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Condensing water in fridge - is it too cold?

Hi

Ive got water drops of condensation at the back of the fridge. Does this mean the fridge is too cold?

The fridge/freezer is 4 years old - so quite new. 

I dont keep much in the fridge (theres only me living here, and I do daily fasting, so I dont store large amounts of food). Is it taking the fridge more energy to keep an empty fridge cold? Ive got lots of cider/beer I could keep in the fridge if so. The same with the freezer - its quite empty - shall I pack it with food?

Thanks


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Comments

  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 8,010 Ambassador
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    Fridges don't like being empty. It will almost certainly be using more energy to keep the empty spaces cool than it would if something was in their retaining the chill. That could well be causing the excess moisture. Fill it with beer! Need something else to occupy the freezer though - frozen beer isn't so easy to handle.  :)
    If you can live without the freezer, you might be able to turn that off, or put the temperature at its "warmest" level, without affecting the fridge?

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  • dllive
    dllive Posts: 1,303 Forumite
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    Thanks @victor2 . I will certainly fill the fridge with beer/cider! :) 

    I suspect I have the fridge too cold though. I dont know why, it just feels.... very cold. Perhaps too cold. Theres a dial somewhere isnt there? What do people normally have it set at?

    I should have said: the fridge/freezer are separate units. (50/50).



  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 8,010 Ambassador
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    You can buy fridge thermometers online for a less than a fiver. Worth getting one, then playing with the temperature controls and seeing what happens, it can take 24 hours for adjustments to show though. If you don't have a manual for the fridge, you can probably find one on the web - that should tell you how to adjust the temperature.

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  • dllive
    dllive Posts: 1,303 Forumite
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    OK, Ive just filled the fridge up with beer, cider, white wine and 4 TV dinners. (you can tell Im a bachelor!! LOL)

    There is a dial - 1 - 5. Its currently set to 1, which I presume is the coldest setting. Perhaps I should try... 3, and see if that reduces the condensation AND keeps the *ahem* food cold enough?
  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 8,010 Ambassador
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    Go for 3. It's halfway between the warmest and coldest setting and will still keep your "food" cool.  ;)

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  • shiraz99
    shiraz99 Posts: 1,822 Forumite
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    edited 20 June 2022 at 6:12PM
    dllive said:
    OK, Ive just filled the fridge up with beer, cider, white wine and 4 TV dinners. (you can tell Im a bachelor!! LOL)

    There is a dial - 1 - 5. Its currently set to 1, which I presume is the coldest setting. Perhaps I should try... 3, and see if that reduces the condensation AND keeps the *ahem* food cold enough?
    Quite the opposite in most cases, the dials usually go from 0 or to 5 with 0/1 being the warmest and 5 the coldest setting. As advised buy yourself a fridge thermometer and set the setting so that the average fridge temp is around 5C.
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,383 Forumite
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    Depending on the type of fridge, water on the back is quite normal. Another time you look it may be ice, another time nothing.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
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    edited 21 June 2022 at 7:42AM
    Depending on the type of fridge, water on the back is quite normal. Another time you look it may be ice, another time nothing.
    Absolutely. Condensation is normal in all fridges, the only difference is where it is.
    'No frost' - back wall.
    'Frost-free' - in some invisible place.

    And, of course, the more wet unsealed food inside and the more frequently you open the door, the more condensation.

  • sk2402005
    sk2402005 Posts: 118 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Water will start to condence at about 12'C depending on the humidity level.
    Typically number 1 is the warmest, 5 the coldest.
    As suggested, try number 3.
    Fridge thermometers are only a few £, i recently baught one for my fridge.
  • dllive
    dllive Posts: 1,303 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Thanks all.
    Perhaps its not a problem with water condensing at the back. Its not like its pooling on a shelf or anything. Perhaps Ive just not noticed it before because my ex always kept the fridge packed with food, so I never noticed the back wall before.
    If 1 is the warmest (ie uses less energy) then perhaps Ill leave it on that. I dont like my beer too cold anyway.  ;)
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