It's easy for homeowners to put off some repairs or renovations, reasoning that they can live with an issue until they've saved up some extra money to address the problem. It's much harder to ignore a fridge on the fritz.

Unless you're OK with eating at restaurants for every meal or storing your perishables in a cooler, you'll want to get a faulty refrigerator back to normal as soon as possible. A repair could be a good solution in many cases, but you'll also want to consider whether it's worth it to simply replace the appliance.

Before you call in someone to look at the refrigerator, check to see if the problem has a simple solution. Perhaps the fridge became unplugged, or the circuit breaker has tripped. Make sure the vents, filters, fans, or compartments haven't become clogged. Douglas Trattner, writing for the home improvement site HouseLogic, says some appliances will fail to turn on if the floor has become uneven.

If the refrigerator is still under warranty, take advantage of it by calling someone in for the repair. However, this coverage is often rather limited. Trattner says warranties usually cover the parts and labors for only one or two years after purchase.

Fixing the refrigerator on your own is a possibility if the issue is a minor one. Marcus Pickett, writing for the home improvement site HomeAdvisor, says the appliance's manual will offer some tips on how the fridge works and how you might address common problems.

A do-it-yourself refrigerator repair has a number of downsides, though. It can be dangerous to try to move the heavy appliance, and you might void the warranty if you try to make the repair on your own. Trattner says electrical replacement parts cannot be refunded, so you'll lose that money if you haven't correctly identified the problem.

Pickett recommends calling someone to assess the necessary work once you've determined that the refrigerator problem doesn't have a simple solution. You should be able to ask what the likely problem is and how much it will cost to fix it.

In determining whether to repair or replace the refrigerator, consider how old the appliance is. Refrigerators generally have a lifespan of about 15 years. If you are approaching this point, you should consider investing in a new appliance.

Mary H.J. Farrell, writing for Consumer Reports, says the rule of thumb is that a refrigerator should be replaced if the cost of a repair is 50 percent or more of the cost of replacing the appliance. She says your decision may also be influenced by the type of refrigerator. It is generally worthwhile to repair built-in refrigerators rather than replace them.

Farrell says refrigerators with side-by-side doors should be repaired if they are 13 years old or younger, while those with bottom freezers should be repaired if they are 15 years old or younger. After these points, repair might still be an option. For refrigerators with the traditional top freezer, she suggests repairing them up to their 11th year, considering them for repair between 11 and 14 years, and replacing them after the 15-year mark.

One advantage of replacing a refrigerator is that you'll be able to get a more efficient model, saving you on energy costs. The Energy Star program says that refrigerators with top freezers are most efficient, while models with side-mounted freezers or built-in icemakers use more energy.

The energy savings will be helpful in the long run, but it might not be worth it to replace a refrigerator too soon just for this reason. Trattner says a new refrigerator may cost thousands of dollars and only save you a few hundred dollars on your energy bills.

In comparing costs, you'll also want to take into account any ancillary costs. Replacing a refrigerator will likely result in expenses for disposing of the old appliance and removing any chemicals. Alternatively, you can consider keeping it for secondary use in the garage or basement.

Getting a new refrigerator may also open the door for more extensive kitchen renovations, since the fridge may not be able to fit into the existing space. Pickett says this might be beneficial if you are already planning to do some work in the kitchen; it might be possible to get a discounted rate on the renovations, or a contractor may even include a new refrigerator as part of their work.

You'll also have to assess your own future in the home. Trattner says getting a new, energy-efficient refrigerator is a good idea if you plan to stay in the home for several years. If you're thinking about moving in the near future, it might make more sense to repair the refrigerator and leave the question of replacement up to the new owners.