Heatwave: keep a close eye on your fridge right now

Keep a close watch on your fridge right now.

Heatwave stress: not just for our bodies

It is hardly news: a heatwave puts our bodies under serious strain, and many of us are simply waiting for this spell of intense heat to pass. However, it is not only people that struggle-smartphones and other electronic devices can also overheat during summer.

As 20 Minutes also points out, some household appliances-especially refrigerators-may even stop working when temperatures climb too high. Most people do not realise it, but every fridge has a climate class indicating the room temperature range in which it is designed to operate properly.

Understanding fridge climate classes (SN, N, ST, T)

In practice, your fridge will be classed as SN, N, ST, or T. The principle is straightforward: the appliance draws heat from inside and expels it outside through the condenser. If the temperature in your home becomes too high, the fridge will struggle to keep the interior at 4 °C.

Below are the tolerance thresholds by climate class, as detailed by the news site:

• Class SN (subnormal): 10 to 32 °C
• Class N (normal): 16 to 32 °C
• Class ST (subtropical): 16 to 38 °C
• Class T (tropical): 16 to 43 °C
• Class SN-ST (extended subtropical): 10 to 38 °C
• Class SN-T (extended tropical): 10 to 43 °C
• Class N-T (temperate to tropical): 16 to 43 °C

Practical steps to help your fridge during very hot weather

Also make sure the back of the fridge stays clean and well ventilated, and that the unit sits 5 to 10 cm away from the wall. Avoid setting the thermostat to its maximum, as this can put extra strain on the motor.

Finally, try not to open the door too often: each opening lets warm air in, which makes the refrigerator’s job even harder.

The ice-cube tip

As a reminder, we have been sharing advice all week on coping with extreme heat. One very simple option is to use ice cubes. It is not a miracle fix, but it can cool the surrounding air thanks to a physical process known as thermal absorption: as the ice melts, it absorbs heat to move from a solid to a liquid state. The effect is limited, yet it can make a room feel more comfortable-particularly when combined with other measures.

You can place a bowl of ice cubes-ideally with a little coarse salt to slow the melting-in front of a fan. The airflow then picks up some of that coolness before circulating around the room, a bit like a makeshift supplementary air conditioner. Using a metal container can enhance the effect further.