The refrigerator is an appliance that people rely on in most American homes today. However, it is more than just a food chiller. The refrigerator has an interesting history, and some facts about fridges might surprise you. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about refrigerators.
1. Jacob Perkins Invented the First Fridge in 1834
Jacob Perkins, an American inventor known as the father of the refrigerator, invented the first refrigerator in 1834. A year later, he received the first U.S. patent for a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle using liquid ammonia. He got the idea from another inventor, Oliver Evans, who proposed a design for a fridge but never built one.
2. John Gorrie, Another Notable Refrigeration Pioneer
Dr. John Gorrie, who was looking for a way to comfort feverish patients by cooling hospital rooms, was another pioneer in the development of modern refrigerators. He received the first U.S. patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851.
3. Early Refrigerators Used Toxic Gases to Function
Before 1920, early refrigerators used toxic gases like sulfur dioxide and ammonia to operate. In the 1920s, refrigerators began using Freon.
4. Refrigerators Do Not Create Cold
It is a misconception that refrigerators create cold. They actually move heat from the inside to the outside with condensation and evaporation.
5. The First Commercial Refrigerator Was a Beer Chiller
James Harrison invented the first commercial refrigerator in 1856. He designed it to keep beer cold.
6. Home Fridges Became Common by the 1930s
The first refrigerator designed for residential use arrived on the market in 1930. After that, fridges became a staple in most American households.
7. It Is Important to Keep the Coils Clean
Just like your air conditioner, your refrigerator needs its coils cleaned regularly. The coils are found on the back of the fridge.
You should clean the coils at least three times a year. Keeping them clean reduces the fridge’s energy consumption by up to 6%. It also lowers your home’s electricity expenses.
8. Modern Refrigerators are More Energy Efficient
Compared to the refrigerators sold and used in the past, the ones available to home and business owners today are more energy efficient. Studies show that today’s fridges are about 40% more energy efficient than those manufactured and sold 10 years ago.
9. People Open Their Fridge Doors About 20 Times a Day
Studies also show that most people open their fridge doors 20 to 23 times a day on average. Frequent opening causes your fridge to lose cold air. To keep your food and drinks colder, minimize the number of times you open the fridge door each day.
10. U.S. Refrigerators Today Consume Power Equivalent to 24 Power Plants
Despite being more energy efficient than older models, the refrigerators in American homes today still consume a substantial amount of power. In total, all of them use energy that is equivalent to the output of approximately 24 power plants.
The refrigerator has an interesting history and some quirky details that make it one of the more fascinating appliances. Reach out to Jay’s Appliance Repairs LLC in Elkhart, IN to learn more about refrigerators today.
