When I was growing up, it seemed like household appliances lasted forever. I can’t ever remember my parents having to replace them. However, since we moved into a newly constructed home 11 years ago, the appliance repair guy has become my dog’s best friend.



The gas stove has required several service calls. The dishwasher has been replaced. And this month, we had to buy a new refrigerator because the compressor died and it would have cost over $1,000 to fix.



When I did some research, I found that standard refrigerators have an average life expectancy of 14 years, with a low of 10 years and a high of 19 years.



Since the lifespan of our dearly departed stainless steel behemoth was obviously on the low end of the spectrum, I figured I’d better find out what we can do to ensure our new fridge stays healthy and energy efficient for much longer.



Here is what I learned from Home Sweet Solutions



1. Vacuum the coils: Cat and dog fur and other accumulated crud can clog up the fridge coils and eventually burn out the compressor. The coils may be on the back of your refrigerator or behind a panel under the fridge. Vacuum them regularly.



2. Check the seals: If the seal around the doors of the refrigerator and the freezer is cracked or brittle or coming loose, cool air could be escaping, forcing the refrigerator to work harder and increasing your electricity bill.



3. Clean the drip pan: Some fridges have drip pans to catch condensation. Food particles and other debris can also build up there. Empty and clean the drip pan once every three to four months.



4. Defrost the refrigerator: Most new fridges defrost automatically. If yours does not, defrost it whenever ice in the freezer builds up more than 1/4 inch.



5. Change the water filter: If your refrigerator includes a built-in water filter for the ice and water dispenser, change the filter every six months to keep the water fresh and pure. Water that runs through a dirty filter can get dirtier than it was in the first place.



6. Level the refrigerator: The doors on a refrigerator that is not level may not close properly, letting air escape and compromising energy efficiency.



7. Check the temperature: The ideal temperature range to keep food safely chilled is between 37 and 40 F. A refrigerator that is colder than 37 F is working harder than necessary and using excess energy. (A setting warmer than 40 F can speed up the growth of bacteria on foods.) Measure the interior temperature and raise the temperature if necessary.



8. Clean the refrigerator. Empty the refrigerator and clean all shelves and drawers with warm, soapy water about once a month.



Related:



Reducing the cost of appliances on standby



16 ways to cut your hydro bill





Sheryl Smolkin is a Toronto lawyer and writer. Contact her through her website and follow her on Twitter @SherylSmolkin.