Martin Lewis’ MSE warns households to change overlooked setting on fridge | Personal Finance | Finance

In Martin Lewis’ MSE weekly Money Tips emails, his team shared “15 crucial tips to cut costs, stay warm and get your house in order.”

One of the tips came from their “Over 70 home energy saving tips”, and it involved doing this very small thing.

It said: “Is your fridge and freezer too cool? Fridges should be 5C, freezers -18C. If yours is lower, you’re likely wasting energy.”

Having fridges and freezers set colder than the required temperatures doesn’t impact the quality of the food. It just uses more energy than necessary, which then adds to the bill.

So, with this quick, simple tip, who knows how much you could be saving?

Most fridges have temperature gauges; however, if yours has a number scale instead, do not worry because, according to MSE, fridge thermometers are sold for as little as £4, so you can easily check that your fridge isn’t colder than it needs to be.

The list also shared tips, such as using your radiator valve to avoid heating empty rooms.

It comes as Smart Energy GB revealed that households could save £40 a year by turning radiator valves down to the midway point in rooms that aren’t used.

However, it is important to note that fridges and freezers cannot function properly if room temperatures drop too low at a point of below 10C, so make sure you’re not keeping your kitchen too cold.

Another shocker is that dropping your thermostat by one degree could save a home around £90 a year.

So, why not test reducing the temperature by a degree or so, another layer of clothing and see how you get on.

Experts claim that these small changes around the home could save your household hundreds of pounds this winter, in perfect timing for the festive season that is soon approaching.