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?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel14019d 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.

dylan37619d ago

Oh man, wait till you check your dryer vent.

charlescraig19d 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.