Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
And is the bulb turning off when you close the door? That could explain why they are burning out quick. I'd stick a phone and record to see what happens. The switch might have a few on/off stages that appears that to be off when you open the door but its really not.
You're saying the light might be flickering when the door is shut? Otherwise, the OP can test the light by opening the fridge door and pushing the button manually.
OP, if you've got a multimeter and can finagle the leads to get a reading, check the voltage with the light on. It might be way off.
Also, are you purchasing new bulbs each time, individually, or do you have a pack that you're running through. If the latter, it might be a bad batch.
Finally, at 30 years old I'd look at a replacement. Compare energy usage between yours and new (you might need to invest in a watt-meter (pretty cheap online) to see what your actual usage is, because the sticker won't be accurate now that it's old and worn.) Your state may offer rebates for new energ-star appliances, too! We replaced our old HotPoint fridge, because it performed poorly. With the setting on normal some areas were too warm; turned it up and certain areas would freeze. We lost a lot of space due to have to keep stuff away from the "bad" areas. We upgraded to a higher-efficiency, non-energy-start model, because it was on sale and was small enough to fit where we needed it to (condo.)
An intermittent incandescent bulb will definitely wear out quickly. Those who suggest checking the integrity of the connection (be safe!) are giving good advice.
As for the rest ...
DO NOT replace a perfectly good appliance to "save energy". There is absolutely no way to save $600 to $2200 on electricity over the expected life of that new refrigerator. The environmental cost of A) disposing of your old 'fridge, and B) manufacturing a new one ... means you've generated far more CO2 merely by your purchase and replace that could ever be saved from CO2 generated in higher electrical efficiency.
People make the mistake of calculating the new appliance's energy use, but fail to subtract that from the current appliance's energy use for the net benefit. That net benefit is the figure to determine how many years it takes to recover your investment. And then ... you don't really save much until that payback period has passed. At which time Do-Gooders will be harassing you to replace the 'fridge "to save energy" as newer models will inevitably be marginally more efficient yet.
The MOST efficient refrigerator you can buy in 2017 is rated to use 296 kwH. That is a small, 9.9 cu ft model.
If you want a 'fridge that the average couple can use, say 18 cu ft, it's 362 kwH. Top freezer models.
If you want a bottom-freezer model, the most efficient one you can buy today uses 370 kwH, and is only 11.1 cu ft.
If you want a bottom-freezer 18 cu ft model, the most efficient one you can buy today uses 528 kwH (18.9 cu ft) and costs $US 6,419.00 [Liebherr brand].
If you want a bottom-freezer fridge of reasonable cost and size, the most efficient one you can buy uses 637 kwH, a Samsung 24.6 cu ft 3-door model.
Energy Star rated refrigerators did not exist prior to 1996 (the first Energy Star program covered computers and monitors, in 1992).
However, a refrigerator of average size manufactured at the introduction of Energy Star used less electricity than a 100 watt bulb (2.4 kwH per day). At 10c a kwH that's 24 cents per day or $87.60/year. At 15c a kwH that's $131.40/year.
Taking the most efficient 18 cu ft top-freezer fridge you can buy today, it uses (from above) 362 kwH /year. At 10c that's $36.20/year, at 15c it's $54.30/year.
So ... 87.60 - 36.20 = $51.40. You save fifty bucks a year on power at 10c a KwH. An $800 fridge takes 16 years to recover your cost in power of replacing your old fridge today. $131.40 - 54.30 = $77.10. An $800 fridge takes 11 years to recover your purchase price in energy savings at 15c a kwH.
And that's if you buy a fridge that most North Americans would not buy, except maybe for the rental suite. If you buy something your wife actually wants, those numbers get very, very long indeed.