Refrigerators

I have a question. My refrigerator has quit cooling. Do they still replace this freon replacement stuff that causes cooling or is it better to buy a new icebox? Responses appreciated.

 

My brother retired from Sears, after 30 years of working on all things Sears. He always impressed upon me the importance of periodically pulling the refrigerator away from the wall and vaccuming whatever can be reached. Not unlike keeping your heat pump clear of grass and other debris, or changing filters regularly on any HVAC. In addition, while everyone knows to clean the lint screen on a dryer, rarely does anyone periodically ensure the vent to the outside is clear and unobstructed or even considered that lint gets into all sorts of nooks and crannies within the housing of the dryer.

However not sure if that is the problem. If it is actually an issue with refrigerant, then the leak has to be stopped... meaning a service call. Typical service calls runs about $230~$300, according to Sears.

Compare that to the cost of a new refrigerator.

 

The rule I use on Refrigerators is that if it is 3 to 5 years old,
I'll try and repair.

If it's over that, it's time for a new Fridge.

Most of the time, it's a refrigerant leak ( R-134a ).
A lot of the older ones do not have service ports for the
entry of refrigerant, a service port will have to be sweated in.

The cost of repair is usually close to the rule of 'if it cost 75%
of a new unit to repair, it's time for a new one.

Hope this helps.

 

As a side note:

This rule applies to 'window shakers' ( window A/C units )

Unfortunately, todays products are not easy to repair.

Like your new TV with Back Light instead of a 'picture tube', you can repair it if you have the knowledge
and special tools, easier to just buy a new one on sale.

I just replaced the Back Lights and power supply on an 80" TV at work and I can say it was a chore.
But the cost of repair compared to replacement, made it worth the time and effort.

 

Seems to be a leak. Good rule of thumb, Tim. As soon as I can drive I'll go down pick out another.

 

@Bill Boggs
We were shocked when we moved last, having sold our fridge in Missouri in our auction, when we looked for one out here by the Colorado River. Prices are incredibly high! We bought a used LG, double-door, big freezer drawer at bottom, for around $500. New it's way over $2000.

When I first married, we bought a medium sized Admiral new for about a hundred bucks, 1965. @Tim Burr @Harry Havens :
One thing I learned while shopping around, many, if not almost all, fridges now have no condenser coil rear-mounted which generally became covered with heat-insulating dust. They were so made to allow normal air movement to carry away the heat. Far better, IMO, are the condensers mounted hidden underneath, and cooled by forced air, a small fan. They, too, need "room to breathe", however. Aside: Some guy on Craigslist here is selling 80 30# bottles of R-22! Has it been phased out yet, too?
Frank

 

You could buy a good used one.

 

R-22 will be around for a bit longer, ending production in 2020.
Which means the price just goes up and up.
I guard my bottle, have it chained to the wall.

 

If you have a home warranty that repairs or replaces appliances I would checked into that first should only cost you the service call. If no home warranty I would just purchase a new refrigerator.

 

No matter where I have lived, there seems to be someone who has a used appliance shop. Just some local who has a knack for fixing appliances and who sells whatever he fixes.
From past experience, most of them have been very reputable and will stand behind (for a limited time) whatever they fix and sell simply because they really are local and are well known throughout the community.
Because replacing broken appliances will destroy a budget, Yvonne and I generally buy used and so far we have had a lot of luck doing that.
Our last buy was a two door Whirlpool refrigerator with an ice maker for 50 beans and it's been cranking for nearly a year. The refrigerator before that is still working as a storage fridge and is old....I mean.........old but it only cost us about a hundred a few years ago.

 

Over the years we have done the same thing.but appliances are not made as well as they used to be. Nothing about an appliances is compreable to those appliances of yore. It's call planned obslolences. I was operating here with flag at half staff, unable to shop. Money wise your policy is wise policy @Bobby Cole.

 

@Tim Burr
Ha! Even more rugged, I have left a 30# cannister of 12, not particularly well-guarded, but really wonder what going price is by now. Occasionally I've seen ads offering 12 oz. cans @ $50 or higher! The bally-hoo pushed forth regarding change-over to 134a requiring changes (expensive ones, at that) to compressors, orifices, etc., was largely B.S., I think, as I've seen and used myself, installations where the only change done to an automobile A/C system previously using R-12 was the adding-on of the new kind of quick-disconnects R-134a equipment uses. Actually have this in my '90 pick-up, works fine.

Yes, boiling points differ etc., etc., but it works.
Frank

 

All this discussion about refrigerators, set me to thinking of Refrigerator Perry.

 

i bought a new fridge several years ago --the saleman said they usually last 9 years sure enought it went out on me on the nineth year---they dont build them like they use to