Take care of fridge, freezer

• Check the refrigerator seal to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. A door leak lets cool air escape, forcing your refrigerator to use more energy to keep food cold and costing you more in electrical bills.

• Use a brush or vacuum to clean the condenser coils in the back or bottom of the refrigerator to make the most of its efficiency. Make sure you unplug the refrigerator before you start cleaning.

• Increase your freezer's efficiency by keeping its compartment full. Be careful not to block the fan that allows cold air to circulate.

• Consider buying a manual defrost refrigerator, which typically uses 36 percent less energy than an automatic defrost refrigerator.

• Check temperature settings for the most efficient appliance operation. Refrigerator temperature should be 36 to 38 F, and freezer temperature should be from 0 to 5 F.

• Keep the refrigerator away from heating appliances (ovens and dishwashers), windows and heating ducts. Direct exposure to heat forces the unit to work harder and use more energy.

• Consider buying a high-efficiency refrigerator. Compare yellow energy guide labels and choose the unit that uses the least amount of electricity.

Source: Mr. Appliance, a full-service appliance service and repair franchise. On the Web: www.mr-appliance.com