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Buying a new refrigerator

75Center

75Center

Super Member
My 26 year old refrigerator is circling the drain. I bought it used in 1985 when I bought my first home. Moved it into Mr. Center's home when we got married in 91.

I have been measuring new refrigerators to make sure the one I choose will fit in the space in my kitchen. Since when are refrigerators now the size of a barn?????? :scratch2: How did I get by with a refrigerator that is smaller than my car????

I really got my money's worth with this fridge. I knew I was on borrowed time with it's age. Just very grateful it didn't choose to die during the week of Christmas or Thanksgiving. That would be my luck....:no:
 
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Yea Darcy the day of the simple frig is long gone. Some of them are extremely heavy as well.

I have always wanted a double-sided one, but for now my trusty Whirlpool with No-Frost freezer will keep me happy, hopefully for a long time.

Rome
 
Hopefully you'll find one that will fit. Just remember to allow 2 or 3 inches clear either side and at the rear.

I suppose there is no chance of reconditioning the old one?

If you do have to get a new one, make sure it's the most efficient you can buy. It's a good idea whenever upgrading white goods that you give energy efficiency a high priority. With rising energy costs, you can imagine what the running costs are over 20+ years. If one fridge was only 5% more efficient than another, this would add up to a huge saving over that 20 year period. It's worth spending an extra $100 for example, to get a five star over a four star.

Good luck.
 
Been having similar problems with our opening. We had to do some major carpentry (luckily my friend has a shop and does amazing work). I talked to my brother who is a VP at Electrolux cold air division about these huge fridges. He's to this day convinced that the fridge sizes haven't changed much.

When our ice maker broke on our current Electrolux side by side, he offered to replace it with a newer three door model at no cost. I had to refuse because none of the current models will fit in our hole! Reminds me of the movie Full Metal Jacket: "too boo koo" :no:
 
Refrigerators have become increasing more complex and less reliable over time. If you live in a place of low, stable electric rates you have may reasonable choices to make.
 
Once we get around to doing a little remodel work on our kitchen ours will get replaced. Our spot is not wide enough for a side-by-side.

I really like the idea of having the freezer on the bottom. Any comment on that configuration?

Looking at Kenmore (to match other appliances). LG and Samsung also have some nice looking models.
 
we are useing two fridges.
one of them draws 4.2A other draws 4.5A (according to my tester)
both are old and i guess the standard size...

how do those power ratings compare to the newer fridges??
 
If I ever need a separate fridge I want something like a Smeg (Bosch has similar models too I believe), like this look and don't need it to be able to make isce and that bla;

smeg%20fridge%20black.jpg


But I probably need a model that can be built into the kitchen block.
 
We had a side by side which I loved, but our new fridge has the freezer on the top. I don't want to have to crawl on the floor to get stuff out of the freezer. Sometimes that stuff is really heavy - turkeys, hams, etc.

It would have been hard to find a side by side that would fit in our space. Since our current refrigerator temperature is running at 50 degrees, quick buying and delivery was important.

One refrigerator salesman said our old refrigerator was older than him. :thumbsdn: I told him my stereo was MUCH older than him. :D (Marantz bought in 1977) He also said our new refrigerator would only last 8-10 years. :thumbsdn:
 
Why can't you buy smaller fridges in the US. Do one bedroom apartment guys need to rent two-door fridges cause there is nothing else available?

Aren't all the different sizes made in the same factory? Do they say "Hey, put those big fridges on that boat for the US"? Those smaller ones can go to Hong Kong?

Fresher food results from smaller fridge sizes.....shazam!

Perhaps we should ask ourseves and partner to list all the items in one's fridge. Without looking, could we describe more than 80% of it's contents? And then of this..

how much is old?

how much is crap?

how much can be cooled later when needed?

how much is old leftovers?

how much is unused fruit and veg?

how much is wasted space?



Sorry for getting carried away. 392 litre fridge/freezer here. 1700H 670W 600D



Honourable exemptions to our natural harvesters whom require extra cold storage.
 
aidynphoenix said:
we are useing two fridges.
one of them draws 4.2A other draws 4.5A (according to my tester)
both are old and i guess the standard size...

how do those power ratings compare to the newer fridges??
Click to expand...

4.5A is about the same current measurement I was getting with my old Sears Coldspot ('70s model) that I retired several years ago. Replaced it with a new Whirlpool 23 cu ft with freezer on the bottom. With compressor running it's pulling 1.45A as I type this as indicated on my Kill A Watt meter. The new fridge uses about 1/3 of the electricity of the old one. Will eventually pay for itself.
 
Ed in Tx said:
4.5A is about the same current measurement I was getting with my old Sears Coldspot ('70s model) that I retired several years ago. Replaced it with a new Whirlpool 23 cu ft with freezer on the bottom. With compressor running it's pulling 1.45A as I type this as indicated on my Kill A Watt meter. The new fridge uses about 1/3 of the electricity of the old one. Will eventually pay for itself.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I can't understand. I only know draw(usage) as watt-hours. (I only measure daily usuage in kWh/day).

My fridge draws 200w when the compressor is on. The time it's on depends on thermostat and therefore how many times the fridge door is opened, plus climatic conditions.

I conservatively put my fridge down for 1kWh/day. That means the compressor has been on and off for five hours of the day. It just come on then but will only last for a few minutes. Estimates only.

Everyone should break out their high school calculator.
 
Gaskets Gaskets, Gaskets. This is what will make a compressor run alot or a little. I noticed that my fridge was running alot more than usual. After investigating, I found that a little liquid spillage had caused the rubber gasket to stick and tear at the bottom of the door. Cold air sinks so it was all leaking out down low. Got a replacement gasket which was a pain to replace but all is well now. Keep those gaskets clean and check them periodically for tears and your fridge will run for decades. My uncle still uses a fridge from the 50's in his garage for beer and sodas
 
bhundu said:
Why can't you buy smaller fridges in the US. Do one bedroom apartment guys need to rent two-door fridges cause there is nothing else available?
Click to expand...
You can't? Here in Illinois I see refrigerators of every shape and size offered for sale, from dorm units all the way up to full size. There are lots of options, even in a big box store. Rather amazingly, a lot of stores still carry very simple, no frills units with nothing more than a refrigeration and freezing compartment.

I've never purchased a fridge or freezer that was brand new and I doubt that I ever will. The prices are ridiculous and sealed refrigeration systems are extremely reliable.

This is slightly smaller than a "real" fridge:
DSC02187.JPG


bhundu said:
Aren't all the different sizes made in the same factory?
Click to expand...
I don't think so, although it is really hard to say when it comes to a lot of the little "dorm" style fridges. Those might well roll down the same--or a very similar--assembly line any more. It seems like the vast majority are made in China. Larger refrigerators appear to be produced all over the globe. The GE you see above was made in Slovenia.
 
75Center said:
My 26 year old refrigerator is circling the drain.
Click to expand...
If I may ask, how so? Given the cost of a new fridge, it might just be worthwhile to look and see if the problem is easily fixed. A set of door seals, a new defrost timer, checking to make sure the light bulb is really going out when you close the door or a good vacuuming of the condenser coil might get your old fridge back on its feet for very little expenditure as compared to the several hundred dollar cost of a new unit.
 
A used fridge is certainly a good option these days. There are lots of craigslist listings for fridges. If you are lucky enough to live near a college town, there are always sellers who buy and sell fridges to college students all the time.
 
It never makes sense to keep a 25 year old fridge. The new ones are so amazingly efficient that the savings on electricity alone make it worthwhile to buy a new one.

Spending repair money on an energy-wasting fridge is a double mistake.
 
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