How Long Should You Expect Your Fridge to Last?

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Refrigerators stand as the primary gadget in any kitchen, ensuring that food remains fresh and safe to eat. However, similar to all household appliances, refrigerators too can face issues.
best refrigerators
They don’t endure indefinitely. Being aware of when you should anticipate a replacement can assist in your planning and budgeting processes.

What is typically the expected life span of a refrigerator?

The expected life span of a refrigerator ranges from 10 to 20 years, varying based on factors such as the specific model, frequency of use, and how well it is maintained. As reported by the
Department of Energy
The typical lifespan of a refrigerator is around 12 years. Nonetheless, do not depend solely on its age to decide whether you should get a replacement.

Rather than relying solely on external indicators, use the operational status of your refrigerator as an indicator. As time progresses, its various parts may degrade, which could lead to minor issues like annoying sounds all the way up to major problems such as excess ice accumulation in the freezer compartment. Additionally, your appliance might become less effective at maintaining optimal temperatures, resulting in higher energy costs.

In front, find signs that suggest your refrigerator requires maintenance, and
indications that you need a new refrigerator
.

Indicators That Your Fridge Might Be Failing

If your refrigerator shows signs of deterioration, it may be necessary to think about getting a new one. Below are several typical indications that your fridge might be approaching the end of its lifespan:

• 
  Your refrigerator produces extra warmth.
  
  If your fridge seems excessively warm when you touch it, this might suggest that the motor is functioning more strenuously than normal, potentially because of wear over time or problems with internal components. This excess warmth could imply that your
  The refrigerator is having difficulty keeping a cold temperature.
  And might be approaching the end of its operational life.
• 
  Food spoils prematurely.
  
  If your food spoils more quickly than anticipated, it indicates that your refrigerator might not be chilling correctly. This issue may stem from a poorly functioning compressor or defective door seals, affecting the appliance’s capacity to sustain steady, safe temperature levels.
• 
  There’s excess condensation.
  
  Moisture buildup within the refrigerator or on its outside usually indicates issues with temperature regulation or defective door seals. Although a certain level of dampness is expected, too much condensation may result in mold growth, mildew formation, and deterioration of stored items.
• 
  Your refrigerator is making strange sounds.
  
  Refrigerators usually produce a soft humming sound, yet they may also
  refrigerator making buzzing or rattling noises
  It could indicate a problem with the compressor or fan. When there’s a noise accompanied by cooling problems, it may be necessary to consider replacing it.
• 
  Your freezer has too much ice buildup.
  
  An excessive accumulation of ice in your freezer typically indicates that it’s not effectively managing humidity levels, which might be caused by a malfunctioning defrost mechanism or improper door seals. Continuous frost problems can impair both food preservation and energy efficiency.
• 
  Suddenly, your utility expenses have increased.
  
  An unexpected rise in your electric bill could signify that your fridge is typically expending more energy for operation nowadays. Refrigerators that are outdated or starting to fail frequently turn into significant power drains, requiring increased electrical usage just to keep internal temperatures low.

Ways to Prolong the Lifespan of Your Fridge

While it’s possible to
repair some appliance models
The typical expense for repairs often matches or even exceeds the cost of replacing a refrigerator altogether. However, you can prolong your appliance’s life span by diagnosing and fixing issues as they arise and by keeping up with routine maintenance.

1. Clean the coils.

The condenser coils, located outside your refrigerator either at the bottom or behind it, assist in turning the gaseous refrigerant back into liquid after being compressed. This process helps expel warm air from within the fridge into the room. However, when dust and debris accumulate on these coils, they hinder this heat expulsion. As a result, the fridge may frequently turn on and off without effectively cooling and could ultimately cease functioning altogether.

