The Old Fridge Trap: Your Secret Bill Drainer

Think your biggest energy bill culprit is the aircon, or the dryer? Think again—it might be that old fridge humming away in the kitchen or garage.
If your fridge is more than 10–12 years old, it could be quietly adding $80–$150 to your bill every year. That’s more than a month’s worth of groceries!

Why are old fridges so power-hungry?

• They run less efficiently (worn seals, outdated motors).
• They often have lower star ratings (some have none at all!).
• They lose cold air more easily—meaning the motor never gets a break.

Spot the drainer:

• Is the outside warm to touch, even at night?
• Does the motor seem to run almost non-stop?
• No energy label, or 1–2 stars only?
  If you answered yes to any of these, your fridge is almost certainly costing you.

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What’s the real difference?

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A brand new 4–5 star 400L fridge can use as little as 220 kWh/year (that’s about $72 a year at 33c/kWh), while an older 400L fridge can use over 450 kWh ($148/year).
Over five years, that’s a $380 saving—often enough to pay for most of a new fridge.

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Want to compare for yourself? Check out the Energy Rating fridge calculator to see how your model stacks up against today’s best.

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Coming Soon:
You can snap a pic of your fridge for Sam’s Appliance Audit in the VoltaRocks app. You’ll get a custom verdict—plus real tips for what to upgrade, when, and how much you could save.