Getting Rid of That Old Fridge in Your Garage Could Save You Thousands

Is your old beer fridge really worth it?

Sure, it’s convenient to have an old fridge in the garage that gives you fast access to cold beer instead of walking all the way to the kitchen to grab a brew for you and your buddies. But, homeowners don’t always realize the cost of this luxury. Your refrigerator, old or new, is likely the most power intensive appliance in your home.

The amount of energy old refrigerators consume is much greater than the newer models on the market, so much so that it doesn’t take long to recoup the expenses of purchasing a brand new fridge.

Energy costs

Over the past few decades, as energy concerns have become more pressing, the appliance industry has responded by increasing the efficiency of various products.

On average, fridges are responsible for 13.7 percent of a home’s total energy use, a significant amount considering the number of electronics and appliances that like populate your home. That 55‑inch television in your den consumes less power.

Even if your fridge is only five to ten years old, the advances in energy efficiency may result in the new unit paying for itself through utility savings. In fact, a fridge manufactured in 2001 requires as much as 40 percent more energy to operate than one made in 2009.

According to the Energy Star program run by the U.S. Environmental Agency, the savings can add up to thousands of dollars as quickly as in a few years. Depending on the age and model of your old fridge, it’s possible to save up to $400 a year by replacing the old fridge in the garage. Of course, removing it will save even more on energy costs, especially if the fridge is in a state of disrepair.

Depending on local and national government programs, you may even enjoy a rebate for trading in your old fridge for a new one. Sometimes, the rebate takes the form of a cheque while other times the incentive takes the form of a tax rebate.

In addition to saving on utilities or receiving a rebate it is nice to know that you’re reducing the amount of waste in terms of energy and materials. Up to 95 percent of materials are salvaged from old fridges, including harmful chemicals, when you contact the appropriate authorities in the process of swapping fridges.

The potential damage to your home

Although rare, significant damage to your home can take place when an old fridge fails catastrophically.

A recent example has been a wave of kitchen explosions caused by the improper use of an efficient, environmentally-friendly coolant that replaced CFC and HFC chemicals, commonly known as greenfreeze. When used properly, this type of coolant works well. However, if a crack in a pipe develops, the gas may seep into the rest of the fridge, which can result in an explosion. This is more likely to happen during the evening when the fridge door is closed for an extended period of time, trapping gas within the system.

One homeowner ended up having her kitchen destroyed, causing more than $20,000 in damages. Because the fridge in your garage is used less frequently, the risk of this happening is greater than with fridges located in the main house. Greenfreeze has been in use for a couple of decades, so if you move an older fridge to the garage and you haven’t had it checked out for a while, you run the risk of dealing with an explosion that destroys the contents of your garage and results in expensive damage.

Fires caused by electrical malfunction become more likely as a fridge ages. Electrical cords frayed while moving the unit may spark fires. Another source of electrical problems may involve water gathering around the electrical systems of a malfunctioning fridge, which can eventually result in a breakdown that ignites a fire.

It may be unlikely for a fridge to explode, but the potential for catastrophic damage in the tens of thousands of dollars shouldn’t be ignored. The more pressing issue is the lack of energy efficiency of older fridges, which may cost an additional dollar or two per day to run.

The advancement of refrigeration technology has allowed for significant energy and cost savings. You can now enjoy the convenience of having a second fridge without spending exorbitant amounts on utility costs.