“How Many Watts Does A Mini Fridge Use?”: A Detailed Answer

Compact refrigerators, or mini fridges, are primarily used to store foods and drinks in dorm rooms, game rooms, home offices, garages and alike. Thanks to the fridges humble profile, they have a very limited space requirement so you could conveniently place them anywhere you see fit. Nonetheless, you are in for a surprise if you assume that mini fridges use less energy compared to standard fridges simply because they are smaller.

Want to know how many watts does a mini fridge use? Then you could find the answer right down below along with a couple of important information on the side.

What is the cost of running the average mini fridges?

Here is an interesting fact: For most the time, mini fridges actually use more electricity per cubic feet than other standard size fridges. The cost of running a full-size refrigerator is only about twice as much as a compact fridge one-quarter of its size. As a result, a 4.4-cubic-feet compact refrigerator could cost you $27 a year while a much larger 20.6-cubic- feet fridge only cost you $47 in the same time period.

There are two reasons behind this: First, there isn’t a lot of room for insulation. Second, mini fridges have considerably more area per cubic feet to accommodate food and drink which require additional electricity to keep everything cool. Of course, there are many other contributing factors too such as the unit age, the room placement, the defrost setting and so on.

In general, provided that the setting is similar, mini fridges would have lower energy efficiency compare to full-size refrigerators. Most people don’t notice the slight difference in their utility bills though because compact refrigerators often cost you well below $5 per month. To have cold snacks and beverages in your hand while watching sport or playing games could easily justify the less than ideal efficiency.

You should be able to find an eye catchy yellow and black Energy Guide Label somewhere on the fridge body. It would tell you the estimated amount of energy the refrigerator could use in a year along with its projected c cost. Products with an Energy Star rating on their label tend to consume less energy compared to other models.

The estimate electricity usage and associated cost of mini fridges from popular brands

Do remember that the cost could vary a lot in reality, depending on the local utility rates as well as well individual preferences. The products down below are simply examples, there are more products on the market for you to choose. Nonetheless, these examples should offer you a general idea of what to expect when it comes to mini fridges electricity usage and operation cost.

1.7 cubic refrigerators

• Galanz fridge: 230 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $28
• Haier fridge: 200 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $24
• Igloo fridge: 318 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $34

3.2/3.3 cubic refrigerators       

• Igloo fridge: 332 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $35
• Haier fridge: 272 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $31
• Frigidaire fridge: 220 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $26
• Danby fridge: 266 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $28

4.5 cubic refrigerators

• GE fridge: 332 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $35
• MicroChill fridge: 259 kWh/ year with a yearly cost of $28

How many amps does a mini fridge use?

The refrigerator ampere is often listed in the manual or on the fridge front/back labels, you could even look for it online. It’s also simple to manually calculate the ampere of a mini fridge, you only need to use this formula: Amperage = Watts/Volts. For example, if you have a 120 Voltage and 240 Wattage then your mini fridge shall have an Amperage of 2.

How many watts does it take to run a refrigerator on a generator?

As a rule of thumb, the generator wattage must be 1.5 times higher than the refrigerator running wattage to start the unit. This is due to the fact that fridge requires an extra jolt of electricity to jump-start its compressor motor. Take a good look at the output rating of the generator in order to make sure it can handle the fridge electricity requirement.

How to take care of your mini fridge?

• It’s recommended that you keep the fridge away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• When you first plug in the fridge, set it at a medium-cold setting
• Don’t try to squeeze too many things into the fridge. That would leave no room for the cold air to circulate and chill the items.
• Clean the fridge and vacuum its coil on a monthly basis to maintain an ideal performance.
• Get rid of all perishable item if you intend to go away for a couple of months.

Conclusion

And that is most of what you should know about running mini fridges and its related issue, pretty simple to absorb, right? “How many watts does a mini fridge use?” It’s not easy to figure out the answer when you don’t know much about the fridge characteristic. But with the help of the article, you should have no trouble obtaining the wattage of any compact refrigerator you could find.

House Smells Musty After Rain: Causes And Solutions

Different houses often have different smells which reflect the nature and lifestyle of their occupant. Sometime, environmental factors such as the weather could exacerbate the issue and make the house atmosphere become unbearable. That is why your house could emit unpleasant odors during season change or after heavy rain.

