Back in the day, it was a common prank to call someone and ask if their refrigerator was running. Typically, one would answer, “yes,” to which the prankster would reply, “well, you better go catch it!” It’s all fun and games until your refrigerator is actually leaking, making strange noises, emitting heat, or causing your food to spoil quicker than usual. Now that we’re talking about it… when was the last time you inspected your refrigerator? Are you confident that, right now, it isn’t about to just die away? If not, is it even worth it to repair these issues or should you just buy a new refrigerator altogether? In this brief guide, let’s talk about the signs that you need to be looking for to prevent your refrigerator from imminently shutting down and leaving you stressed (and hungry).
Common Refrigerator Problems to Watch For
When something you interact with on the daily goes awry, you would think that you would notice right away. But sometimes, as humans, it’s natural for us to tune things out!
Weird Noises
Take a moment to consciously focus on the noises coming from your appliances. Are these noises new, or are they normal? Before you panic, remember that not all noises coming from your appliances indicate a problem. For your refrigerator, a humming noise is normal. You will want to keep an eye out for grinding, scraping, rattling, or knocking sounds.
Food Spoiling Quicker Than It Should
There is nothing more frustrating than having to throw food away before it’s expected expiration date! If you’re seeing excess condensation or moldy food in one area of your refrigerator (or all over), this could be an indication that your fridge is about to give out. The temperature inside your refrigerator should be set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. It is beneficial to put a thermometer in your fridge and routinely check for that consistent temperature, even if your appliance has a digital thermometer inside of it already. If you don’t have a thermometer, check for large puddles or droplets of condensation, which will be your culprit for bacteria growth and rotting veggies!
When to Replace Your Appliance
The problems listed above, depending on their root cause, can likely be repaired. But when do you just throw in the towel and buy a new refrigerator? On average, your refrigerator should last you between 10 and 20 years. The exact number depends on the brand, model, and care you give it throughout it’s lifetime.
When considering replacing your appliance versus repairing it, you need to consider it’s age. If it has already hit that 10 year mark and you are facing a major, costly repair, then you will more likely be better off replacing your refrigerator. In other words, you don’t want to spend $700 on a repair and then have to buy a new appliance in a few months anyways. Especially when new, lower-to-average budget refrigerators currently run around the $700-$1,500 range.
Kitchen Appliance Troubleshooting and Care Tips
At Premier Appliance of Augusta, we are all about education. We want to help you solve your residential appliance related problems and help you understand what went wrong, how to prevent issues in the future, and what we can do to help you reach a resolution. We have put together an appliance care guide to help you ensure that you are getting the most out of all of your appliances!
When it comes to your refrigerator, DIY maintenance is relatively simple. Besides keeping the appliance wiped down and stain free, inside and out, there are only a few other tasks that can uphold your refrigerator’s soundness. As mentioned in our guide linked above, you’ll first want to keep the refrigerator’s coils clean of dust, dander, and pet hair. Gently clean the coils with a vacuum or soft brush. Additionally, be sure to check the rubber seal around the fridge door to make sure it is properly sealing while closed. If not, this could be a culprit for inconsistent temperatures and that premature food spoilage that we mentioned earlier!
When to Consult Your Local Professionals
If you’ve done all of the self maintenance that you can but there is still something going wrong, don’t hesitate to give us a call or book a time for us to come out. It’s best to have professional guidance than to try to fix something yourself and ultimately make the issue worse, especially when it comes to refrigerator repair. If someone from our team comes out and is unable to fix your appliance, don’t fret. As soon as you purchase a new appliance, we will set up a time to help you install your new one!
