How long do refrigerators last? InterNACHI's life expectancy chart puts a refrigerator at 9 to 13 years, assuming regular maintenance and normal wear. The biggest factor in where a fridge lands in that range is how easily it can get rid of heat, which comes down to clean coils, room to breathe and a door that seals.
Typical lifespan
The InterNACHI chart lists refrigerators at 9 to 13 years. The chart calls its figures guidelines rather than guarantees, and it notes that life expectancy depends on use, installation, maintenance and conditions. It also points out that many appliances are replaced while they still work because owners want a new style or new features. Because of that, an average age at replacement isn't the same thing as the age at which a fridge wears out.
The chart doesn't split the figure by type, so treat it as a rough guide for any standard freestanding model. Built-in premium models are a separate case, covered in our post on built-in refrigerator lifespan.
A refrigerator is really a group of parts with different lives. The cabinet, insulation and sealed system are designed to run for the life of the unit. Gaskets, fans, valves and ice makers work harder and wear sooner.
What wears out first
| Part | Typical sign of wear |
|---|---|
| Door gasket | Stiff, flattened or torn sections, a door that sticks or doesn't seal, frost near the door opening |
| Evaporator fan motor | A squeal or chirp from the freezer that stops when the door opens |
| Condenser fan motor | Louder running from the bottom rear and a warmer-than-usual cabinet |
| Water inlet valve | Slow dispenser flow, small ice, or a buzz or drip at the back when it fills |
| Ice maker | Smaller batches, partly filled cubes, or a unit that stops harvesting |
| Door hinges and closers | A door that sags, rubs or no longer swings shut by itself |
| Defrost components | Frost building up on the freezer's back panel, then a warm fresh-food section |
What shortens its life
- •Dust and pet hair packed into the condenser coils, which makes the compressor run longer to shed the same heat.
- •Tight installation without the side, top and back clearance the manual calls for.
- •A spot next to the oven, a heat register or a sunny window.
- •Doors opened often or left ajar, which pulls in warm, humid air and loads up the defrost system.
- •An unheated garage or enclosed porch outside the room-temperature range the manual lists.
- •A cabinet that isn't level, so the doors don't swing closed and seal on their own.
What helps it last
- •Keep the gaskets clean. Whirlpool says the gasket needs to be cleaned regularly for the doors to open and close properly, because dirt on the gasket causes resistance.
- •Level the refrigerator side to side and front to back, and check the floor under it. Whirlpool recommends both.
- •Clean the condenser coils on the schedule in your manual, more often if you have pets.
- •Keep food packages from pressing against the door or blocking vents inside.
- •Change the water filter when the manual or indicator says to, so the valve and ice maker aren't fighting a clogged filter.
Signs of age vs. signs of a fixable fault
Aging tends to show up as several small changes at once, building over months. Gaskets harden or crack in more than one spot. Door liners and bins crack. The fridge seems to run more of the time in every season, and the doors no longer close as crisply as they used to.
A single failed part usually looks different. It shows up on a particular day, it has one clear symptom, and the rest of the refrigerator behaves normally. A fresh-food section that warms up while the freezer stays cold is a good example. That pattern usually points to a fan, defrost or control fault rather than the age of the unit. A new noise, a new leak or an ice maker that suddenly stops are single-fault signs as well, whatever the fridge's age.
If you can't tell which kind of change you're seeing, a technician can check the parts that wear first and give you a clear picture. Our refrigerator service covers all major brands.
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Takeaway: Heat and seals set the pace at which a refrigerator ages, so clean coils, a level cabinet and a clean gasket are where your effort pays off.
Not sure whether your refrigerator is aging or has one failed part? Call True Fix Chicago at (312) 896-8111 and a technician can take a look.