Refrigerator maintenance: schedule, lifespan and costs
Updated
Overview
The refrigerator runs all day, every day, for as long as you own it, which makes it the hardest-working appliance in the kitchen. It asks for almost nothing in return. A water filter changed on schedule keeps the dispenser and the ice maker running clean, and a set of coils kept free of dust keeps the compressor from working harder than it has to. Those jobs, a clean door gasket, and a little room around the cabinet for air to move are the whole of it.
Lifespan
A refrigerator lasts 10 to 15 years. What shortens that is heat: a fridge that can't shed the heat it pulls out of the food runs its compressor longer and hotter, and the compressor is the part whose failure ends the fridge. Dust on the coils is the main cause, and a fridge wedged tight against a wall or beside the oven is the other. A door gasket that doesn't seal lets warm air in and makes the compressor run to chase it.
What extends the life is clean coils, room to breathe, and a gasket that seals. The signs a fridge is near the end: a compressor that runs without stopping, food that won't stay cold on the normal setting, frost building where it didn't before, and a hum that's turned into a rattle or a click.
Maintenance schedule
The jobs that keep a refrigerator running, in the order they come due.
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Replace the refrigerator water filter | every 6 months |
| Clean the refrigerator coils | every 6 to 12 months |
Replacement cost
A new refrigerator costs $1,000 to $3,000. The range runs from a basic top-freezer model to a large French-door fridge with a dispenser and an ice maker, and the price climbs with size, finish and features more than with quality.
The repair-or-replace rule: if the repair would cost more than half of a new fridge and the unit is past the middle of its lifespan, replace it. A failed compressor or a sealed-system refrigerant leak on a fridge older than 10 years is a replacement. A door gasket, a thermostat, a defrost heater, an ice maker or a fan motor is a repair at any age, and most of those are parts a handy owner can change.
Common problems
- The fridge runs constantly and the sides feel warm: dirty coils. Clean the refrigerator coils.
- The water dispenser is slow, or the ice is cloudy and small: a clogged filter. Replace the refrigerator water filter.
- The fridge isn't cold but the freezer is: the fan that moves cold air between them has failed, or the vent between them is blocked by frost or food.
- Frost building up in the freezer: a door gasket that isn't sealing, or a failed defrost heater. Test the gasket by closing the door on a piece of paper; if it slides out easily, the gasket needs cleaning or replacing.
- Water on the floor under the fridge: a clogged defrost drain, a split water line to the ice maker, or a cracked drain pan.
- A new noise, a click or a rattle: a fan with something in it, or a compressor starting to fail. A compressor that clicks and won't start is the end of an old fridge.
FAQ
How long does a refrigerator last?
About 10 to 15 years. Clean coils and room to breathe get it to the long end, and the compressor is the part that decides when it's over.
How much does a new refrigerator cost?
$1,000 to $3,000, from a basic top-freezer to a large French-door model with a dispenser and ice maker.
Is it worth repairing an old refrigerator?
If the repair is less than half the price of a new one and the fridge is less than 10 years old, usually yes. A compressor on an old fridge is not worth it.
How often should refrigerator coils be cleaned?
Every 6 to 12 months, and every 3 months in a house with pets that shed. It's the single job that most extends a fridge's life.
Why is my refrigerator running all the time?
Dirty coils are the usual cause, followed by a gasket that isn't sealing. Clean the coils and check the gasket before calling for service.