Nobody wants to use more energy than is necessary because energy is expensive. Refrigerators are some of the worst culprits when it comes to using a lot of energy in the home, and kegerators fall into this category. Thankfully you can keep the cost of running one down if you know what to do.

Keeping your kegerator running as efficiently as possible is the key to keeping your costs down. You need to make sure that the beer fridge isn’t working any harder than absolutely necessary.

One of the biggest factors that contribute to the efficiency of a kegerator is how it is built. If you buy one, check for the Energy Guide Sticker on it to see how efficient it is. If you have built your own, there are some things you can check to see if its efficiency can be improved. The most important things to look into are the seals. If the seals are worn out, a lot of heat will creep in through them and cause the fridge to run frequently. If you are looking for optimum efficiency, buy a kegerator instead of building one.

Something else you need to think about is where you are going to keep the kegerator. Make sure it isn’t sitting somewhere that direct sunlight is going to get to it. Also, keeping it in an open space is going to help it be more efficient. Many people like the idea of putting their kegerator in a cubby under their bar to hide it, but this can actually make it work harder.

Refrigerators put off heat when they are working, just like any machinery. If they are enclosed in a space, the heat from the back and sides can’t escape. This can lead to the kegerator overheating, which will in turn make it work harder than it needs to. Try to find a spot for it where it will be out of the way, but will also have room to breathe.

If you have a basement or cellar, this is actually the best place for your kegerator and any other coolers. The constant temperature that you generally get with underground rooms is ideal for helping your kegerator to be efficient.

Another way to keep it efficient is to open it as little as possible. Since kegerators are generally tapped, you shouldn’t have to open it very often at all. Switching out kegs, hooking up kegs once the beer settles, and cleaning everything should be the only reasons for the fridge to be opened.

Keep a thermometer in your kegerator as well. This way you can make sure that it is staying at the proper temperature. The generally recommended temperature is about 38 degrees. If you find your kegerator is getting colder than this, you can adjust it accordingly. Getting too cold isn’t good for your beer, and also costs more money, so it’s bad all around!

By checking a few things and keeping your kegerator in the right spot, you can save a lot of money on your energy bills. This will make enjoying your beer that much easier.

This article was written by Felicia Jenkins for BeerKegAccessories.com – the source for draft beer towers and beer tap handles.