What the heck is Holiday Mode, and will you need it this year?

Holiday Mode, who dis?

Going away? Visiting distant family? Getting away from it all on a beach, up a mountain, or across the seas?

In between planning the transport, the accommodation, and how much everything is going to cost, one question you should be asking yourself is… “Does my fridge have a Holiday Mode?”

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What the heck is Holiday Mode?

No, we’re not talking about that dazed feeling you get when you come back from a trip away and have to settle back into your everyday work routine.

Instead, we’re talking about a special operating mode (sometimes called a Vacation Mode) that’s found on many newer refrigerators, designed to prevent your appliance from wasting energy during times when it’s not in regular use, such as when you’re away from home for a long time.

Why would I need Holiday Mode?

Think about it – when you go away for more then a day or two, you’re not going to be using your fridge. Many of us use up or throw out most of our food beforehand with this in mind – you don’t want to come home to a gross fridge.

However, the fridge doesn’t know that it’s been abandoned, and keeps maintaining a frosty cool temperature, ready for your return. This uses up energy that’s really not needed, which is that little bit tougher on the environment and your power bills.

So why wouldn’t I just empty and unplug the fridge?

That is one option, but it can be a lot of work, and wasteful as well in a different way.

Unless you’re able to throw some kind of massive Bon Voyage party before you go away (say, that’s not a bad idea…), you may have more food in your fridge and freezer than you can easily eat. That means getting rid of it before shutting down the fridge will require wasting a lot of good food.

The good thing about a Holiday Mode is that it hits a happy medium.

Some fridges keep the fridge running at a higher temperature to use less energy during Holiday Mode, while others turn the fridge off completely. But as a fridge’s insulation can effectively turn it into a gigantic Esky as long as the door stays shut, you can keep some food stored without worrying too much about it going off. That said, it definitely won’t have the same kind of shelf life in an unpowered or low-powered fridge, so plan accordingly and feast on your most perishable items before you go away.

Many Holiday Modes keep your freezer running while powering down your fridge to a low-power or unpowered state, so you can keep some food items in long-term cryogenic suspension, ready for when you get back from distant lands and want to heat up an easy meal in the microwave.

Does my fridge have a Holiday Mode? And how do I turn it on?

Check the manual – it should tell you.

Lost the manual? Look up your fridge on Appliances Online – we have many fridge manuals saved in PDF format, along with fridge specs.

The other method is to have a look at the control panel for your fridge if it has one – often a Holiday Mode is marked with an icon of a plane, a suitcase, a beach ball and umbrella, or some other holiday-themed picture.

Use these controls to activate your Holiday Mode, then shut the fridge and keep it shut until you get back. Many fridges with Holiday Modes have smart programming that re-activates normal fridge functions once the door is opened up again. Every fridge is different though, so don’t forget to confirm whether Holiday Mode is still on if you have to grab a last-minute snack for the road.

If you’re sick of paying good money for electricity that you’re not using while on holidays, you can find a fridge with a Holiday Mode at Appliances Online, which can be delivered to your door for free in many locations throughout Australia, and our delivery and installation team can even take your old juice-guzzling model away.

Mark Bristow

After joining Appliances Online, Mark learned more than he ever expected to know about washers, dryers and fridges, and discovered a knack for solving everyday problems using typical household appliances. When he’s not toiling at his day job, Mark tries to find time to write the next bestseller and draw satirical cartoons, but is too easily distracted by TV, music and video games.