Common mistakes that make refrigerators break down quickly

Believe it or not, refrigerators are very fragile. These common habits can quickly ruin your expensive refrigerator.

Habits that shorten the life of your refrigerator

Refrigerators are a necessary household appliance, but they are quite expensive. They cost at least 2 million and up, depending on the brand of refrigerator you buy and the features you want. Since it costs a lot of money to buy this appliance, you need to take good care of it so that it can be used for as long as possible. The average lifespan of a refrigerator is 10 to 15 years, but it can be up to 20 years if you take good care of it.

Knowing how you can shorten the life of your refrigerator will help you stop bad habits in the first place. Here are some habits to avoid when using your refrigerator.

You do not clean the internal mechanism

If the defrost drain becomes clogged with debris or ice, water dripping from the coils will overflow the drain pan and drip onto the bottom of your refrigerator. This not only causes your refrigerator to work harder, leading to a shorter lifespan, but it can also cause your refrigerator/freezer to leak water all over your kitchen floor. Leaking water is a sign that you should have your appliance inspected as soon as possible.

You don't clean the refrigerator

Additionally, crumbs, food, sticky liquids, and common food issues that sit on the refrigerator door gasket for too long can tear the seal. This can cause leaks, allowing cold air to escape. That's why learning how to clean your refrigerator properly is more important than ever. To keep your refrigerator in tip-top condition for as long as possible, wipe down the door edges regularly. And while you're cleaning, make sure you're organizing your refrigerator properly to keep ingredients fresh and avoid food poisoning.

You do not clean the coil

Experts recommend increasing your refrigerator coil cleaning to twice a year if you have furry pets. Debris on the coils can prevent your refrigerator from dissipating heat properly, which means your compressor has to work harder and longer than it's designed to. That makes your refrigerator use more energy and shortens its lifespan.

The fridge is too full.

Overstuffing your refrigerator and freezer with food can put unnecessary pressure on the cooling fan blades, which can affect their shape and fit to the relevant parts of the refrigerator. Overworking your refrigerator will inevitably shorten its 'lifespan,' eventually leading to it stopping working. To avoid overcrowding, thoroughly clean out the contents of your refrigerator and remove clutter.

You do not change the water filter regularly

If you have an ice-making refrigerator—with a dispenser located in the freezer or on the door—the water filter plays a vital role in keeping this part of your refrigerator in good condition. An old, broken, or displaced water filter can cause all sorts of problems for your refrigerator. At best, your ice dispenser breaks. At worst, your refrigerator will be overworked to the point of premature failure, leaving you with the expense of a new dispenser.

Above are common mistakes when using the refrigerator that cause it to break down quickly. If you know of other habits that shorten the "lifespan" of the refrigerator, please share them with us!

Micah Soto

Update 09 December 2024