How to Make Your Refrigerator Last Longer: 5 Maintenance Tips
Short answer: five easy habits do most of the work. Vacuum the condenser coils every six months, keep the door gaskets clean so they seal, change the water filter (if you have one) every six months, keep the top of the fridge clear so heat can escape, and wipe the water and ice dispenser now and then. Most owners expect a refrigerator to last about 10 years, which matches what manufacturers say they are built for, but a decade isn’t automatically trouble-free: in one large owner survey, 37 percent of fridges bought between 2011 and 2021 broke or stopped working as well as they should have.
From Consumer Reports, “How to Make Your Refrigerator Last Longer” (updated June 26, 2022), read November 7, 2026.
The five maintenance jobs at a glance
| Job | How often | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum the condenser coils | Every six months | Dust and hair on the coils stop them shedding heat, which cuts efficiency and can lead to a breakdown |
| Clean the door gaskets | Whenever you see spills or crumbs on them | Dirty seals leak cold air and make the compressor work harder |
| Change the water filter | Every six months (if your fridge has one) | Keeps the filter doing its job |
| Keep the top clear | Always | Anything stored up there gets in the way of heat escaping |
| Clean the water/ice dispenser | When a white film builds up | Doesn’t affect lifespan, but keeps it clean |
From Consumer Reports, “How to Make Your Refrigerator Last Longer”, read November 7, 2026.
1. Vacuum the condenser coils
The coils are on the underside or back of most refrigerators (on top for built-in models). Pop off the grille at the bottom front, or pull the fridge out from the cabinets, and gently vacuum the coils with a soft-brush attachment every six months.
Our own tips (not from Consumer Reports): unplug the fridge first, or switch it off at its control if you can’t reach the plug; go gently, because the thin fins bend easily; a long, narrow coil brush reaches the dust a vacuum can’t; and pets that shed are a good reason to do it more often. When you slide the fridge back, don’t trap or kink the power cord or the water line behind it.
Coil location and schedule from Consumer Reports, read November 7, 2026.
2. Keep the door gaskets clean
The rubber gaskets around the doors keep cold air in, and spills and food bits caught in them can stop them sealing. Clean them with a damp sponge or cloth, then dry them, since water trapped in the folds won’t evaporate with the door shut. If there’s mold, use something that kills it, such as a disinfecting cleanser, but check your manual first in case it warns against certain products.
Our own tip: to test a seal, close the door on a sheet of paper. If it slides out with no drag at several spots around the door, the gasket may need cleaning or replacing.
Gasket cleaning from Consumer Reports, read November 7, 2026.
3. Change the water filter
If your fridge has a water filter, replace it every six months. Be careful with aftermarket filters, because it’s hard to verify whether they remove contaminants and bacteria. If you’re confident your water supply is safe, you can go without a filter; some refrigerators then need a bypass plug (it usually comes with the fridge) to keep the water flowing. Our refrigerator water filter guide explains the certifications to look for.
From Consumer Reports, read November 7, 2026.
4. Keep the top of the fridge clear
It’s tempting storage, but anything on top of the refrigerator can block it from getting rid of heat. If there are cabinets above it, leave a gap between them and the top of the fridge for airflow. Some owner’s manuals give a specific spacing; Consumer Reports’ refrigerator testing lead suggests about 1 inch is a good amount.
From Consumer Reports, read November 7, 2026.
5. Clean the water and ice dispenser
A white film can build up on the dispenser and its drip tray. It won’t shorten the fridge’s life, but it looks bad. Sponge it off with equal parts water and white vinegar, and soak the tray in the same mix if the film won’t budge.
From Consumer Reports, read November 7, 2026.
Two more habits worth keeping
- Set the right temperature. Keep the fridge at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F; see what temperature a refrigerator should be.
- Our own tip: listen and look for early warning signs, like the fridge running almost nonstop, frost building up where it never used to, water pooling under the crisper drawers or a new rattle. Catching them early usually means a smaller repair.
Shopping for a new one anyway?
ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators are about 9 percent more energy efficient than models that only meet the federal minimum standard, and the program puts a refrigerator’s typical lifetime at about 12 years. Before you buy, measure the opening, the doorways and the door swing; our refrigerator buying guide walks through it.
From ENERGY STAR, “Refrigerators”, read November 7, 2026.
Refrigerator care checklist
- Condenser coils vacuumed (every six months)
- Door gaskets wiped clean and dried
- Water filter changed (every six months), or bypass plug fitted
- Nothing stored on top; a gap left under any cabinets
- Dispenser and drip tray cleaned with water and vinegar
- Fridge at 40°F or below, freezer at 0°F
Shop refrigerators and filters on Amazon
For a replacement filter, match the part number in your fridge’s manual, and check each listing’s certification claims.
Keep reading
See all refrigerators and refrigerator water filters, or read the refrigerator buying guide.
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