Set Your Refrigerator Temperature
When you set your refrigerator temperature to the proper setting, you keep your food from spoiling while making your refrigerator more energy efficient. Follow the steps in this article to check your refrigerator temperature and reset it accurately.
Steps
Checking Your Current Refrigerator Temperature
- Purchase an appliance thermometer designed for refrigerators and freezers.
- Place the thermometer inside a glass of water, and put the glass on your refrigerator's middle shelf.
- Check the temperature on the appliance thermometer after 5 to 8 hours. The temperature should register between 38 F and 40 F (2 C to 4 C) for safe food storage.
- Make sure that your thermometer is safe to put in water; not all are.
- Adjust the temperature using the temperature control dial or switch inside your refrigerator. Make small, gradual adjustments to the temperature rather than making big changes. If you cannot locate the dial, or think that your refrigerator uses other methods to adjust the temperature, then consult your owner's manual.
- Check the temperature again after 5 to 8 hours. Make further adjustments as needed to bring the refrigerator temperature into the appropriate range.
Resetting the Temperature in a Refrigerator Using a Dial
- Find the dial. A dial usually comes preset with the arrow pointed toward the center. To the right side, you may see a word that says "cooler" while to the left you may see a word that says "warmer."
- Look to the right and left of the dial. Next to "cooler" or "warmer" you may see a series of numbers. Dialing 1 number in the "cooler" direction will drop your refrigerator temp slightly lower, while dialing 1 number in the "warmer" direction will dial your refrigerator temp slightly higher.
- Move 1 number in either the "warmer" or "cooler" direction according to the temperature that you measured. Check your temperature again after 5 to 8 hours to see if the reset had any effect. If you don't see enough of a change, turn the dial to the next number.
- Keep turning the dial and measuring until you have the ideal temperature in your refrigerator.
- Mark a line on the temperature control dial to indicate its ideal setting. If the dial is bumped out of position, then you will know exactly where to reposition it.
Setting the Temperature in the Refrigerator Using a Slide Mechanism
- Find the sliding switch in your refrigerator. You may see a series of numbers along the top or bottom of the sliding switch. "1" is usually the coldest available setting, while the highest number is the warmest available setting.
- Move your switch 1 number to the left if you need to cool your refrigerator. Or move the switch 1 number to the right if your refrigerator temperature is too cold.
- Measure the temperature after 5 to 8 hours. If the temperature is where you want it to be, then the slide is positioned correctly. If the temperature is still off, move the dial an additional notch to the left or right until you have a good internal temperature for your refrigerator.
- Mark the ideal placement of the switch on the wall of the refrigerator using a permanent marker. You'll always know where to reset the switch if it gets bumped out of position.
Setting the Temperature in Your Refrigerator With a Digital Keypad
- Find the digital temperature readout in your refrigerator. The digital readout is usually located at the top of the refrigerator opening just under the freezer.
- Use the arrow keys to adjust your temperature setting until it is set between 38 F and 40 F (2 C to 4 C). If you have a keypad, then type in the appropriate temperature.
- Check the temp using your appliance thermometer after 5 to 8 hours have passed to make sure that it's in the appropriate range.
Tips
- Reset your refrigerator temperature as the seasons change. Typically, the temperature dial needs to be turned down in the summer months and turned up in the winter months.
- Keep your refrigerator doors closed while you are measuring the temperature to ensure the most accurate reading.
- If the adjustments don't change the actual temperature inside your refrigerator, then you should talk to an appliance repairman, to the manufacturer or to the store where you bought the appliance. If no solution can be found, then you may need to consider purchasing a different refrigerator.
Warnings
- Even if your refrigerator has a digital temperature display, you should still verify its accuracy with a separate appliance thermometer once or twice per year.
Things You'll Need
- Appliance thermometer
- Glass of water
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