Most refrigerators will run between cycles when they are turned on. How long should a refrigerator run between cycles? 40 minutes is a normal working cycle of an average refrigerator. If you need some more facts – just read our blog post.
New and old refrigerators: do their running cycles differ?
Refrigerators have changed a lot over the years. In fact, many of our new appliances are more energy efficient than what we used to run in our homes not too long ago. But how do you know if an old refrigerator is going to save on your electric bill or cost more?
Today’s refrigerators use less electricity and therefore cause less wear on components compared with older units. The newer models tend to be quieter as well because they contain better insulation materials that prevent noise from penetrating into the kitchen area. If all components are up-to-date and functional for their intended purpose, then new refrigerators tend to perform efficiently overall when compared to older models. Some people may notice that their older unit has started running all day and therefore wonder how much this costs them in terms of electricity expense.
What percentage of the time does a refrigerator run?
In general, a new refrigerator compressor should have a steady-state cycle of about 40 minutes, which means it should cycling four or five times a day. However, this number may vary from model to model and the duty cycle is what matters most when determining how long your appliance should run for.
Other factors’ impacts
Refrigerator running cycles also depends on the following factors.
- Dirt and grime on the coil
It will cause the compressor to cycle on and off more often. It’s just like with any other machine: if there is dirt and grime around its compressorination it can cause losing power and effeciency. Experts advice brush your fridge coils twice a year.
- How warm/cold is it outside your fridge
If your home is too chilly or hot, you may be wasting a lot of energy. Because your refrigerator’s compressor runs more often in response to higher ambient temperatures, it might go on longer. Keeping a warmer house in the middle of winter should mean that your refrigerator does not require as much running. You should also take into account comparison to the temperatures in your home and in yoyr fridge.
- How much food are there in your fridge
If there is nothing inside of your appliance, then an empty refrigerator will only need to be activated every four hours or so. However, if you keep food inside this device for longer periods of times, then that means that the compressor will activate more often. The more food you have in your refrigerator, the harder your compressor will work to keep the temperature constant. Another thing to think about is the temperature of the items in your fridge when you put them there. If you’re putting food from a hot source (such as a stovetop) inside your fridge, for example, it will require additional energy to cool it down than if it were left out all day at room temperature.
- How long your fridge door stays opened/How often is it opened?
In the both case, when your fridge is opened, it allows warmer (often more humid) air to enter. This causes your compressor to turn on more frequently and for a longer time as it must compensate for the abrupt temperature change.
The more often your door opens throughout the day (especially during hot weather) the more time it takes for a refrigerator to cool down.
It depends!
You’ve probably noticed that your refrigerator will run between cycles when it is turned on. But how long should a refrigerator continue to run? The answer depends largely on the model and age of your fridge, but most refrigerators are running for up an hour. If you have any other questions about the optimum length of time that a fridge should stay running, don’t hesitate to reach out!