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TIL about the weird link between fridge door seals and your power bill
I was reading an old trade magazine from 2018 at the library yesterday and saw a stat that really got me. It said a fridge door seal with just a 1/8 inch gap, which you can barely see, can let in enough warm air to make the compressor run almost 30% more. That's like adding another $50 or more a year to someone's electric bill for a tiny, often ignored part. I tested it on my own fridge at home with a dollar bill in the seal, and sure enough, it slid right out in one spot. I've fixed a lot of noisy compressors, but I never really connected how often a simple worn seal might be the real cause of the extra work. It's one of those cheap parts that makes a huge difference. Has anyone else found that checking the seal first saves a ton of diagnostic time on 'not cooling right' calls?
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daniel1406mo ago
Man, how many years have I been paying for a fridge that was basically holding the door open for warm air? That dollar bill trick is a real eye opener, and now I'm wondering what other dumb little things are costing me money. I guess it's like finding out you've been driving with the parking brake on this whole time.
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dylan3766mo ago
Oh man, wait till you check your dryer vent.
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charlescraig6mo ago
Dude, my buddy had the same thing happen with his dryer vent. He called me over because his laundry room felt like a sauna, lol. The vent pipe behind the dryer was almost totally crushed flat, and the whole outside flap was sealed shut with years of lint. @dylan376 is right, you gotta check that thing. His dryer was probably running twice as long just to dry one load.
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