Top News

With temperatures on the rise in parts of the UK and Europe, it is natural for most of us to think about how we will keep ourselves cool. However, there is one other household appliance that struggles in warm weather conditions, and you may be paying far more than you should because of its inefficiency.

The refrigerator works significantly harder when the air surrounding it heats up. The effect of this increased load can lead to higher electrical consumption and even lower the shelf life of the food stored in the appliance. This is the reason why experts have recommended the use of a very simple test, which only requires an A4 sheet of paper.

The process is quick and easy and can show you how efficiently your fridge door seals.

How does hot weather affect your fridge?

The fridge cools food by moving heat from inside to the environment where the fridge is located. If it becomes very hot outside because of a heat wave, the job will become harder since the temperature difference will be larger.

According to Endesa, one of Spain’s largest energy companies, higher outdoor temperatures mean a fridge warms up more quickly every time the door is opened. It results in an increased number of times the compressor starts working and the time spent on cooling, which leads to a higher energy expense. According to the, choosing and maintaining energy-efficient household appliances can help reduce electricity consumption and lower running costs over time.

In addition, older refrigerators can become even more vulnerable. With age, rubber gaskets tend to lose their properties and become less flexible, creating gaps through which heat may enter the fridge.

The A4 paper trick explained

According to, one of the simplest methods to determine the effectiveness of the seal on your fridge door needs just one ordinary piece of paper.

The guide says to slide the sheet against the door seal, shut the fridge, and then pull it; if you feel resistance, the seal is still doing its job, but if it comes out too easily, the gasket may need replacing. The point, the author notes, is that a worn seal can make the fridge work harder, waste energy, and spoil food faster.

Appliance experts recommend inserting a sheet of paper between the fridge door and the rubber seal, closing the door, and then trying to pull it out. If the paper resists when you pull it out, the seal is probably working well. Otherwise, if the paper easily slips out, then it might mean that the seal is not forming an airtight fit anymore.

This advice has spread across the UK ahead of particularly hot periods, since a faulty seal can increase energy consumption and reduce cooling.

Importance of seal malfunction

The fridge depends upon the constant temperature inside it. With warm air entering through any openings within the door, the compressor will have to make up for the problem by turning on more often.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, using appliances efficiently helps conserve energy. Moreover, making sure that doors fit correctly is essential for proper maintenance of appliances. A malfunctioning seal can also impact food safety. As per the Food Standards Agency of the UK, chilled foods must be kept below 5 degrees Celsius to ensure bacteria do not multiply.

Before replacing the seal, clean it first

Just because there’s a loose seal does not automatically mean that a new one must be fitted.

According to The Seal Company, the presence of dirt, oil, and food debris could prevent the seal from pressing tightly against the refrigerator body. In most cases, all that needs to be done is to clean it with soap and warm water. When the seal is a bit stiff after a while, heating it can sometimes make it pliable again, although severely cracked seals may already need to be replaced.

Here are a couple more things you can do to help your fridge through a heatwave

Other suggestions from experts include making some minor tweaks during hot spells of weather.

Do not leave the door of your fridge open for longer than it takes to get what you need from it since every time you open it, warm air enters. Avoid overcrowding the shelves with products since there should be free space to let cool air circulate properly. Also check whether there is sufficient ventilation for the fridge.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, hot food should be allowed to cool before being stored in the fridge.

A one-minute test that could save you money

The A4 paper test will not make your fridge cooler; it simply helps check whether the seal is working properly. Rather, this method is a convenient one to find out if the sealing is working as it should.

When there is a heat wave, your fridge already works under greater strain than usual, and it can be very helpful to discover a problem with sealing in time.

Sometimes, a simple home check can reveal a problem early.