Clean the coils
Once or twice annually to extend the life of your older refrigerator. Start by disconnecting the power source, then remove the snap-on toe kick panel located at the bottom to reach the condenser coils; alternatively, move the appliance away from the wall if the coils are accessible from the back. Use a dust brush attachment to clean off the accumulated dust on the coils before employing a specialized condenser coil brush like the
Vanitek condenser coil brush
Along with cleaning inside the coils and between them to remove dirt.

2. Check the doors.

The rubber seal along the perimeter of the inside of your refrigerator door helps keep cool air trapped within and prevents warm air from getting in. With prolonged use, however, these seals might warp, develop fissures, rip, or detach from the door. When this occurs, chilly air may escape the appliance, while warmer air could infiltrate it, leading to higher humidity levels internally. Such conditions can result in icicles forming both in the refrigeration compartment and the freezer area. Consequently, these blockages diminish available storage room and impede proper thermal transfer with the ambient environment, thereby decreasing overall efficiency.

Apply a light layer of petroleum jelly along the outer edges of the door gaskets. This ensures they stay flexible and preserves the seal’s effectiveness.

3. Reorganize the items inside the refrigerator.

The vents situated on the side walls of your refrigerator and atop the freezer compartment help facilitate proper airflow within the appliance. If these vents get blocked by items such as food, they operate less effectively, which can lead to issues like excess condensation or frost formation inside the unit.
uneven cooling
.

To maintain unobstructed airflow, relocate any items stored immediately in front of the vents. Make sure that twist ties from frozen food packages or debris from open foods such as cakes do not block the vent openings.

Additionally, make certain to change your refrigerator’s filter periodically to ensure your device operates efficiently and continues to provide clean, great-tasting water.

Typical Refrigerator Problems to Be Aware Of

Address small refrigerator issues promptly to prevent them from escalating into major problems. Here are simple solutions for typical fridge concerns.

• Is there a
  puddle of water
  on the floor?
• Are you noticing any odd noises?
• Has the ice maker ceased functioning?
• Are you wondering about an enigmatic leak within your fridge?

The solution:

Find the drain plug located on the rear wall of the primary refrigerator section, shifting any food items obstructing it either to another shelf inside the fridge or outside temporarily. Next, use a turkey baster or a meat injector—a tool typically employed for injecting flavors into meats—to inject a mixture consisting of equal parts bleach and lukewarm water directly into the drain plug; this might necessitate multiple rounds of application. Upon completion, discard the contaminated fluid collected within the drainage pan situated underneath the refrigerator.

Should You Fix or Get a New Refrigerator?

When deciding to
fix or get a new fridge
, take into account its age, repair expenses, and general efficiency. Typically, if your refrigerator is more than 10 years old,
repairs cost
If the cost exceeds half the price of a new unit, replacing it might be more sensible. Nevertheless, should your refrigerator still be under warranty or relatively recent, and the problem minor—an incorrect door seal or malfunctioning fan, for instance—a repair could enhance its longevity and prove more economical.

Refrigerator Warranties

Although there are different types of warranties available for refrigerators, many standard warranties typically only apply during the initial 12 months after purchase. These usually encompass faults related to material quality and may also cover both components and installation costs. Given how challenging it can be to determine if your chosen model is free from manufacturing flaws, retaining this warranty becomes crucial should issues arise later on. For maximum benefit, ensure you test every feature of the refrigerator within the timeframe set by the warranty period.

When deciding whether to upgrade a warranty, consider the price of the warranty compared to the cost of the refrigerator. With sophisticated, top-of-the-line appliances, it usually pays off to opt for an extensive warranty since numerous components may malfunction. As stated by Home Advisor, the
typical expense for fixing a standard fridge
The repair cost ranges from $200 to $330; however, fixing a luxury model might exceed $1,000.

Final Thoughts

There are numerous methods to prolong the lifespan of your refrigerator. Ensuring routine maintenance via consistent cleaning and promptly addressing any problems can make a difference. Nonetheless, if you’ve found yourself asking “How long do refrigerators typically last?”, it might be wise to begin considering replacements sooner rather than later.

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