In the usual case, there are many things that could make your house smells musty after rains along with a variety of solutions. If you are interested, this article would introduce you to several ways to deal with the odor in short term and long term. There is also a detailed guide on how to get rid of other odors as well in case you run into them in the future.

What are the causes of the musty odor?

For most the time, if you don’t clean your house regularly and thoroughly, there would be a musty odor in the house atmosphere. Old furniture and aged construction material are also prime suspects behind that detestable stench in your lovely home. At first, the odor could be limited to a section but if you fail to come up with a solution, it would envelop the house.

Here are some of the most common culprits.

Mold and mildew

Places that are constantly exposed to high humidity such pipes, roofs and alike tend to experience a moisture built up over the years. Combine with low light and stagnant air, these locations are excellent breeding grounds for mold and mildew. In many cases, the funguses could grow in a completely undetectable manner because they are shielded by the house walls.

Long after the funguses are eliminated, the odor could still linger in the atmosphere because it has penetrated the house curtains, carpets, etc.

HVAC system

As time goes by, the efficiency of the house HVAC system would slowly but surely drop. After a number of years, these arrangements could become dusty, rusty and smelly.  Hence, the HVAC ductwork could circulate a musty odor around the house interior whenever you turn on the system.

Cigarette and Cigar

Drywalls often absorb odors that they are subjected to on a day to day basis which included the smoke of cigarette and cigar. So if the house owner is a smoker, the musty odor could be retained and emitted by the house walls for years. In the usual case, smoked absorbed walls would have noticeable brown or yellow nicotine stains on them

Foods and drinks

If you don’t properly clean up spilled foods and drinks, they are going to resurface later on in the form of a nasty smell. Leftover snacks and fermented beverages could also generate a musty odor in the case you don’t store them correctly. Similar to the cigarette and cigar smoke, the kitchen walls would soak up cooking smoke and release an unpleasant smell into the atmosphere.

How to get rid of the musty smell?    

​​​​​​​​Temporary methods

An air freshener is able to mask the musty odor of the house when used due to its strong odor.  Open up all the windows and doors could provide a short-term boost to the house ventilation and push out the musty odor. However, these methods only work temporarily, it’s advised that you attempt to eliminate the source of the odor as soon as possible.

Permanent methods

Take care of moisture built up

Repair leaky pipe and cracked roof in order to avoid moisture built up, it’s often enough to prevent the growth of fungus. It’s also wise to seal exposed dirt floor using concrete so as to eliminate musty or earthy odor in hot humid weather. You could attempt to pour concrete over the area on your own or you could hire a contractor to do it for you.

Clean the air duct and update the HVAC system

During normal operation, duct and alike could accumulate inside the air duct and decrease the system efficiency as much as 40 percent in some case.  The built up also permit the growth of microbial which could lead to the circulation of the musty odor. To clean the air duct, you must have suitable equipment and you should only do it when there is no in the house.

To reduce the number of time you have to clean the air duct, you should change the filter regularly and perform maintenance periodically. If the cleaning isn’t enough to solve your odor issue, the smell probably embedded itself in the component of the HVAC system. In that case, you have to consider replacing the entire HVAC system in order to get rid of the musty odor for good.

Swap out the carpet and curtain

Take a quick sniff of the fabric in order to decide whether the musty odor is coming from these items. Unless you just replace them recently, swap out the carpet and curtain if you encounter a foul stench on them. The carpet comes in to contact with people shoes regularly so make sure that you wash it regularly.

Inspect places with high humidity

Fungus often growth where it’s wet and damp so take a good look at places with high humidity such as the bathroom. In the case you spot mold and mildew, deal with them using an acidic compound like vinegar and so on. That should be enough to eliminate the musty odor once and for all, the smell would fade away from existence in no time.

Precautions

Dehumidifier and ionizer are excellent ways to keep the house atmosphere acceptable and free of moisture at any given time. You could also place a bowl of active charcoal at strategic locations across the house to absorb unpleasant smells and sanitize the airs. Finally, it’s recommended to set up a logical cleaning scheme to make sure the odor would never visit your lovely house again.

The difference between musty and moldy odor

While the cause of the musty and moldy odor could be the same in some cases, they are not similar to each other.  Moldy odor tends to be the stronger one of the two and it indicates that without a timing response, the fungus could cause extensive structural damage. On the other hand, musty odor only means that something is wrong and that you should take a look around the house.

 Other common odor issues that you could run into.

