Why does demand for refrigerators, freezers and combined fridge/freezers increase during the summer?

Who hasn't longed for nice summer temperatures during the bright summer months with time off and swimming? Most of us probably have... but not all of our fridges and freezers that do their job in every Swedish home and holiday home!

The demand for these products in particular increases significantly during the summer months and immediately afterwards in the industry – not only because more people want access to ice cream or ice for tonight's GT in the garden, but also because there are technical reasons.

High summer temperatures increase the load on all refrigerators or freezers, which can make faults more common – especially if the refrigerator or freezer is already older and worn out or is not functioning optimally even earlier during the more normal indoor temperatures.

Some reasons are:

The compressor works more. When the room is warm, the refrigerator has to remove more heat to maintain the correct storage temperature. This means longer operating times and higher wear.
Poor cooling of the condenser. If the back or condenser coils are dusty, or if there is poor ventilation around the refrigerator, it will be more difficult to get rid of the heat. This is especially noticeable on hot summer days.
Higher energy consumption. The refrigerator runs more often, which can also cause components such as the compressor and fan to wear out faster.
The ambient temperature may be too high. Most household refrigerators are designed to operate within a certain temperature range (called a climate class). If the room gets significantly warmer than the refrigerator is designed for, it may have difficulty maintaining the correct temperature.

This does not mean that high room temperature in itself will destroy the refrigerator, but it can:

reveal existing weaknesses,
increase the risk of an already worn compressor or starter relay giving up,
cause the refrigerator to no longer be able to keep the temperature cold enough.

To reduce the risk during warm periods, you can:

make sure there are a few centimeters of air around the refrigerator according to the manufacturer's recommendation,
vacuum the condenser coils (if accessible),
avoid setting large amounts of hot food,
Check that the door seal closes tightly.

If a fridge suddenly starts running almost non-stop during a heatwave, it's not necessarily a sign that it's broken - it could be normal. However, if it also fails to maintain around 4°C in the fridge compartment or if the compressor becomes abnormally hot and stops repeatedly, it could indicate a fault that has become more noticeable in the heat.

It is therefore worth giving your fridge and freezer at home a little extra love and care before your holiday begins. It is not a pleasant experience to return home after your holiday and discover that it has breathed its last due to heatstroke!

//Kent Oderud

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