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Original poster

The fridge - do you turn the dial to 1 or to 5 to make it colder?

17 replies

SupportHuman · 10/12/2019 07:50

Inspired by a friend's post on FB which got very confusing and didn't solve the problem, and also made me realise I have no idea! There were convincing arguments for both theories and now I'm intrigued I don't get out much

Which way is for colder/less cold?

Do you turn it up to turn the temperature up and down to turn the temperature down? So 1 is coldest and 5 is least cold? This is what I've always assumed.

Or do you turn the dial up to increase the power thus lowering the temperature? So 5 is coldest and 1 is least cold? This is what a very convincing link from a fridge repair company claims.

Or WTF?

OP posts:
Ffsnosexallowed · 10/12/2019 07:51

I turn it up to increase the coldness

dementedpixie · 10/12/2019 07:51

The closer to 5 the colder it gets

LIZS · 10/12/2019 07:52

5 coldest

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TreacherousPissFlap · 10/12/2019 07:53

It makes no sense at all.

I would generally consider myself to be fairly sensible and intelligent, but the fridge dial utterly baffles me Crown Hmm

Angelika321 · 10/12/2019 07:53

I couldn't figure this out so I actually had to find the manual and check.

dementedpixie · 10/12/2019 07:55

Think of it as power levels. The higher the power level the colder your fridge will get

Northernsoullover · 10/12/2019 07:55

I had a lot of spoiled food when I first got my fridge...

BillywigSting · 10/12/2019 07:56

Mine is dead easy because it's marked with °c. So 5 is warmest as it's 5°c and 1 is coldest as that's 1°c. Makes perfect sense as food that needs to be chilled should be done so between 1-5 degrees

ToastyFingers · 10/12/2019 07:58

I had this problem, after extensive erm... Research I can confirm 5 is colder.

BHouse19 · 10/12/2019 07:59

5 is colder (I think!)

ParanoidGynodroid · 10/12/2019 08:00

Your fridge is very sensible Billy.
Every fridge I've had the higher the number, the colder it is.

Original poster
SupportHuman · 10/12/2019 08:01

Ok so it does depend on the fridge then! What a flipping stupid idea, why aren't they all the same? I know you can check the manual if you buy a new one but what if it's second hand? Or comes with a rented house?

OP posts:
LIZS · 10/12/2019 08:11

Most manuals are available online

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 10/12/2019 08:13

i have never known this, and have kept mine at 2.5 for two decades as a result. thanks for this thread!

HeronLanyon · 10/12/2019 08:17

Never known a fridge to be anything other than 5 (or on mine 7!) is coldest. I see it as a lower indicator. More power/working harder/getting colder. Recent heatwaves have meant mine struggles even at top whack to stay cold. Fridge thermometer is invaluable for me.

HeronLanyon · 10/12/2019 08:17

Power not lower.

PhoneLock · 10/12/2019 08:18

With the fridges that just have a knob with numbers or blobs on, it a pretty safe bet that the higher the number (or more blobs) the colder the fridge will get.

Our new fridge has a digital readout on the front that you just set the required temperature on. It makes much more sense.

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