House smells like urine after rain

In most of the cause, this is caused by a leak in the house facilities or an encapsulated crawl space. In certain situation, pet pee could get soak up by hardwood and the pee would be squeezed out when there is a rise in humidity. Therefore, you have to deal with the leakage or tear the pee soaked hardwood away to remove the urine smell.

House smells like rotten eggs when it rains

This could be caused by a loose or punctured toilet gas ring around which leak methane gas into your house. All it takes is a pin size gap or crack for the methane gas to flow into the house unopposed. Replace the ring and see if it’s enough to solve your odor issues.

Septic tank smells when it rains

After a heavy downpour, the air becomes heavy that makes it hard for the methane gas to dissipate through the vent. To solve it, run water through the house sink, bathroom, drain and shower everyone in a while. While you are at it, pour down a couple of quarts of treatment compound such as CCLS as well.

House smells like sewage after rain

A punctured sewer pipe could be the cause of the nasty smell you are experiencing. It contaminated the soil right below the house and when the rainwater saturates the ground, the smell would resurface. The best solution is here is to wait for the ground to dry and then pour a couple gallon of bleach around the house.

Basement smells like sewer when it rains

You most likely have a water trap somewhere that has dried out due to the lack of use. When the water evaporates, it allows sewer gas to pass through the drain into the room.  Dumping a few gallons of water into the drain should fix your problem.

Another potential culprit would be the cleanout plug inside the drain, remove the drain cover and see if there is a plug there.  If the plug is missing, the sewer gas could bypass the water trap go straight into the room through here. Grab a replacement plug from the local hardware store, install it and you should be able to prevent further infiltration of sewer gas.

Yard smells like sewage after rain

There are two possible causes: clogged drain field and leaky sewer pipes.  These make the septic tank sewage to come up through the ground and release horrible smell in the process. In most of the case, you should contact a professional septic company and let them take over the repair. It’s unwise to attempt to deal with the situation on your own when you are inexperienced.

Gate Valves Vs. Ball Valves: What Are The Differences?

How much weight can a 2×4 support ? – An article for DIY enthusiasts

​​​​​​​​For most of the time, DIY projects are straightforward tasks that you could do with on hand materials and tools. However, you should never underestimate their complexity, especially when it comes to sophisticated and large-scale projects. Without careful planning, the final result of your DIY project may be less than ideal or even an outright failure.

So in the case that the project involves the use of 2x4s as support frames, you must calculate the loading weight properly. "How much weight can a 2x4 support?", the answer to that question could be found right here in this article. Take a good look at the information below in order to have a successful and long-lasting project.

Important factors that you need to take into account

Lumber grade

The lumber grade would tell you most of what you should know to know about the material strength rating and its associated stiffness value. Everything is not created equal so make sure you check out the lumber grade before you use them for your subject.

Load duration

How long will the 2x4s stay loaded? Full-time loading requires careful consideration of the material strength rating (Fb) while stiffness value (E) is generally unaffected. In case you don't know, E relates to the amount of weight that could cause the material to deform while Fb indicates the design strength of the material outermost sections.

Wood choice

In the usual case, the most common wood that construction limbers utilize is pine which possesses admirable compression strength and excellent hardness. However, there are different types of pine with different grades so you should research carefully before you start. The weakest pine currently in use is Eastern White pine while the strongest is Slash pine.

Project design

Usually, the 2x4s would be assembled in a way that matches the project dimension requirement. Nonetheless, whenever it's possible, people tend to go after a simple and robust design instead of complicated ones. A straightforward wooden structure takes little time to plan and fabricate while also allow easy repair if needed. 

The characteristics of the average 2x4s

How far can a 2x4 span?

In general, the length of a 2x4 could be as long as 20 feet but you have to consider a couple of issues. At 10 feet, a 2x4 would not sag noticeably under its own weight but it's also unlikely that it could stay completely straight either. In fact, 2x4s may even bow, warp and twist as they dry out. As a result, expect a certain level of distortion and make adjustments to your project design accordingly.

2x4 vs 2x6 in term of strength

Technically speaking, 2x6s possess better strength and insulation value compared to 2x4s which make them a good choice for remodeling projects. However, the price of 2x6s is considerably higher than 2x4s as well and that mean buying 2x6s is not always an economical investment. Using a well-thought design, a collection of 2x4s could form a structure with excellent integrity without end up costing you a fortune.

