13 Telling Signs That You Need a New Refrigerator
Quick answer
Replace a fridge when it can no longer hold 40°F or below, when the repair (usually a compressor or sealed-system leak) costs a large share of a new one, or when it is old enough that a new ENERGY STAR model would save real money on electricity. Many other symptoms, such as noise, condensation or frost, are often fixable first.
Some of the signs below mean the fridge is failing. Others are fixable faults, or simply reasons the fridge no longer suits you. For each one we say which it is, so you do not replace a fridge that only needs a new door seal.
Signs the fridge is failing
1. It can’t keep food at 40°F or below
This is the one that matters most. The FDA says a fridge should be at 40°F (4°C) or below and a freezer at 0°F (-18°C). Dial settings are not thermometers, so put an appliance thermometer on a middle shelf and check it after a few hours with the door shut.
If it stays above 40°F after you have cleaned the coils and checked the seal, the fault is likely in the sealed system or the compressor, which is the most expensive repair on a fridge.
2. The compressor runs all the time, or not at all
A fridge cycles on and off. One that runs constantly and still feels warm, or one where the compressor clicks on and off within seconds, has a fault. Dirty condenser coils can cause the first, so clean them before deciding.
3. The back or sides are unusually hot
The outer walls and the area around the compressor get warm in normal use, because that is where the heat from inside goes. Very hot surfaces combined with poor cooling suggest a struggling compressor or a blocked condenser fan.
4. Food in the fridge section is freezing
If items at the back freeze while the dial is on a normal setting, the thermostat, temperature sensor or air damper may have failed. These parts are usually repairable, so check the cost before you replace the whole fridge.
Signs that may be fixable
5. Condensation inside or on the outside
Water droplets inside usually come from a door seal that no longer closes properly, the door being left open, or a blocked defrost drain. Sweating on the outside is common in humid kitchens. A new door gasket is an inexpensive part.
Test the seal by closing the door on a sheet of paper. If it slides out with no resistance, the gasket in that spot is not sealing.
6. Frost or ice building up
In a frost-free freezer, heavy frost points to a failed defrost heater, timer or sensor, or a door that is not sealing. In a manual-defrost freezer, frost is normal and you should defrost it when the ice is about a quarter of an inch thick.
7. New or louder noises
Fridges hum, click and gurgle as part of normal operation. A new loud rattle, buzz or grinding usually comes from a fan (the evaporator or condenser fan), which can often be replaced. See why fridges make noise for what each sound means.
8. Water on the floor
Usually a blocked defrost drain, a cracked drain pan, or a leaking water line to the ice maker. All are repairable.
Signs it no longer makes financial sense
9. The repair costs a large share of a new fridge
A common rule of thumb is to replace rather than repair when the repair would cost about half the price of a comparable new fridge, especially if the fridge is near the end of its typical life. Compressor and sealed-system repairs are the ones that usually cross that line.
10. It is old and uses a lot of electricity
Fridges run all day, every day, so efficiency adds up. ENERGY STAR certified models must be more efficient than the federal minimum standard, and fridges made before the tighter standards of the early 2000s typically use far more electricity than a new model of the same size.
To see what yours uses, plug it into a plug-in energy meter for a week and multiply up. Then compare that with the annual kWh on the EnergyGuide label of a new model. Our how we calculate running costs page shows the formula.
11. It is a second fridge you barely use
An old spare fridge in a garage or basement can cost more to run than it is worth, especially in a hot garage. Many utilities run recycling programmes that collect old fridges, sometimes with a rebate.
Signs it no longer suits you
12. It is the wrong size
A household that has grown may need more capacity, and one that has shrunk may be paying to cool empty shelves. As a rough guide, larger fridges use more energy, so buy the size you will fill.
13. You are moving or remodelling
A move or a new kitchen layout is a natural time to replace a fridge that is old or the wrong size, since you will be paying to move it otherwise. Measure the space, the doorways and the door clearance before you buy.
Before you replace it
- Clean the condenser coils (under or behind the fridge).
- Check the door seals with the paper test.
- Make sure nothing blocks the air vents inside the freezer and fridge.
- Leave a few inches of space behind and above the fridge for airflow.
If the fridge still cannot hold 40°F after that, it is time for a repair quote or a new fridge. For small spaces, our mini fridge running costs by size compare certified models.