Signs your fridge may need replacing
Fridges are one of the most popular appliances in our homes, buildings or offices. We rely on the humble refrigerator to keep our food fresh, our items frozen and our drinks cold. It’s important that your refrigeration unit is running at it’s optimum level, otherwise this little gem can create some huge problems, especially increasing the cost of your electricity bill if it’s not working well. We thought we would share with you some tell tale signs that your fridge may need replacing!
Constantly Running – Your fridge is designed to cycle on and off to maintain its temperature, but if you notice that it is always on or running too much, this is a problem. It may just need new seals, or a clean due to dust build up, but if you notice it’s becoming “power hungry”, then a professional such as MakoAir is required to take a look.
Noisy – When your fridge is on you may hear a slight humming sound which is normal, but if at any time you hear a vibration, loud noises, knocking sounds, bangs or clatters, then your fridge is letting you know it’s having trouble working and needs to be checked over.
Temperature Changes – Your fridge temperature should be set between 0 to 4 degrees celsius and your freezer around -18 degrees celsius. If these temperatures are maintained then your fridge and freezer should be keeping your food fresh. If you notice that your food is going off before it’s used by date, or your fridge feels warmer inside, then this indicates your cooling system is not working, usually meaning your fridge motor, fridge seals, or temperature setting has a problem.
Lights On/Off – Your fridge lights are designed to come on when you open the door/s. If you notice the light is remaining on or not coming on, or flickering, or your fridge is cutting out the safety switch, then please seek assistance immediately.
Ice Build Up – It’s okay for your fridge to have a very small amount of condensation, but if you notice your fridge is way too cold, or there is ice build up on your refrigerated food, these are warning signs that there is a problem. Frost-free freezers also should not have ice inside, so if this occurs it is a concern. Firstly check your temperature setting inside the fridge, if it is 4 degrees celsius or less, then you know there must be another problem that requires checking.
Leaking Water – If there is water on the floor or around your refrigeration unit, then this needs to be checked immediately. Leaking water is a definite sign that something is not working correctly and is a safety concern around electrical cords.
Fridge Age – These days most fridges are designed to last around 10 years. So if your fridge is older than this, then it may be just starting to wear out. As refrigerators age their parts become more expensive to replace, so if you notice you need to keep repairing parts, it may be time to consider buying a more energy efficient new refrigerator.
MakoAir have been servicing commercial and industrial refrigeration units and cool rooms for more than 20 years. We are qualified Refrigeration Mechanics and Qualified Electricians and offer an onsite repair and maintenance service. If your fridge shows signs of any problems, please call us on 0490 333 461 we would love to help!