How long should you keep your old fridge? Most households insist that with the right amount of care, refrigerators can last well above 15 years. However, not all fridges are made the same.
If you have purchased a second-hand fridge or are still using the hand-me-down appliances that your relatives gave you when you move out, it’s time to think of the long-term consequences of keeping the same old fridge.
First of all, the most important question you need to ask yourself is: How do I get rid of my fridge when I don’t want it anymore? Indeed, pollution and environmental damages are the most commonly overlooked risks with old appliances. The truth is that your old fridge doesn’t belong in the bin or in a landfill. Specialist recycling and metal scrapping center, such as Norstar, can make use of the metal parts inside your appliances. Alternatively, you can also reach out to your local repair company to find out if they want to use parts for repairs.
But even if your fridge is still in working condition, you want to think about how it can affect your household, health, and neighbors.
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#1. It doesn’t keep your food safe
The reason why we use fridges is that they can help us conserve our favorite ingredients for longer. If you choose to cook from scratch regularly to boost your health and control what you eat, you want to use ingredients that are safe for consumption.
Old fridges can sometimes struggle to control temperatures. If you find that some of your ingredients can develop mold patches or unpleasant smells inside the fridge, it could be a sign that they are exposed to fluctuating temperatures. Fresh meat and fish, especially, are the first to go bad when the fridge temperature increases. You may believe they are still safe to cook, but they could already have attracted bacterial growth.
#2. It is too loud
Old refrigerating systems can get loud as the defrost timer, condenser fan, or compressor becomes more worn. It’s a good idea to get your fridge checked for issues when it develops abnormal noises. However, it can be a good idea to measure the sounds when the repairman doesn’t find any damage except for old age.
Dirty compressors can be loud without affecting their functions. Compressors typically make low humming noises, so you may be so used to the noise that you don’t register it anymore. If your fridge emits sounds of 70 dB or over, it’s time to worry. Fridges tend to register sounds around 55 dB to 60dB. For comparison, 60dB is the sound of a normal conversation inside an office or a busy household. It is unlikely to disrupt your home or your neighbors. However, if your fridge becomes louder and reaches 80dB or over, it can lead to noise pollution. For reference, 80dB is the sound of a hairdryer, and 90dB is a lawnmower. Imagine how your neighbors must feel if the fridge next door to their apartment is as loud as a lawnmower!
#3. It has mold growth
Mold can appear in extreme temperatures, including the inside of your fridge. If you have a fridge with multiple drawers, expert hygienists recommend emptying and cleaning your drawers and shelves with safe products at least once a month.
Mold can develop in damp spots where food residues are left untouched for several weeks. The vegetable drawer in the fridge is the most commonplace for mold spores to appear. So how do you best keep your fridge sanitized without putting your food at risk?
Soapy water will remove the dirt, while you can use cotton buds to clear the back wall. Sanitize the surface using baking soda and vinegar, which are safe for your food. Make sure to dry all compartments before placing them back inside the fridge.
#4. It is not energy-efficient
Depending on size and model, you can expect the average fridge to consume around 150 and 800 kWh per year. For instance, a large side-by-side American-style fridge would run an annual cost of around $104. On the other hand, a smaller fridge model may cost only $65 per year.
Where does energy efficiency come into play? An energy-efficient appliance is likely to cut kWh consumption by half or more for compact fridges. On the other hand, old refrigerators are less likely to be energy-saving, as they can consume up to 2,000kWh per year. For comparison, it’s more than twice the cost of an XXL side-by-side fridge.
You may think that keeping your old fridge can save you money in the long term. However, it’s a false economy. Indeed, the old appliance could prove to be more expensive to run than modern models. Additionally, it could severely affect your health and contribute to housing noise pollution.
