Summer Refrigerator Tips: Adjust These 3 Settings to Avoid Poor Cooling and Damage

With summer arriving early, it’s important to adjust your refrigerator settings to ensure optimal cooling and prevent potential damage. Ignoring these changes can lead to insufficient cooling, higher electricity bills, and even wear and tear on the appliance.

Experts recommend three key adjustments for summer: temperature, airflow (ventilation), and anti-frost/defrost settings. Making these changes helps your fridge perform at its best and withstand the hotter months without issues.

1. Adjust the Temperature

During winters, refrigerators are often set to a milder cold. In summer, you should set your fridge to the coldest setting to cope with higher ambient temperatures.

• Digital Thermostat: Set it to the minimum temperature.
• Dial-based Thermostat: If numbered 1 to 5, set it to 1. If marked from Cold to Coldest, select Coldest.

This signals the fridge to increase cooling to meet summer demands.

2. Ensure Proper Airflow (Ventilation)

Inside the Fridge: Do not block the vents with food items, as this restricts the internal circulation of cold air.

Outside the Fridge:

• Keep at least 10 cm of space between the fridge and the wall, especially at the back.
• Avoid placing any items on top of the fridge.

Proper airflow allows the refrigerator to release heat efficiently and maintain consistent cooling.

3. Enable Anti-Frost or Defrost Settings

During winter, frost can build up inside the fridge, reducing its cooling efficiency. In summer, it’s essential to defrost your fridge, especially for models with direct cooling technology, which do not automatically remove ice buildup.

• Use the defrost button if your fridge has one.
• This ensures the appliance operates at full strength, delivering effective cooling throughout the hot season.

By following these three steps—adjusting temperature, optimizing airflow, and defrosting—you can protect your refrigerator, reduce energy consumption, and ensure your food stays fresh during the scorching summer months.