Do You Need A New Refrigerator?

Your refrigerator is one of the essential appliances in your home — it is, after all, what keeps your food fresh and crisp. Unfortunately, because it’s such a bulky, expensive appliance, most households keep their refrigerator for a lengthy period — way past its lifespan.

There are a lot of reasons why people hold on to refrigerators, but it comes down to the fact that they can be pricey and tricky to get rid of considering you can’t just put them outside for curbside pickup.

The thing is, there does come a time — for the sake of your home and your health — that you need to get rid of your fridge. If you need help getting rid of an old appliance, you can always enlist the help of a junk removal company or find a depot to drop it off yourself.

You are better off getting your fridge professionally removed than continuing to use it when it’s just not functioning the way it’s supposed to.

According to CNN, 1 in 4 homes in the US. have two (or more) refrigerators — how many of those do you think have stopped working correctly?

It’s important to keep a lookout for the telling signs that your refrigerator has run its course. These are the main signs that you need to get rid of your fridge and swap it out for a new one:

Your Food Is Going Bad Quickly

If you find that your food is spoiling quicker than usual, that’s a sure-fire sign that there is something wrong with your refrigerator. According to Good Housekeeping, if your fridge isn’t cooling food below 4°C, then it’s time to replace it.

If you keep a fridge that can’t keep your food fresh, then you put yourself at risk of eating something that you don’t realize has gone wrong — and that can be hazardous to your health.

It’s Sweating

Refrigerators can sweat just like us — it’s just not always the best sign. If you are noticing condensation (water droplets) inside and outside your fridge, that indicates that it’s working a lot harder than it’s supposed to — which means it’s not functioning the way it needs to and should be replaced.

It’s Aged

According to US News, refrigerators typically last around 13 years — if you’ve had yours longer than that, you may want to reconsider how well it works.

Of course, some fridges are higher quality than others and have been better maintained, but the rule of thumb is to swap out your fridge every decade or so.

For this reason, this appliance is a worthy investment — it lasts quite a while and opting for a cheap one may mean you need to replace it sooner.

It’s Burning Up

Typically, your fridge is supposed to keep things fresh — if you notice that it’s hot to the touch, it’s time to do an assessment.

Usually, if your fridge is warm from the back, that’s just an indicator its ventilation is working. Extreme heat, however, is not typical and calls for a consultation with a pro — who will likely tell you it’s time for a new refrigerator.

If you spot any of these warning signs, enlist the help of a professional to confirm if your fridge needs repairs, or if it’s time for a replacement. Regardless, these factors are all indicators that something is not right with your refrigerator.

Don’t be afraid to address a problem with your refrigerator head on. There are junk removal companies who will take it off of your hands, and merely replacing tends to be more cost-effective in the long run.