How much weight can a 2x4 support vertically?

Assuming that the load is square and there is no wind, the average 8 feet 2x4 could handle around 1,000 pounds vertically. Of course, it's wise not to push the material up to its limit, use brace and alike to secure the 2x4s whenever it's needed. 

How much weight can a 2x4 support horizontally?

In this case, we have to take into the load position, is it a uniform load or only a point load? For an example, a 10 feet long 2x4 with a 40 pounds uniform load would have a maximum bending moment of 1,000 feet pound. On the other hand, the same 10 feet long 2x4 with a 400 pounds point load should experience a maximum bending moment of 500 feet pound.

Conclusion

And that is pretty much it, not too hard to take in, right? "How much weight can a 2x4 support?", it's a difficult question issue to tackle when you are not an expert in the field. But with the help of this article, you should be able to come up with a close estimate.

What Is The Difference Between 220 And 240 Volt Outlets ?

Whenever you want to move your electric appliances, you must have a clear understanding of the difference between 220 and 240-volt outlets. Each appliance needs to be plugged into an outlet that matches its voltage; otherwise, the appliance would not work correctly. As a result, if you intend to relocate your washing machine, microwave, refrigerator and alike, you must ensure that proper outlets are around. Using the right outlet for the right appliance is the key to preserve the appliance quality and avoid potential hazards. In the case you want to know more, down below is additional information about the outlets characteristic and associated issues.

The plug

There are about 15 types of plug currently in use nowadays, each of them come with a letter for convenient identification. The name of the plug has no special meaning so you don’t really have to worry too much about it. Certain plugs could be compatible with both 220 and 240-volt arrangements so do remember to exam the outlet and appliance voltage beforehand. Act carelessly here and you could run into trouble: At best, the appliance would not work as designed which is ill efficient. At worst, the conductor would overheat and that would lead to significant fire hazard.

Important note

As mentioned above, depending on the manufacturer wish, one plug type could have different voltage in different appliances. Therefore, the list of 220V and 240V plugs down below is compiled using both the plug capability and country voltage as references.

There are approximately 13 types of plugs that could be seen on 220V electric appliances base on the plug capability. They are C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N and O. Some of these plugs are used across the globe but there are country exclusive plugs as well.  Base on country voltage, there are 12 plugs: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, K, L, M and N

What does a 240v plug look like?

There are also 13 types of plug currently in circulation that could be seen on 240V electric appliances base on the plug capability. The 240v plug list is pretty much the same as the 220v one. Similar to their 220V counterparts, some of these plugs could only be found on remote corners of the world. However, base on country voltage, there are only 3 240v plugs which are G, I and D.

The outlet

What does a 220v outlet look like?

220v outlets mostly correspond to their plugs but there are some outlets that are able to accept more than one type of plug. The examples include:

•  Type B is compatible with Type A and B plugs
• Type D is partially compatible with Type C, E and F plugs, unsafe
• Type E is compatible with Type C, E and F plugs
• Type F is compatible with Type C, E and F plugs
• Type K is partially compatible with Type E and F plugs, unsafe
• Type L(16A)  is compatible with Type C plug
• Type N is compatible with Type C plug

 What does a 240v outlet look like?

The 240v outlet’s compatibility with the appliances is also similar to their 220v cousin. It’s advised that you should connect the appliance plug with an outlet that matches its type just to be on the safe side

The design of the outlet

The average 220/ 240v appliances utilize 3 wires

• A hot wire: Carries the current to the fixture
• Another hot wire: Also carries the current to the fixture
• A copper wire: Ensure user safety

There is no neutral wire here but when one of the hot wire is positive, the other is negative. That arrangement complete the circuit.  However, there is another wire scheme that is employed by appliances like clothes dryers and so on. It consists of 4 wires

• A hot wire: Carries the current to the fixture
• Another hot wire: Also carries the current to the fixture
• A neutral wire: Completes the electrical circuit
• A copper wire: Ensure user safety

As a result, certain appliances could have up to 4 prongs instead of the usual 3 in their plug.

Conclusion

That is most of what you should know about the differences between 220 and 240-volt outlets, not too hard to take in, right? It could be a bit confusing at first but as long as you get the hang of it then you should have no trouble identifying the outlet. This knowledge would help you a lot when it comes to remodeling the house and rearranging your electric appliance.