7 Signs that you need a new refrigerator

Besides this obvious sign, the following are some other signs that indicate that your refrigerator is nearing its end: 

1. Excessive condensation:

   If you see excessive condensation or frost inside your refrigerator, it may be a sign that your refrigerator is not cooling properly. Examine the rubber sealing on the door of the refrigerator to see if there is any condensation, mold, or mildew on it to determine where the condensation is coming from. If the condensation is mild and the sealing is damaged anywhere, you can just replace the rubber sealing on your own and your refrigerator will be good for usage. In case there is condensation everywhere inside the refrigerator, it may be due to a bad temperature setting. If the temperature issue persists for a long enough time, it will start spoiling your food stored inside the refrigerator. When these problems exist for a long time, it is time for you to retire your old refrigerator and get a new one. 
   
   Some recommendations to help you with your new refrigerator search:
   1. Best refrigerators of 2021 in the USA
   2. Best refrigerators of 2021 in India

2. Food expiring before its expiration date:

   If your food is taking longer than usual to cool or starts to smell/ spoils much faster than normal, it may be a sign that your refrigerator is about to break down. To make sure, check the gasket on the door immediately, if the gasket is dirty or defective, it may not be able to trap the cool air inside and keep the warm air outside as it is supposed to. Replacing a gasket is an easy and inexpensive task. If your food is taking too much time to cool down inside the refrigerator, then your refrigerator is unable to maintain the required temperature and is using more than the required energy. This will mean a waste of energy and an increase in energy bills. So, you are not only wasting money on your increased energy bill but also on the food as it spoils fast and you have to either finish it or throw it out faster. Invest that money in a new refrigerator and save your food and money in the long run.
   Image credit: Pixabay

3. Motor making too much noise:

   Your refrigerator is supposed to run silently or make a very faint sound. But if you start to hear your refrigerator running louder than it is supposed to, it may be due to a malfunctioning temperature control board. The continuous energy sent to the fan motors and compressor makes the refrigerator too cold and in turn, releases unnecessary energy leading to an increased energy bill. Call a technician as soon as possible and get the issue fixed. If the technician fixed the issue successfully, then you have nothing to be worried about. But, if the motor noise persists even after the repair, get yourself a new refrigerator to avoid high energy bills.
4. The freezer is too cold:

   The ideal temperature for your freezer is zero degrees and if it feels cooler than that or if you notice ice formation on every item inside the freezer, it may be a serious issue. The first step is to defrost the freezer and monitor its functioning for some time. If you see the same problem again, it is time for you to get yourself a new refrigerator.
   Image credit: Flickr

5. The back of the refrigerator is hot:

   The backside of your refrigerator should be warmer than the front, but if the backside is way too warm for touch, it may be a sign that your refrigerator is malfunctioning. The overheating problem may be because of dirty coils, a bad ventilation system, and a dirty condenser. As a first step, clean the coils either with a vacuum cleaner or with a brush as it will help the refrigerator in running more efficiently. Contact a professional to look for the reason behind the overheating and fix it but, if the refrigerator still malfunctions after repair, it is time for you to go refrigerator shopping.

6. Refrigerator is more than 10 years old:

   The average life of a refrigerator is 10 to 15 years and the older your refrigerator gets, the higher the repair costs can get. Slowly the repair costs will become higher than the cost of a new refrigerator. So if your refrigerator is older than 10 years and starts malfunctioning, the best idea will be to start saving money for your new refrigerator. It will help you in saving costs in the long run. 

7. Unexpected rise in electricity bill:

   If you start getting higher electricity bills despite using your appliances for the same amount of time, it may be due to one of your appliances malfunctioning. If it is your refrigerator that is malfunctioning, it will damage not only your wallet but also the environment. Get your refrigerator inspected by a professional to get the problems, if any, fixed properly. But if this problem persists for a long time, replacing the refrigerator will probably a better option than regular repairs.