stove or other heating appliances (devices). For example, there is a heating battery nearby.

In addition to the main ones, a number of indirect factors stand out:

1. Problems with thermal insulation in the design of equipment.
2. Malfunctions in the operation of heat transfer when the refrigerator is installed close to the wall on one, two or even three sides.
3. Violation of operating requirements when heated dishes are placed inside.

What manufacturers are doing to save money

Refrigerator manufacturers are aware of the energy consumption problems and are taking steps to address them.

The main steps should include:

1. Improving the thermal insulation parameters of the hull.
2. Optimization of the thermostat. After reaching a certain temperature level, the device turns off the cooling for a while.
3. Adding an auto-defrost option. The less ice and ice inside, the less electricity the device consumes.

What can you do to save energy

With proper operation of refrigeration equipment, electricity consumption can be reduced by an average of 10-15%.

Follow these simple guidelines:

1. Defrost the refrigerator periodically, except for models with NoFrost.
2. Do not open the appliance door unnecessarily. Only do this if you really need to take some food inside.
3. Try not to store inside an open container with liquids (without a lid). Violation of this rule leads to an increase in humidity inside and, accordingly, affects the quality of the equipment.
4. Install the refrigerator correctly so that it does not stand close to the wall. It is also not recommended to cover it with a rag or put things on top.
5. Do not set the temperature controller to the minimum settings. It is better to set the average, because the consumption of the device depends on it.
6. Avoid placing warm/hot food in the refrigerator. Otherwise, the operation of the capacitor is lost, and this can lead to a decrease in the life of the refrigerator. It is important that the temperature is at room temperature.
7. Periodically clean the condenser, namely the grate on the back of the refrigerator (if it is made open).
8. Load the chambers no more than 30% of the total volume, especially at the first start-up.
9. Do not install the refrigerator near heat sources such as hobs, windows or radiators.
10. Make your own thermal insulation of the refrigerator, for example, from the stove.

If possible, follow the above recommendations, which will not only save electricity, but also extend the life of the device.

How to choose an economical model

When buying a refrigerator, buyers ask questions about how to choose the most economical model.

To do this, you need to focus on the following parameters:

1. Energy efficiency class. Choose models with the designation A +++. These refrigerators have the lowest consumption and really help you save money. But such models are still very expensive, so A ++ is also not a bad option.
2. Number of compressors. Devices with two compressors consume less electricity due to better load distribution.
3. The purchase of a model with an inverter compressor is controversial, since such an acquisition will pay off for a very long time, and there is no difference in work efficiency, except that the inverter compressor is a little quieter.

Also pay attention to the number of doors, the dimensions of the working compartments, the cooling system and other parameters.

The most economical models are those with energy efficiency class A +++, without No Frost technology, painted with silver paint and having an inverter compressor.

As an example, it is worth highlighting the Liebherr CN 4315, which has an energy efficiency class of A +++ and consumes 165 kWh / year.

In addition, it provides an inverter type of compressor, there are two chambers and a No Frost system.

The total volume is 321 liters, and of these, the refrigerator / freezer occupies 220 and 101 liters, respectively. There is protection against children and the possibility of outweighing the doors.

True, the cost of the model is about 52 rubles, but for a refrigerator with this energy efficiency class, this is normal.

Knowing how much the refrigerator consumes, and what parameters this value depends on, you can easily choose a model and save electricity costs.

First of all, pay attention to the energy efficiency class, and only then to other parameters – the number of compressors, their type, the presence of the No Frost system, and others.

Do not forget to focus on the manufacturer, reviews and price.