Appliance and Electronic Tips--Dakota Electric Association

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Refrigerator Tips

Make sure the gasket between the door and compartment seals tightly. Close the door on a dollar bill and tug on it in several spots around the door. If there is not resistance, clean the gasket, fix the gasket with glue or purchase a new gasket.
Vacuum the condenser coils once a year.
Place the refrigerator away from heat sources such as stoves and leave a few inches between the coils and the wall for air circulation.
Keep the freezer and the refrigerator relatively full with just enough space between items to allow air circulation.
Keep items tightly wrapped and covered to prevent added moisture.
Keep fresh food compartments between 37° to 40°F, freezers at 5°F, and long-term storage freezers at 0°F.
Check refrigerator temperature by placing an appliance thermometer in a glass of water centered in the refrigerator for 24 hours. For the freezer temperature, place the thermometer between frozen packages for 24 hours.
Regularly defrost refrigerators and freezers.

Dehumidifier Tips

A 40-pint ENERGY STAR® labeled dehumidifier can save consumers roughly $20 per year or more, depending on how it is used.
Remove as many moisture sources from the basement as possible.
Make sure humidifiers are turned off.
Use bathroom fans during and for several minutes after showering.
Use kitchen fans while cooking.
If water seeps into the basement, mop it up as soon as possible. Don't use a dehumidifier to dry up puddles.
Don't dry clothes on a clothesline in the basement while using a dehumidifier.
Choose a dehumidifier at least one size larger than your moisture removal need. A larger model can dehumidify more rapidly than a smaller model, resulting in significant energy savings.
A dehumidifier can help reduce humidity and odor, but does not solve moisture problems. To eliminate moisture problems, first check gutters, downspouts and grading around the exterior of the home.

Lighting Tips

Use "task lighting" wherever possible. For example, use a small lamp for reading instead of lighting the entire room.
Avoid "long-life" incandescent bulbs. They are less efficient than ordinary bulbs and give off less light per watt.
Use one large wattage bulb instead of several small ones in areas that need a lot of light (one 100-watt bulb actually provides more light than two 60-watt bulbs).
Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) when possible. CFLs are four times more efficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same light.
Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with reflective backing and electronic ballasts for workrooms, garages and laundry areas.
Use 4-watt mini-fluorescent or electro-luminescent nightlights. Both are more efficient than incandescent counterparts.
When purchasing new light fixtures, consider buying dedicated CFL fixtures with built-in ballasts.
Consider CFLs with reflectors for spot lighting. The lamps range from 13 to 32-watts and direct light using a reflector and lens system.
If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, consider replacing them with CFL torchieres, which use 60 to 80 percent less energy and produce more light.
When buying bulbs, check the package for information. You want the most lumens per watt.

Fluorescent lamps contain small amounts of mercury that are harmful to the environment. Please read these important CFL disposal instructions.

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