Nature
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People are being asked to place an A4 piece of paper into their refrigerators today, as the UK and Europe face a sweeping and record-breaking heatwave.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.Over in Europe, things are getting pretty hot at the moment. How hot? Well, personal sweat levels aside (torrential, if you must know), around 94 million people on the continent are expected to experience temperatures in excess of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) today. This includes the UK, where houses are designed to combat historically cold winters, rather than cool down in hot summer months.
While we have many tips for humans trying to stay cool in the heat, very little attention is paid to our friend the fridge, and how they must fight extra hard in the warmer weather to keep your milk and ketchup at acceptable and safe temperatures.
"Fridges remove heat from the inside using a compressor and a refrigerant gas. This system activates whenever the internal temperature rises above its set level," Spanish multinational electric utility company Endesa explains.
"In summer, because the ambient temperature is higher, the fridge's interior warms up more quickly each time it's opened. This means the compressor has to kick in more often and run for longer, resulting in higher energy consumption."
This may be a particular problem for older fridges, which may be less efficient with power as it is. After a few years, the seal around the door may not be as sealing as it once was. Left unchecked, this can cause your fridge to work much harder to keep your food cool – increasing your energy bills – and potentially cause damage to your fridge, or the food inside to go bad.
Here's where a piece of A4 paper comes in handy. Salah Sun, Head of Product Management at Beko UK explained that a simple sheet of paper can be used to see if your fridge is up to the job of keeping your food cool in the extreme heat.
"To check if your fridge door is functioning correctly, use a piece of paper. You can buy paper for as little as 1p or use any paper you have at home," Sun told the Daily Express.
"Place the paper against the door seal and close the door. When you try to pull the paper out, you should feel some resistance. If the paper slides out easily, your door seal may need replacing."
It's a simple trick that only takes a few moments and a sheet of A4, but could potentially save a little money in the long-run. It is also possible that you may not need to replace the seal either.
"A thorough cleaning of both the seal and the door frame is often the simplest fix. Use a soft cloth with warm water and a mild detergent to wipe away any accumulated dirt and grease. Regular cleaning not only improves adhesion but also prolongs the lifespan of the door gasket," the Seal Company explains, adding that washing detergent and white wine vinegar solutions can be used to clean the seal and door.
"If the seal has hardened over time, using a bit of warm water or gently applying heat with a hairdryer can help restore its flexibility," they add. "This process can often help the door seal reestablish its grip without causing further damage."
So while you are trying to keep yourself and your pets/kids/"will do absolutely anything at all" cool, try to remember to check in on your fridge and, ultimately, your food.
