Your refrigerator is the most expensive and hardest-working appliance in your kitchen. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 10 to 15 years straight. It never takes a day off.
The average refrigerator today lasts 10 to 13 years. But we regularly service refrigerators that are 18 to 20 years old and still running perfectly. The difference is never luck. It is maintenance.
A brand-new refrigerator costs between $1,200 and $3,000. Spending 20 minutes every few months to maintain it can add 5 years to its life and save you thousands in food loss and energy bills.
Here are 12 proven ways to improve the lifespan of your refrigerator from our certified technicians.
For a professional refrigerator tune-up and coil cleaning, you can schedule service with Atlas Appliances Repair.
1. Clean Your Condenser Coils Every 6 Months – This Is the Most Important Tip
If you only do one thing from this list, do this.
The condenser coils are either behind a grille at the bottom front of your fridge or on the back. Their job is to release the heat from inside your refrigerator into your kitchen. When those coils are covered in dust, pet hair, and kitchen grease, they cannot release heat. The compressor then has to run twice as long and twice as hot to do the same job.
An overheated compressor is the number one cause of refrigerator death.
How to do it: Unplug the refrigerator. Remove the front bottom grille or pull the fridge away from the wall. Use a coil brush, which costs about $12, and a vacuum to gently remove all dust. If you have pets that shed, do this every 3 months. You will be shocked at how much dust comes out.
This single task can lower your electric bill by 10% and extend your compressor life by years.
2. Keep the Door Gaskets Clean and Soft
The rubber gasket around your door has a magnet inside that creates an airtight seal. If that gasket is dirty, sticky, or hard, cold air leaks out and warm air leaks in. Your fridge then runs constantly.
Every 3 months: Mix warm water with a little dish soap and clean inside all the folds of the gasket with an old toothbrush. Food, juice, and mold buildup make the gasket tear when you open the door. After cleaning, apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly or silicone grease to keep the rubber soft and pliable.
Never use bleach or harsh chemicals. They dry out and crack the rubber. Also, do not pull the door open by the gasket itself. Always use the handle.
To test your seal, close the door on a dollar bill. If you can pull it out with no resistance, your seal is failing and needs to be replaced.
3. Keep Your Refrigerator Level and With Proper Clearance
Your refrigerator needs to be level side-to-side and tilted back about 1/4 inch. This slight tilt helps the doors close automatically and helps the oil inside the compressor return properly.
If your fridge is not level, the doors will not seal correctly, and the compressor will be under extra stress. Use a level on top of the fridge and adjust the front leveling feet.
Also, make sure your refrigerator has breathing room. It needs at least 1 inch of clearance on the sides and 2 inches in the back. If it is pushed tightly into a cabinet enclosure with no airflow, heat builds up around the coils and the compressor overheats.
4. Set the Correct Temperature and Don’t Overload It
Many people set their fridge too cold, thinking colder is better. It is not. It just makes the compressor work harder.
The ideal temperature for the fresh food section is 37°F to 38°F. The freezer should be 0°F. Anything colder wastes energy and puts unnecessary wear on the system. Use a cheap refrigerator thermometer to check, not the display on the door, which can be off by several degrees.
Also, don’t overload your refrigerator. Cold air needs to circulate. If you pack food tightly against the back wall and block the vents inside the fridge, the evaporator fan has to work harder and you get warm spots. Leave space between items for air to move.
But don’t leave it almost empty either. A nearly empty refrigerator loses all its cold air every time you open the door. A moderately full refrigerator holds cold better because the food itself retains cold.
5. Change Your Water Filter On Time
If your refrigerator has an ice maker or water dispenser, it has a water filter. That filter should be changed every 6 months, even if the indicator light has not come on yet.
An old, clogged filter reduces water pressure to the ice maker and water inlet valve. Low pressure causes the ice maker fill tube to freeze and makes the inlet valve work harder, which burns it out. A $30 filter can prevent a $250 inlet valve replacement.
