Clean the coils.Ĭondenser coils, which are the metal tubes found on the fridge exterior at the base or behind your fridge, help liquefy vaporized refrigerant from the unit’s compressor in order to release hot air from inside the fridge out into the kitchen. Fortunately, by troubleshooting fixable problems and regularly maintaining your fridge, you should be able to extend its lifetime. While it’s possible to repair some refrigerators, the average cost of repair can be as much the average cost of refrigerator replacement, if not more. Regular maintenance helps extend the average lifespan of a refrigerator. RELATED: Solved! This is How Long Each of Your Major Appliances Should Last It might be time for a more energy-efficient model. If this is the case, an energy-usage monitor plugged in between the fridge and the fridge outlet will indicate that the fridge is drawing more wattage than it has in the past. Your utility bills are mysteriously shooting up despite making no changes in your appliance usage.You frequently notice that the frozen foods you retrieve from the freezer are regularly covered by a thick layer of frost.Your fridge is completely silent when it’s plugged in (a gentle hum is expected), but there’s no evidence on the electrical panel to suggest that the circuit breaker for the fridge flipped.The fridge buzzes loudly even after unplugging and plugging it back in.You frequently see condensation inside of the fridge, but the fridge door gaskets are in good condition.Food spoils prematurely even when you correctly set the temperature adjustment control to a food-safe setting of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less.The rear exterior surface of your fridge is generating an excessive amount of heat.RELATED: The Best Refrigerators for Your Home Know the signs that it’s time for a refrigerator replacement. Your fridge also can start to lose cooling efficiency and cause your utility bills to spike.īelow are some signs that your fridge is impractical or impossible to fix and may warrant a replacement. Its individual components begin to deteriorate, increasing the risk of malfunctions from pesky noises to excessive frost build-up in the freezer. Instead, rely on the working condition of your fridge as a gauge. However, the refrigerator’s lifespan varies by the model, so don’t rely on its age alone to determine if you’re ready for a new one.

The typical life expectancy of a refrigerator is 10 to 15 years, and the average fridge with a freezer on the bottom or top can reliably run for about 13 years.

Life on the refrigerator door