What is the Appropriate Time to Change Your Refrigerator?
A reliable refrigerator can last for more than ten years, but it's still far from enough for the lifetime of family members. It may seem like the most economical choice to make it run for as long as possible, but in reality, if your refrigerator ages, letting it continue to run may not be as cost-effective as you think.
When a refrigerator approaches the end of its lifespan, maintenance-related issues may cause inconvenience and repair costs for you. In addition, an outdated refrigerator may consume too much electricity in an attempt to maintain an appropriate temperature, resulting in high electricity bills.
Because a refrigerator is always on, it is one of the most energy-consuming household appliances. New refrigerators are manufactured to be more energy-efficient, and the technology is continuously improving. By replacing old appliances with new ones, you can save on electricity bills, especially if these appliances have been in use in your home for over ten years.
Aside from the cost, the most serious issue that old appliances can cause is safety. On the one hand, if your refrigerator cannot keep food at the ideal temperature, bacteria can become a danger. On the other hand, old electrical wiring can increase the risk of electrocution, and over time the wiring may wear down and become exposed.
To avoid extra costs and potential safety issues, you need to know the signs of when to replace your refrigerator.
- There is more and more frost accumulating inside the refrigerator.
- Food in the refrigerator tends to spoil quickly if it has expired. An old refrigerator without electricity can cause food to spoil before its expiration date.
- The back of the refrigerator feels warmer or hotter than usual. The refrigerator's motor is installed at the back, and the refrigerator typically feels warmer at the back than at the sides or front. However, if the back surface is emitting a lot of heat, the motor may be running too hot.
- You may notice a continuous buzzing sound or a louder buzzing sound than before. Most refrigerators emit a slight buzzing sound, but when your device starts buzzing loudly recently, the motor may not be working properly. Try unplugging the refrigerator and plugging it back into the outlet. If the buzzing sound continues, your refrigerator may be running out of power.
- On the contrary, if your refrigerator is quieter than usual and the food is getting warmer, it indicates that the compressor is damaged. When encountering this unusual problem, you can first unplug the refrigerator, then plug the power back in, troubleshoot the electrical panel in your home, and make sure the circuit breaker is not tripped. If the problem still persists, it's time to consider replacing the refrigerator.
- If there is condensation inside or outside your refrigerator, it means there is a problem with the refrigeration. If moisture only appears on the outside, please check the door seal - you can easily replace the faulty seal yourself. If the seal looks fine, or if there is condensation inside the refrigerator, it means the internal temperature of the refrigerator is not cold enough to keep food properly stored. It may be time to replace or call a repair technician.
Apart from the above-mentioned issues, there are other factors to consider when weighing the benefits of repairing your current refrigerator versus investing in a new one.
If your equipment experiences any malfunctions, remember a good rule of thumb. If it's more than halfway through its expected lifespan and the cost of repair exceeds half the cost of replacement, it may be time to replace the refrigerator.
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