Does a fridge run more economically when full or empty

Question

Does a fridge run more economically when full or empty

Answer 1

The answer to that can go both ways. It depends on the temperature of the items you put in there, how often the door is opened and over how long a period you are talking. If you are filling it with items that are already at room temperature or hotter then will will take a lot more electricity to bring all the items to the proper temperate. If the door is opened and cloed frequently then it is better to keep it full as there is less warm air entering everytime you open the door. Over time cold items in the refrigerator will help to maintain the temperature.

Answer 2

It's best when it's full (same for freezers) otherwise you're paying to keep an empty box cool or cold.

Answer 3

a full fridge suffers less from changes in ambient temperature, and has less air to cool (for when you have opened the door). It is far more efficient to be full than empty. It does use more to cool a full fridge from warm to cold, but once its there its efficient.

Answer 4

full of course.

Answer 5

I'd imagine full because than you are waisting resources. (electricity)

Answer 6

the items should have gap forthe cold air to circulate within

Answer 7

empty, although there are a lot of conditions. such as the items contained within...

a fridge full of ice would be very efficient.

Answer 8

empty with the plug out .

Answer 9

its been proven that a full refridgerator holds the cold better.

air is not a good form to hold cold, and water and other solids do hold it much more efficiently.

when you open your refridgerator, the majority of the cold air inside escapes and needs to be replenished when closed again, but liquids (and most foods have a majority of water) inside don't immediately warm up, so when you close the door again, it takes much less energy to re-cool the air that is in there, since you have more mass releasing cold temperatures inside.

the space shuttle uses water as a temperature "battery" to store extra heat generated from landing.   its the same with cold, it takes more energy to change water temperature than many other substances

this website even says to store bottles of water filled containers inside when its more empty to increase efficiency.  and to not over-fill, since that will impede air circulation.

Answer 10

half full or more, empty is very inefficient

Answer 11

Neither. When empty it is not doing any good and wasting electricity and might as well be switched off. When full, it does not allow adequate air circulation for the convection currents to cool the items effectively. Optimum packing is when the air currents can circulate quickly and effectively to cool the food, especially at the back of the fridge.

Answer 12

it is more economical to run a full fridge/freezer.

Answer 13

medium full

Answer 14

When it's full, because what's the point of running it when it's empty?

Answer 15

Full! It means your fridge doesn't have to work as hard to keep cool because everything in it once cool helps to keep it cool.

Answer 16

full,!!

Answer 17

full...otherwise its a waste of electricity

Answer 18

Full ! ! !

Answer 19

Full