Budgeting

Best Time To Buy a Refrigerator

Rotten produce and puddles on your kitchen floor usually indicate that your refrigerator is past its expiration date. Both scenarios are avoidable if you pay attention to the warning signs. Refrigerators don’t typically die suddenly. It’s a process. Like most electronics, deterioration is slow but evident if you know what to look for. 

Before I get into the best time to buy a refrigerator, let’s review the warning signs that tell you when to start shopping for your kitchen’s most valuable appliance. It’s not difficult if you use all five senses. Food will look, smell, taste, and feel different. You’ll also hear a change. Defrost timers, condenser fans, and compressors grind when they are close to failing.

What Is The Best Time To Buy A Refrigerator

Warning Signs That It’s Time To Buy a Refrigerator

How many times do you open and close your fridge every day? It’s okay. That’s what the machine was built for. But, do you pay attention to what’s happening, or do you grab and go? Take an extra moment. Train yourself to be aware of the warning signs, and you’ll never get stuck throwing out rotten food.

Here’s a checklist to familiarize yourself with:

  • Condensation: Cold air doesn’t hold moisture the same way that warm air does. When a refrigerator is not working properly, it heats up. You’ll see excessive condensation on the walls and chances are any plastic baggies or Tupperware will be damp when you pull them out. Your fridge could just need a minor repair, or you might need a new unit. 
  • Heat: Too much heat coming from the back of your fridge could mean that the end is near. Machinery heats up when it has to work too hard. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new appliance, but you should get it checked out right away. Replacing a condenser fan or compressor can prolong the life of your old fridge.
  • Food Spoilage: If an employee isn’t getting the job done, you fire them. Treat your fridge the same way. Its sole purpose in your home is to keep food fresh. When your sustenance starts to go bad prematurely, you likely need a new refrigerator. Call a repair tech if you want, but if the fridge is an older model it’s probably time for an upgrade.
  • Frost: You have a problem when the inside of your freezer starts to look like an iceberg. It means that somehow warm air is getting inside or that the machinery is overworked. Frost is caused by warmth. This problem is often attributed to a broken door or worn gasket. Fix it, buy a new fridge, or invest in a chest freezer for your meats. 
  • Sound: Is your refrigerator running? I know. It’s an old joke. The truth is, if you have an efficiently running refrigerator, you won’t hear a thing. When you start to hear noises it’s time for a repair or a new fridge. This is perhaps the most obvious warning sign. It means you haven’t listened to anything else we’ve just told you.
  • Age: Older horses (and people) are put out to pasture when they reach a certain age. Refrigerators are built to last from ten to twenty years. After a decade, they begin to deteriorate and become less energy efficient. Don’t wait for things to go wrong. Upgrading will save money by eliminating repair costs and lowering your utility bills. 

Now that you’ve read the list, take a walk over to your refrigerator and run a general health check. Is there excessive condensation, frost, or heat buildup? Has your food been spoiling more quickly? Is the fridge old or loud? If any of these are true, it’s probably time to shop for a new refrigerator. Let’s take a look at when and how to do that. 

Older Fridge in Small Kitchen

Best Months To Buy a New Refrigerator

There are good and bad times to buy appliances, whether it is a grill, a mattress, a TV, or air conditioners. The same is true for major appliances like refrigerators. So don’t go looking for a new refrigerator on Black Friday.

The best month to shop for this item is actually in May. May is Maytag Month, so retailers offer rebates and savings on Maytag appliances.

Manufacturers roll out new refrigerators during the summer, so May is a great time to get deals on last year’s models. They have to be discounted to make room for incoming inventory. So this is the best time of year to get a good deal.

September and October come in as a close second. Even though new models will already be on the floor, the previous year’s inventory still takes up space. Manufacturers release a new model for large appliances, except refrigerators, during the back-to-school sales season. This creates an “everything must go” scenario for anything more than a year old. Take advantage of that.

You’ll see a similar scenario in January. Most stores run sales after the holidays. So those newer models released last summer should be ripe for the picking if you go in after New Year’s Day. You’ll also want to keep an eye open for weekend holiday sales this time of year. President’s Day is only a month away, so wait if you think you can get a better deal.

Many appliance stores pay their salespeople on commission. Keep that in mind when you shop. There’s always room for negotiation with a commission salesperson. Time your shopping trips near the end of the month and weekday to get the best deals. They’ll be looking to score a monthly bonus on a slow day near their deadline. 

Side by Side Fridge with Ice Maker

A Breakdown of the Best Times to Buy a Refrigerator

This section breaks down the different times to buy new appliances like refrigerators. As mentioned earlier, you’ll get lower prices for larger appliances when you shop:

  • From September to December
  • During the holiday weekends
  • During spring and fall

September to December

The period between these two months is undoubtedly a great time to buy appliances online or in big box stores. This is because Labor Day starts in September, and it is an excellent period for home appliances to go on sale. Then, retailers reduce prices on refrigerators and other seasonal appliances for the rest of the year.

Holiday Weekends

As mentioned earlier, President Day is an ideal holiday weekend to buy a large appliance at the best price. Other major holidays for purchasing big-ticket items are Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. You can get a lower price for a fridge during these times.

Spring and Fall

Buying a cooling appliance online or in home improvement stores is best during spring and fall. However, the appliance market is highly influenced by seasons, explaining seasonal sales year-round. During summer, select appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners tend to break down, especially if they are weak and old.

Also, you won’t find too many deals on appliances at this time. If you want to buy a fridge or air conditioner during the summer, you’ll likely pay the full price. Hence the reason to purchase them during the off-season. At these times of the year, retailers are less busy and looking to sell off floor models before the peak season starts.

Refrigerator Buying Tips

Side by side refrigerators looks cool. Unfortunately, they also require the most bending and reaching. Built-in refrigerators blend with your kitchen. They don’t typically have a lot of interior space. You have to look at the whole picture when you buy a new fridge. Purchasing a vital appliance-based only on looks or price is a bad idea.

So ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does it have adjustable shelves? How many?
  • Is it wide enough or perhaps too wide?
  • Stainless? It’s durable, but does it match your décor?
  • How loud is this refrigerator?
  • Does it come with a warranty?

Also, compare prices before making a purchase. Check if the brick-and-mortar store you want to patronize offers a higher or lower price than their online retail competitor. This way, you save money and buy at a competitive price.

Commercial Restaurant Refrigerator

Final Thoughts: Best Time To Buy a Refrigerator

Your new refrigerator will be a permanent fixture in your home for the next decade. So don’t rush to buy one. Hopefully, you’ve been paying attention to warning signs and aren’t stuck with a “must buy now” situation. Take some time. Visit a few stores. Shop online. There are always good deals there. 

Kevin Flynn

Kevin D. Flynn is a former financial professional with over ten years of experience in the financial industry. He has consulted for financial advisors, online sales reps, and fintech startups. Kevin holds a degree in accounting and finance and continues to expand his knowledge by attending classes and seminars. He commits several hours a day to market research so he can stay on top of the latest news and trends in the financial industry. Kevin's experience in the industry has fueled his successful writing career, which he now focuses on full-time. He currently resides in Leominster, Massachusetts with his wife Evelyn, two cats, and nine wonderful grandchildren.

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