Your refrigerator is one of the essential household appliances you need to run your household. Modern day living requires a working refrigerator and the thought of dealing with a broken fridge is stressful, particularly during summer months. If you notice some trouble with your refrigerator, it’s best to attend to the problem as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming an even bigger problem.
A refrigerator lifespan is anywhere between 10 to 20 years. How long it lasts largely depends on the quality of the refrigerator and how well it has been maintained over the years.
While it is one of the largest appliances in the home, a fridge is often forgotten about and receives very little attention until something goes wrong. Some problems with your fridge may seem subtle at first and you may be tempted to shrug it off as unimportant. So how do you know when to call an appliance technician to repair your refrigerator?
Before you decide to replace your fridge, here are some common signs that your refrigerator can be repaired first.
Excessive Condensation
Condensation takes place when warm moist air is cooled. If your fridge looks like it is sweating, this means condensation is taking place. One of the first things to check is the rubber seal on the fridge door to see if it needs to be replaced. If the door seal is faulty, it will allow cold air from the inside of your fridge to escape. This will force the fridge to work harder to keep the contents of the fridge cool.
Check the rubber seal for any water droplets and also look for any signs of mold or mildew. If the rubber seal isn’t badly damaged, you may be able to fix the issue yourself. Look inside your fridge to see if there are any signs of concentration inside the fridge. If there are, your fridge is not cooling adequately and the temperature is too warm, which can lead to your food spoiling.
Hot Back of Fridge
Does the back of your refrigerator feel hot when you put your hand over it? This is one of the signs a refrigerator is dying. It’s normal for the back of your fridge to feel warm, however, it should not be hot. If it is, this is an indication that there is a problem. Insulation around the coils at the back of your fridge prevents the coils from emitting excessive heat. If your coils are hot, we recommend calling a repair technician to inspect the coils. The technician will be able to tell you whether the coils need to be replaced or if another solution is more appropriate.
Food Spoils Fast
Is your fridge not cold enough? This is a telltale sign that your fridge is in dire need of attention. If you notice that the food inside your fridge is spoiling before it should, it means that your fridge is no longer maintaining a cold temperature necessary to preserve food. A fridge that is unable to keep the right temperature is using more energy to operate than it should, which means you are paying more than you should. Not only are you wasting money on excessive energy bills, but having to throw out spoiled food is an additional waste.
Loud or No Noise
A refrigerator in good working condition should run without you hearing it. While you should hear a gentle hum when you put your ear close to your fridge, noises coming from your fridge are problematic. If you can hear your refrigerator running when you walk into your kitchen, you need to have a technician inspect it to determine what the problem might be.
On the contrary, a fridge that is silent is also a bad sign. Either way, both issues need to be investigated. Before calling a technician, unplug the fridge and plug it back in to see if the buzzing will stop.
Frost Buildup
Frost develops inside your fridge when moisture comes into contact with the coils inside the freezer. The freezer section of your refrigerator is designed to keep food frozen so it’s not uncommon to have a little frost around the food or in certain areas of the freezer. However, excessive frost takes up valuable space in your freezer and can result in freezer burn on your food.
If you notice excessive frost buildup, try defrosting your freezer and see whether frost builds up again soon after. If it does, call a technician to assess the issue and advise whether to repair or replace your fridge.
Fridge is More Than 10 Years Old
One of the common questions people ask is how long do fridges last? The lifespan of a refrigerator is between 10 to 20 years. If your fridge is in its latter years, you will begin to encounter more problems that call for repair. As it ages, the cost of repairing your refrigerator will increase. This doesn’t mean that you should throw out your 10-year-old fridge if it needs repairs. Effective fridge maintenance involves repairs from time to time.
Increased Utility Bill
Your fridge is a large consumer of energy because it constantly relies on energy to remain cool. If your utility bill is higher than usual for consecutive months, this means that your refrigerator is requiring more energy to operate than it should. This is usually due to the fridge’s inability to efficiently keep the temperature inside the fridge cold. Sometimes this is due to the fridge doors not being sealed correctly or a problem with the fridge’s compressor motor. Either way, getting to the root of the problem by repairing the faulty part is key.
Contact the Pros
Before you consider replacing your fridge altogether, consider having a fridge repair done to prolong the lifespan of your fridge. Hiring professional technicians who specialize in fridge repair is the best way to determine what the problem is and how best to solve it. Trust our team at Fix Repair for reliable fridge repair at a competitive rate.
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