Shortages around the country have made it difficult to find the perfect appliance. However, even when things go back to normal, you’ll be spoiled with choices to find the right make and model for you!
Choosing a new appliance takes a lot of research and effort due to the amount of money you have to put into the product.
Are you struggling to figure out which appliance to get because you don’t want to waste money on one that will break down faster than others? It can be a tricky dilemma to be in, especially if you haven’t bought appliances in the past to base your decision on.
Keep reading to learn about the lifespan of refrigerators and freezers (and how you can make yours last longer).
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Refrigerator With a Freezer?
Typically, you can expect a refrigerator with a freezer attached to last right around 16 years on average. The quality of the appliance, special features, and other factors are going to impact how long your refrigerator will work.
Just like with other major appliances in your kitchen, you may find that the repairs and maintenance cost more as the machine gets older. This maintenance is essential to keeping the appliance functional, however, so there will come a time where you need to choose between getting those repairs and getting a new appliance.
How Long Does a Standalone Freezer Last?
If you’re lucky enough to have a freezer that is separate from your refrigerator, you’ll find that this appliance will actually only last around 11 years on average. Depending on the quality and make of your freezer, it may last as long as 20 years with proper care, however.
Freezers are typically one of the longest-lasting kitchen appliances (along with electric or gas ranges). Upright freezers tend to last less time overall than chest freezers.
Do You Have an All-Refrigerator?
You might have a separate freezer that you use for your frozen goods, so getting a refrigerator that also has a freezer isn’t necessary. There are options for people that only want a refrigerator called “all-refrigerators” or “freezerless refrigerators” that you can check out.
It’s important to note that some of these are compact fridges instead of whole fridges, so this will impact how long the machine will last.
A mini-fridge, for example, can last anywhere from 6 to 14 years. A full-size fridge without a freezer might last closer to 15 years, but it depends on the quality of the product.
Make Your Appliance Last Longer
The first thing that you should do is take care of your condenser coils. They will get dusty and dirty over time, so vacuum them gently to ensure that they can dissipate heat easily. These are located on the back or bottom of the fridge.
You should also keep up with the water filter, and change it on a regular basis. Most fridges that have a water filter need replacements every six months.
Don’t put things on the top of your fridge or freezer. You want to keep this space open to avoid damage to the appliance and make sure it can disperse heat easily.
How to Tell if You Are Having Issues
The simplest way to see if your fridge or freezer is on the fritz is just by noticing something isn’t working correctly. If your food isn’t staying cold or you notice that things are going bad very quickly, this is a sign that the appliance isn’t functioning to the best of its ability.
The lifespan of any appliance varies significantly by the make, model, and quality, so it’s hard to tell where it’s time to replace the machine just by age. Instead, you need to pay attention to how well the appliance is actually working and go off of that.
If you’d rather see if you can get a repair, you can always contact fridge or freezer repair service options in your area. The pros can tell you what is really going on and what can be done.
Some signs that your fridge and freezer need to be replaced or repaired right away include:
- Loud buzzing sound
- Back of the fridge is extremely hot
- Freezer foods covered in thick frost
- High utility bills
- Condensation inside the fridge
- Spills inside the fridge (not from food or drink)
- Grinding or scraping noises
- Puddle on the floor
A malfunctioning freezer or fridge isn’t doing you any favors, so replace that appliance when it’s time.
How to Dispose of Old Appliances
Although you may be tempted to get rid of these bulky things in the easiest way possible, you need to make sure that you get rid of them the right way to avoid contaminating the environment.
Refrigerators (and freezers) have a lot of chemicals in them that will hurt the environment, but they also have recyclable parts that don’t belong in the landfill.
One thing you can do is ask your dealer if they can take the old appliance when they drop off the new one. If not, you may be able to get in touch with your city government to see if there is a program that can pick it up for recycling.
Your city may not be able to accept refrigerators, so you can also talk to a local recycling agency or the city’s residential trash department to find out what you can do with it instead.
Keep Food Fresh Longer With Nice Refrigerators and Freezers
There are a lot of factors to consider when you’re looking at refrigerators and freezers, especially because many of them have special features that help them stand out. However, even with the current shortage of appliances available, you still have a lot to consider when it comes to finding one that will last a long time.
Take care of your appliance to make it last as long as possible, but don’t be afraid to replace it with a newer model when the time comes.
