Refrigerator is an indispensable component of your kitchen. You would not be able to remember a single day when you didn’t use your refrigerator. It is also one of those appliances which come in the category of a major purchase due to the high cost factor which means that you buy a refrigerator to last long. But how long should a refrigerator last?
An average refrigerator is made to last at least 12-14 years. Depending on the way you maintain your refrigerator, it can even run up to 17 years or more. When you care for your appliances, it shows. Regular maintenance can prolong the lifespan of your refrigerator as well as help to keep the electricity bills down. So, basically how long should a refrigerator lasts depends on how you use and take care of your fridge.
There are many factors that determine the lifetime of the refrigerator. Your quest starts from the moment you decide to purchase a fridge. Always go for a reputed brand. Not only do you get assurance in the form of warranty, their claims to latest energy efficient technology are customer friendly as you save money on bills in the long run as well.
To prolong the life of your refrigerator, it is important that you should take all these factors into account while logging on to a maintenance routine. A clean fridge is a happy and efficient fridge. The cleaning not only involves external and internal cleaning but also cleaning the condenser coils. The coils get congested with dirt, dust and pet hair. They should be cleaned after every three months, this will make your fridge breath and cool faster. Wiping the interior and exterior of the appliance with vinegar helps in preventing odors and molds.
The gasket around the door should be checked regularly to ensure good sealing otherwise it would seriously affect the cooling efficiency of the refrigerator. You should also clean the gasket periodically with warm soapy water. Try getting damage fixed as soon as possible.
Your refrigerator should be kept away from all heat sources as well as direct sunlight. Try to provide adequate clear space to your refrigerator from all sides which would be instrumental in letting the heat escape. Remember, the cooler the environment around your fridge, the less strained it would be.
Running your refrigerator at 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezing compartment no less than 0 degree F would prolong the storage life of your food while consuming the least amount of electricity. Keep your fridge full as it has to work more for temperature variations. Maintaining consistency in the interior temperature would put less burden on its working. Cover your food stuff as the moisture that escapes, makes the refrigerator work hard to remove it – it is extremely important for health reasons – unkempt food is one of the major causes of bowel movements issues . You should always wait for the food to cool down before storing it in the refrigerator, of course the fridge would cool it down but it would pull double current. Keep your fridge organized and group your visits to the fridge. Repeated opening or prolonged opening causes the refrigerator to lose cooling as well as goes for wear and tear.
So, how long should a refrigerator last is up to you, if you want your refrigerator to last upto 14 -17 years, you should take care of the factors that determine the lifetime of the refrigerator. When your refrigerator works efficiently, it consumes less energy and puts less strain on its mechanical working which counts for a prolonged appliance life and lower energy bills.
