It’s hot. And it’s just getting hotter. As we head into what feels like the 100th heatwave so far this summer, all of us are looking for different ways to keep our homes feeling cooler. But while we're busy trying to stop our bedrooms from feeling like saunas, there's one hardworking appliance that's often overlooked: your fridge.
Rising temperatures don't just affect your comfort - they can also impact how efficiently your fridge performs. And when your appliance is working overtime to stay cool, it could leave both your food and your energy bills feeling the effects.
Experts say one simple adjustment before the next heatwave can help your fridge cope with the rising temperatures, alongside a few other easy tweaks to keep both your appliance and your groceries protected.
The one addition you need to make to your fridge
Higher temperatures put extra strain on your fridge, making it harder to keep food safely chilled throughout a heatwave.
The warm air around the fridge makes it more difficult to release heat. Every time you open the door, hot air rushes in and raises the internal temperature, forcing the appliance to work even harder to cool everything back down. If you also add warm food or block the vents by overfilling the fridge, it can struggle even more. While fridges are designed to cope with everyday temperatures, prolonged periods of extreme heat put extra strain on the compressor, meaning it runs for longer, uses more energy and can find it harder to maintain a consistently cold temperature. In turn, costing you more on your energy bills, and more on the food shop due to spoiled food.
So what’s the solution? Well, make it colder. Naturally you can do this by simply turning down the internal temperature of your fridge. We recommend around 2C°. But a more clever hack to implement if you’re really struggling to keep food from spoiling, is to add frozen freezer blocks to your fridge drawers.
Frozen freezer blocks can act as a reserve of cold inside your fridge. As they slowly thaw, they absorb heat from the surrounding air, helping to keep the temperature more stable when warm air enters every time the door is opened. During a heatwave, this extra cooling can reduce temperature fluctuations and help keep food chilled for longer, particularly if your fridge is struggling to maintain its usual temperature.
Signs your fridge is too hot
If your fridge is struggling to cope with the heat, there are several warning signs to watch for. Food may not feel as cold as usual or could start spoiling faster than expected, while condensation building up on shelves, drawers or food packaging can indicate the appliance is having trouble maintaining a stable temperature. You might also notice the motor running almost constantly, the sides or back of the fridge feeling unusually hot, or your freezer producing softer-than-normal ice cream and partially thawed food. Odours are often a good indicator of something not quite right, so stay diligent about foul smells. If your fridge also takes a long time to cool back down after you've opened the door, it's a good sign it's working overtime to keep up with the rising temperatures.
More ways to cool down your fridge
- Let hot food cool first: It might be tempting to shove leftovers straight into the fridge, but putting hot food inside raises the temperature of the whole appliance. Let meals cool to room temperature first (within food safety guidance) before refrigerating them.
- Don't overcrowd the shelves: A packed fridge might seem like a good thing, but cramming every inch with food can stop cold air circulating properly. Leave a little breathing room between items so the chilled air can move freely.
- But don't leave it half-empty either: On the flip side, an almost empty fridge warms up more quickly every time you open the door. If it's looking sparse, a few bottles of water can help act as a cold mass, keeping temperatures more stable.
- Pull your fridge away from the wall: Your fridge needs space to release heat from the coils at the back. If it's pushed flush against the wall, it can't ventilate properly and has to work harder to stay cool. Check your manufacturer's guidance, but a small gap is usually recommended.
- Clean the condenser coils: Dust-covered condenser coils can't release heat efficiently, forcing your fridge to work overtime. Giving them a careful clean every few months can improve performance - just make sure the appliance is switched off first and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
