Whirlpool WRF535SMB Running Cost (Refrigerator)
Whirlpool WRF535SMB: running cost
At 615 kWh/yr, the Whirlpool WRF535SMB's ENERGY STAR certification puts it one of the more expensive models in its category to run against every other certified refrigerator.
The $116 figure above uses the simple average of all 51 published state rates. Pick your state for the real number.
Whirlpool WRF535SMB against the category
That's 59.3% above the refrigerator category average of 386 kWh/yr, and ranks 4,151 of 4,704 certified refrigerators for annual running cost, 1 being cheapest. The category average comes from every refrigerator ENERGY STAR currently certifies (4,704 models), not an outside benchmark, about $43/year above that average at the national rate. See the methodology page.
What sits beside it in the ranking
Whirlpool WRF535SMH ($116/yr, 615 kWh/yr) costs a little more to run than the Whirlpool WRF535SMB. Maytag MRFF5036P ($116/yr, 615 kWh/yr) costs a little less.
Within the Whirlpool lineup
Whirlpool makes 156 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators; this one ranks 97 of 156 for running cost, between the brand's cheapest, the AMA27S1E at $40/yr, and its priciest, the WRF995FIF at $142/yr.
Whirlpool WRF535SMB over 13 years
NAHB's Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components puts a typical refrigerator's service life at 13 years; run the Whirlpool WRF535SMB that long and it costs about $1,503 in electricity, on top of whatever it cost to buy.
Is it worth replacing?
At $116/year, this is on the expensive side for a refrigerator; the cheapest certified model in this category runs about $8/year, worth knowing before buying either the Whirlpool WRF535SMB or its replacement.
Worth comparing a few current certified models before deciding.
Protecting what you have
At $116/year just to run, a refrigerator is worth protecting against an unplanned repair bill on top of that.
Sourcing
Nothing here is estimated from a nameplate wattage; the 615 kWh/yr is ENERGY STAR's own certified figure for this model. The full Refrigerator category page shows all 4,704 refrigerators ranked by cost; the state-rate guide covers the half of this number that isn't the appliance.