The vital kitchen appliance may hand in there longer than you think, but it won’t be around forever. Do you want to know how to extend its life and when to replace it?
Then keep reading to find out…
An average refrigerator should reliably run for 13 years. Beyond that, your fridge will loose the cooling efficiency and cause the utility bills to spike up, and its individual components will worsen increasing the risk on malfunctions from pesky noises to excessive frost build up in the freezer
So, what can you do to extend the life of your refrigerator at least for 20 years?
#1 Clean the coils
Dust and dirt trapped in the condenser coil prevents the heat from escaping efficiently which can cause your fridge to constantly cycle on and off and eventually stop running. If you are wondering where your condenser coil is located: It is found on the fridge exterior at the base or behind your fridge. Cleaning the coil twice or thrice a year can make refrigerators last longer.
#2 Lubricate the door gaskets
The refrigerator door interiors have rubber insulation around the edges that seal in the cold air and keeps hot air out. These gasket develops cracks, tear or loosen from the door over time. If this occurs, cold air may escape from the fridge while hot air enters, increasing the interior moisture. Ice dams can form in the fridge and freezer because of this. It is always best to lubricate the door gasket by applying a thin film of petroleum jelly to the outer edges. This will maintain the elasticity and protect the integrity of the seal.
#3 Clear the vents
Vents on the sidewalls of the refrigerator and the roof of freezer helps to circulate air throughout the unit. This will work inefficiently when obstructed by food, resulting in moisture or uneven cooling
#4 Perform timely troubleshooting
Resolve minor fridge malfunctions as they arise to keep them from getting into more severe. This would make your work easy too!
- If your ice maker fails to produce the air, the fill tube behind the ice make may be clogged. Defrost it using a hair dryer. Yes! Blowing hot air from a hair dryer will restore it to work in order
- If your fridge makes grinding or scraping sounds, the fans that cool the condenser coil is to be blamed. Unplug the fridge and access the fan in the same compartment as the condenser coil at the base. It is always best to replace the worn or broken fans rather attempting to repair it
So, when is the time to purchase a new refrigerator? The lifespan of a fridge varies by the model, so don’t rely on its age alone to determine if you’re ready for a new one. Instead, rely on the working conditioner of the fridge as a gauge. If you come across the following situations, then it is the right time to replace your refrigerator
- If your fridge is generating an excessive amount of heat
- You frequently see condensation on the inside of the fridge, but the door gaskets are in good condition
- The fridge buzzes loudly even after unplugging and plugging it back
- You frequently notices that the frozen foods you store in the freezer is regularly covered by a thin layer of frost.