If you don’t want to buy filters, install the bypass plug that came with your fridge.
6. Fix the Small Problems Before They Become Big Ones
Your refrigerator will give you warning signs before it fails completely.
- A clicking sound followed by the fridge not running is a failing start relay, a $150 fix. If you ignore it, it will burn out your $600 compressor.
- Water pooling under the deli drawer is a clogged defrost drain, a $100 fix. If you ignore it, it freezes over the evaporator fan and stops all cooling.
- Frost buildup in the freezer is a failing door gasket or defrost system. If you ignore it, your entire fridge stops cooling.
When you hear a new knocking, buzzing, or clicking sound, or see water where it shouldn’t be, call for service early. Small repairs are cheap. Emergency repairs after a total failure are expensive and you lose all your food.
A quick diagnostic from the professional technicians at Atlas Appliances Repair can catch a failing fan motor or sensor before it turns into a full system failure.
7. Clean Inside and Cover Your Food
Uncovered food releases moisture. That moisture has to go somewhere. It turns into frost on your evaporator coils and makes your defrost system work overtime.
Always cover liquids and leftovers. Wipe up spills immediately to prevent odors that get absorbed into the plastic.
Every 3 months, remove everything and clean the interior with baking soda and warm water. This prevents acidic food spills from damaging the interior liner and shelves.
8. Don’t Put Hot Food Directly Inside
Let hot leftovers cool down to room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes before putting them in the refrigerator. Putting a large pot of steaming soup directly inside raises the internal temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. Your refrigerator then has to run for hours non-stop to bring the temperature back down, which overheats the compressor.
This is especially hard on your refrigerator during hot summer months.
9. Check the Door Alignment and How You Use It
The doors on a fully loaded refrigerator can weigh 40 pounds. Over time, the weight makes the doors sag, especially the freezer door on side-by-side models.
Don’t hang heavy gallons of milk and juice on the door shelves if you can avoid it. Store them on interior shelves instead.
Also, try to limit how long you keep the door open. Every time you stand with the door open deciding what to eat, you let out 30% of the cold air. The compressor then has to run for 15 to 20 minutes to replace it. Get what you need and close the door.
10. Give Your Ice Maker a Break
If you don’t use a lot of ice, turn the ice maker off for a week each month or use the ice you have. Ice makers that sit full of ice for months develop clumps and cause the fill tube to freeze.
If you go on vacation for more than a few days, turn the ice maker off and empty the bin.
11. Protect It From Power Surges
Modern refrigerators have 3 to 5 delicate control boards. A single power surge from a brownout or lightning strike can fry those boards instantly.
Never plug your refrigerator directly into the wall. Use a surge protector specifically rated for appliances with a built-in time delay. This device blocks high voltage and waits 3 to 5 minutes after power returns from a brownout before powering your fridge again. This protects your compressor from trying to start against high pressure. It costs $20 and can save you a $400 control board.
12. Schedule a Professional Tune-Up Once a Year
Even if your refrigerator seems fine, a yearly professional inspection is the best way to make it last 15+ years.
During an annual tune-up, a technician will clean the condenser coils and fan motor thoroughly, check refrigerant levels and compressor amp draw, test the defrost heater and thermostat, calibrate the temperature sensors, check the door gaskets and hinges, and inspect the water lines for leaks.
This preventative service takes less than an hour and catches worn-out parts before they fail completely.
A refrigerator is a big investment. With a little regular care, you can easily add years to its life and avoid that dreaded warm fridge full of spoiled food.
Want your refrigerator to last 15 years instead of 10?
Regular maintenance is the key. For expert refrigerator cleaning, coil service, and full system diagnostics, trust the local pros.
To extend the life of your fridge and keep your energy bills low, you can easily book a refrigerator service with Atlas Appliances Repair today. We service all major brands with same-day service and a full warranty on every repair.