Tet holiday is a quite long vacation according to the lunar calendar, many people will return to their hometown to celebrate the new year with their families. Especially, the students have started their Tet holiday, many young people have started cleaning to go back to their hometown to celebrate Tet. Many of you may wonder because the holiday is quite long, it costs electricity and may have the risk of fire.
So, should we disconnect our refrigerator during this time and will it harm the refrigerator? Let’s find out in the following article!
1 Should we disconnect the refrigerator when going back to hometown to celebrate Tet?
The answer is NO. Because the money saved is not much, but there are many impacts on the refrigerator’s functions, and may even require repair costs.
Disconnecting the refrigerator can lead to damage to the components, cooling capacity, and durability of the refrigerator. Disconnecting the power for a long time will cause oxidation, corrosion, and create an environment for bacteria to develop mold which will be inconvenient for cleaning and create an unpleasant smell.
Because the refrigerant circulation process is not taking place during this time, the internal devices of the refrigerator are not dried, leading to the phenomenon that the refrigerator loses its stable circulation.
In addition, before disconnecting the power, if the refrigerator is not cleaned, the condensation will cause the electronic circuits and sensors to become damp and damaged, resulting in a decrease in cooling function.
2 The best way to save electricity for the refrigerator when going back to the hometown to celebrate Tet
Instead of disconnecting the power, you can adjust the temperature of the refrigerator to the lowest. If you do not store food, when the refrigerator reaches the desired temperature, it will automatically shut down without consuming too much energy and will not cause damage to the refrigerator.
If you are forced to disconnect the power to the refrigerator, after disconnecting the power, you should take out all the food inside the refrigerator and wait until the ice melts completely.
Then, cover the refrigerator with a cotton cloth to prevent moisture from entering, causing damage to the components.
3 Instructions for using the refrigerator effectively and properly
Place the refrigerator in a well-ventilated, non-humid place
You should place the refrigerator in a well-ventilated place to aid in heat dissipation and reduce energy consumption. Especially avoid heat sources such as induction cookers, gas stoves, or windows exposed to direct sunlight.
Check the door seal
Regularly check the rubber gasket on the door to avoid the situation of cold air loss due to damaged rubber after a long period of use. To check, you can insert a banknote into the gap of the door and pull it along the gap, if the operation is smooth and easy, then you need to replace the rubber gasket with a new one.
Limit turning on/off the refrigerator
Do not turn on/off the refrigerator frequently because each time the refrigerator starts up, it consumes a lot of energy. Besides, do not plug the refrigerator into the same socket with other devices and clean up the food in the refrigerator and cover it tightly when the power is disconnected.
Instructions for using the refrigerator effectively and properly
Limit opening/closing the refrigerator
Opening/closing the refrigerator frequently will cause a lot of cool air to escape and require a large amount of energy to cool down from the beginning. Therefore, limit opening the refrigerator for too long and close it tightly after use.
Do not leave the refrigerator too empty or too full
Having too much food in the refrigerator will hinder the circulation of cold air, affecting the refrigerator’s cooling capacity. On the contrary, leaving the refrigerator too empty requires the refrigerator to work continuously to improve the cooling efficiency, which consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, consider storing an appropriate amount of food.
Adjust the temperature appropriately
Adjust the temperature in the refrigerator appropriately according to the weather, increase the temperature to level 4 on hot days and adjust the cold level to level 3 when the weather gets colder.
Properly store food
Paying attention to storing food neatly makes it easier for the airflow to pass through the gaps, limiting energy consumption.
Clean the refrigerator regularly
It is recommended to clean the refrigerator 1 – 2 times a month or whenever there are signs of dirt. Especially pay attention to clean the rubber edge on the refrigerator door to help it close better and prevent cold air from escaping.
I hope this article has helped you answer the question whether to disconnect the refrigerator when not in use. Wishing you a warm and happy new year with your family.