Maximize Your Freezer’s Lifespan with These Essential Tips

Most Canadian households have a refrigerator with a freezer compartment in their kitchen. Many Canadian households also have a second, standalone freezer, often located in garages or basements, to store quantities of leftovers or food purchased in bulk. The majority are either upright freezers, which resemble a refrigerator, or chest freezers, which are short and wide with upward opening lids.

How long do freezers last? The average life of a freezer is 16 years, with most ranging anywhere from 12 to 20 years. How long does a freezer last compared to other types of kitchen appliances? Along with gas and electric ranges, freezers tend to be the longest-lasting kitchen appliances.

But that’s not a guarantee! Many factors influence how long freezers last, including maintenance and environmental factors. If you learn about proper freezer care, you can make sure yours keeps its cool for a long time.

Interested in the average lifespan of other household appliances? Check out our Appliance Life Expectancy Chart and guide. We have care tips below and more important details about freezer lifespan.

Factors that Affect Freezer Lifespan

Several factors may influence the lifespan of a freezer, including:

• Appliance quality: Many makers of residential freezers design and sell products of differing quality to meet various price points, meaning that it is reasonable to expect that the long-term durability of freezer models will vary.
• Location: Your freezer’s lifespan is influenced by its environment, particularly if exposed to temperature extremes. While indoor temperatures are less volatile, those placed in garages are potentially susceptible to outdoor weather. For example, the oils used for lubricating moving components may thicken amid frigid temperatures and increase the likelihood of premature failure.
• Appropriate size: Choosing a freezer with a capacity that reflects your needs may have long-term consequences. If your freezer is too small and is constantly overfilled, it will struggle to maintain the proper temperature because of poor airflow, which causes excessive component wear and tear. Having a freezer that is too large may also create concerns because full freezers generally retain the cold better, which means that more cold air escapes each time the door is opened, causing the appliance to work harder.
• Care and maintenance: Common maintenance failures include not checking the interior temperature, allowing excessive frost build-up, or failing to remove accumulations of dust and debris from the condenser coils.

Tips for Extending Your Freezer’s Lifespan

The following tips will help to keep your freezer running efficiently, reduce the chances of part failures, and extend the appliance’s lifespan:

• Deeply clean the freezer twice each year by removing all items and wiping down the interior with a mix of vinegar and water.
• Clean the condenser coils using a vacuum or soft brush approximately every six months to maintain operational efficiency.
• Periodically check the interior temperature to ensure it is between 0- and 5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is optimal for maintaining frozen food quality and for ice production in machines with ice makers.
• Defrost the unit if you notice a ¼” thick build-up of frost.

How to Determine the Age and Condition of Your Freezer

Because of their large size, home occupants often leave freezers behind in basements or garages when they move, and many used models are also bought and sold (secondhand). To determine the age of an old freezer, closely inspect the appliance to find the tag containing model information. For example, GE’s upright freezers either have a model and serial number tag on the rear interior wall or the face of the freezer compartment. GE’s chest freezers have a tag located on either the side or rear exterior, inside the lid panel, or on the rear interior wall.

Frigidaire’s chest freezer models will have a tag on the side or rear exterior wall or inside the upright door. On Frigidaire upright freezer models, look at the interior wall or behind the lower exterior baseplate.

Benefits of Professional Maintenance

Why are homeowners encouraged to consult with professional providers for freezer maintenance and repair services?

Experienced technicians perform detailed assessments to accurately diagnose the problem. Many do-it-yourself repair projects are intended to save money, yet failing to diagnose the reason for a malfunctioning freezer properly could result in trial-and-error efforts that waste both money and time.

Choosing a qualified service professional protects you from safety risks associated with electrical systems or harmful chemicals used in older-style liquid or gas refrigerants. A service expert will also have access to top-quality replacement parts that will extend the freezer’s lifespan.

Extend Your Freezer’s Life with Proper Care and Maintenance

The best practices to maximize a freezer’s serviceable lifespan include keeping the interior clean, inspecting and cleaning the condenser coils, properly defrosting and deep cleaning the unit, and ensuring that the freezer is operating at the optimal temperature range. Aside from keeping the unit running efficiently to save money on your utility expenses, a freezer that is continually running at temperatures that are either too cold or too warm may cause the appliance to work harder and result in premature failure of its components.

Property owners with an aging freezer can rely on Mr. Appliance for exceptional maintenance and repair solutions. Our residential customers will experience the ease and convenience of Service on Your Schedule (SOS^®), our easy-to-use online scheduling tool. We realize that many homeowners are juggling time-consuming responsibilities. With SOS, you can choose an appointment time that fits your schedule and know that our service professional will arrive on time.

After we finish completing the work, you will appreciate the peace of mind associated with our Neighbourly Done Right Promise^™, which is an organizational commitment to ensure your satisfaction. Contact us today to schedule service with a Mr. Appliance location near you.

This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Mr. Appliance is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Mr. Appliance for more information and a professional on-site assessment.