Cheap Used Fridge? Its Age Can Cost You $95 a Year

A refrigerator more than 15 years old could cost you about $95 more a year to run, according to the federal ENERGY STAR program. It also says an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy than a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. So the sticker price of a used fridge is only half the cost. The other half arrives every month on your electricity bill.

The cheapest fridge is rarely the one with the smallest price tag, because it never stops running.

That is worth knowing in a year when energy costs are climbing fast. (We covered the numbers in what's cheaper and what isn't in 2026.) This guide walks through the ENERGY STAR figures and gives you a short checklist for buying a used refrigerator without a nasty surprise.

What ENERGY STAR actually says

The program's refrigerator page and its fact sheet give these figures:

The two pages give slightly different lifetime savings, $150 and $160. Both are estimates over the 12-year life of a product, so treat them as "about $150 to $160". ENERGY STAR also has a Flip Your Fridge calculator on its site if you want a number for your own household.

The second fridge is the sneaky one

The fact sheet's most useful line is about the spare fridge in the basement or garage. It says keeping one could be wasting about $90 per year. That is a cost many households pay without noticing, because the fridge is out of sight. If you only use it for holiday drinks, ENERGY STAR's advice is to recycle it when you buy a new one, or to replace it with a certified model if you need a second fridge all year.

How to check a used refrigerator before you buy

Use this checklist when you are looking at a used refrigerator, in person if you can.

1. Find the age. Look for the manufacturing date on the label inside the cabinet, usually on a side wall or behind the door seal. Over 15 years old means the ENERGY STAR running-cost warning applies.
2. Look for the ENERGY STAR label or check the model number online.
3. Open the door and listen. A compressor that runs without rest, or loud knocking, is a bad sign.
4. Check the door seals. Close a sheet of paper in the door. If it slides out easily, the seal is worn.
5. Look for ice buildup and water pooling, which can point to drainage or sealing faults.
6. Check the temperature. ENERGY STAR recommends keeping a refrigerator at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Ask to see it cold, or leave a thermometer in it for a few hours if you can.
7. Measure the doorways at home before you go. A fridge that does not fit through the door is not a bargain. (This one is my addition, but it is the most common reason for returns.)

Buying used or returned: how to think about it

An older fridge can still be a smart purchase if it is the right size, runs quietly and keeps food cold, as long as you factor in the electricity. A simple way to do that:

• Take the running-cost warning, about $95 a year for a model over 15 years old, and multiply it by the number of years you expect to keep it.
• Add that to the price you would pay.
• Compare it with a newer or certified model.

Sometimes the old one still wins, especially at a very low price. Sometimes it does not. The point is to do the sum.

If you are replacing a fridge, the old one needs a proper end. ENERGY STAR notes that recycling it properly prevents refrigerants and foams from escaping into the environment, and that many appliance retailers will pick up and recycle it when they deliver a new one. We cover the wider picture of electronics and appliances in 62 million tonnes of e-waste.

Where to look in DC, Maryland and Virginia

Appliances are bulky, which is a good reason to see them before you pay. Browse the Buy Now catalogue or the categories page for what is in stock, and read the help page to see how pickup works. Always confirm the size, the age and what comes with the unit.

The bottom line

Age is the hidden price tag. According to ENERGY STAR, a fridge over 15 years old can cost about $95 more a year to run and uses about 20% more energy than a certified model. Check the date on the label, test the seals and temperature, and add the running cost to the price before you decide.

If a friend is hunting for a spare fridge, send them this before they buy.