How to Adjust Your Refrigerator Dial by Season to Save on Electricity
Learn how to properly adjust your refrigerator's cooling dial according to seasonal changes to save on electricity bills and prevent food spoilage.
The refrigerator is one of the few household appliances that operates continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, meaning that even a small optimization in its operation can translate into significant savings on the electricity bill. Despite this, many of us tend to ignore the cooling dial located inside the refrigerator, or worse, set it incorrectly, which overloads the compressor and shortens the appliance's lifespan.
A useful guide recently published on the popular YouTube channel Quickdvice suggests dedicating a few seconds to adjust the dial according to the seasons. Such an adjustment prevents over-cooling in the winter and protects your food from spoiling during hot summer days.
What do the numbers on the dial actually mean?
One of the most common misconceptions is thinking that the numbers appearing on the dial (usually on a scale of 1 to 5 or 1 to 7, common in refrigerators in Israel) represent degrees Celsius. In practice, the numbers indicate the level of cooling intensity:
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Number 1: The lowest cooling intensity (the temperature inside the refrigerator will be the highest).
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The highest number (5 or 7): Maximum cooling intensity (the temperature inside the refrigerator will be the lowest).
How to adjust the refrigerator by season
When the room temperature changes, the refrigerator reacts accordingly. The warmer the environment, the harder the refrigerator must work to maintain a low internal temperature:
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In the summer season: The ambient temperature in the house rises, and opening the refrigerator door lets in hot, humid air. To overcome this, it is recommended to set the dial to a higher level—level 4 or 5 (on a 1-5 scale) or level 5 to 6 (on a 1-7 scale).
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In the winter season: The air in the house is much cooler (especially if you live in the north or in the Negev), and the refrigerator does not need to exert heavy effort to maintain the cold. If you leave the dial on high, the food might freeze. In winter, it is recommended to lower the dial to level 2 or 3.
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During transition seasons (autumn and spring): It is recommended to leave the dial at a balanced middle level (level 3 on a 1-5 scale).
The primary goal of adjusting the dial is maintaining a stable internal temperature of about 4 degrees Celsius in the refrigerator compartment (and about -18 degrees in the freezer). This is the temperature that prevents bacterial growth on the one hand, and prevents food from freezing (in the fridge) on the other.
Checking that food stays at a safe temperature
If you are unsure about the exact temperature, a glass of water with a thermometer can be placed on the middle shelf for about 24 hours to check the reading. One small adjustment to the dial will ensure quiet, efficient compressor operation and continuous savings on electricity consumption.
