When to Repair vs Replace Your Refrigerator & Freezer

In your home’s kitchen, your refrigerator and freezer are arguably the most important household appliances. When they break, you’re faced with a difficult decision. Should you try to have a service technician repair your broken appliance? Or is it time to finally buy a new one to replace your existing model? Here is some guidance on when to repair or replace your refrigerator and freezer, based on what signs you’re seeing.

Repair: Condensation on Your Fridge’s Exterior

Your fridge should not have condensation, or little water droplets, on its exterior doors. If it does, it is possible that a simple replacement of your gasket by a professional service technician will fix it. Replacing your refrigerator’s gasket is a simple, quick, and inexpensive fix that can help extend the life of your appliance.

Repair: Lots of Noise

Your fridge and freezer have made some noise since the day you purchased them. If all of a sudden one or both are making a lot more noise, it’s possible that the motor needs repair. Fortunately, many household appliances can be saved by a timely service call.

Repair: Overheating

Overheating is a sign of overuse. Typically, it means that one of your appliance’s parts is broken or working inefficiently. To repair it, a service technician will need to identify the faulty part and replace it. Although all appliances may run warm, they should not be hot to the touch.

Replace: Food is Spoiling

If your refrigerator or freezer remains warm enough that food spoils, it might be time to replace your appliance. After all, the primary purpose of a fridge or a freezer is to keep food cold enough to be safe. If the appliance cannot do its primary function, it may not be worth keeping. While you can still call a professional appliance repair technician to evaluate the appliance, in many cases, it makes more sense to replace the appliance.

Replace: Very Old Refrigerator or Freezer

Eventually, all household appliances will break and need to be replaced. If your refrigerator and freezer are more than 10 to 15 years old, it’s probably time to invest in an upgrade. First, it may be more difficult (and expensive) to find parts for an appliance that hasn’t been manufactured in more than a decade. Second, old appliances break down more frequently. You’ll likely have additional repairs soon. Plus, newer appliances have advanced features and are more efficient.

Is your refrigerator or freezer broken? Don’t worry. Call America's Appliance in Austin, TX at (512) 236-5518 today for expert advice and a quote to repair your favorite appliances.