How Much Electricity Does a Fridge Use? Energy Ratings Explained

If you are trying to work out whether your fridge is costing too much to run, or comparing models before you buy, two questions come up: how much electricity does a fridge actually use, and what does the star rating really tell you?

How Much Electricity Does a Fridge Use? The Short Answer

It depends on size, type, age and how it is used. In Australia, the best guide is the Energy Rating Label, which shows a star rating and an estimated energy use in kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. More stars means a more efficient fridge for its size, and a lower kWh figure means lower running costs. You can also measure your own fridge’s use with your electricity meter or a plug-in energy monitor. A fridge using far more than its label suggests may have a fault.

Understanding the Energy Rating Label

The Energy Rating Label on Australian fridges has two key parts:

• Star rating. Compares efficiency against fridges of a similar type and size. More stars is better.
• Energy consumption figure. The estimated kWh per year under standard test conditions. This is the most useful number when comparing two fridges, because it reflects the actual power a model is expected to use.

A large fridge with a good star rating can still use more power than a small fridge with fewer stars, so always look at the kWh figure as well. Real-world use will differ from the label depending on room temperature, door openings and settings.

What Affects How Much Power Your Fridge Uses

• Size and type. Larger fridges, French door models and fridges with ice makers and dispensers generally use more.
• Age and condition. Worn seals, dirty coils and tired components all push consumption up.
• Room temperature. A fridge in a hot garage or next to an oven runs much longer. See how room temperature affects a fridge.
• Settings. Colder than needed means more power.
• Usage. Frequent door openings and hot food add load.
• Faults. A failed condenser fan, defrost problem or refrigerant leak can make the compressor run almost constantly.

How to Measure Your Fridge’s Power Use

Option 1: Plug-in energy monitor. Plug the monitor into the wall and the fridge into the monitor. Leave it for at least 24 hours, ideally a week, and read the kWh figure. Multiply a daily figure by 365 to compare with the label.

Option 2: Your electricity meter. Take a meter reading, wait 24 hours and read it again with the fridge running. Repeat on a similar day with the fridge switched off, with food safely stored elsewhere. The difference is roughly what the fridge uses. This is less precise, because other appliances vary from day to day.

If your fridge uses much more than its label figure suggests, especially in mild weather, have it checked.

Power use looks too high? Call Ace Fridge Repairs on 0452 462 556 for an inspection.

Signs a Fault Is Increasing Power Use

• the fridge runs almost non-stop. See why a fridge runs all the time
• the sides or back are much hotter than usual
• frost builds up on the freezer back wall
• the seals are split or the door does not close by itself
• the fridge is struggling to hold temperature

Should You Replace an Old, Power-Hungry Fridge?

An old fridge with a sound compressor and a simple fault is often worth repairing. If it has a major fault and is also inefficient, a new, higher-rated model may make more sense. Our repair vs replace guide walks through the decision, and our 12 tips to reduce fridge power consumption help whichever you choose.

Fridge Efficiency Checks Across Sydney

Ace Fridge Repairs checks and repairs fridges across Greater Sydney, including Greenacre, Seven Hills and Bondi, from 93B Pagoda Crescent, Quakers Hill NSW 2763. All repairs carry a 12-month warranty on parts and labour.

For residential fridge repairs, call 0452 462 556, 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions