Our refrigerator is in the slow and ugly process of dying.
It has been happening for about two weeks now. First we noticed that we no longer had ice. Then we noticed that our frozen things were not quite as frozen, so they migrated to the outside refrigerator/freezer.
So I called a recommended appliance guy, who very kind and said that while he did not do that kind of work, he could recommend someone else to us. I called him this morning and stated the problem, hoping it was a failing compressor. I described the symptoms.
"Well, I have bad news for you my friend" he replied. "Would that that were the problem."
"It is not?"
"No. I talk to three or four people a week and they have the same problem. You have a freon leak."
"Can it be fixed?"
"Not really. You have to completely remove everything with freon running in it and put it back it. Parts are not so much, but labor is. You are looking at the equivalent of taking your car in and having the engine replace. About $5000."
We discussed the rather said state of repairs for my model (LG - never get an LG. We have had two of their units fail and they essentially cannot be repaired). There is one repairmen in my entire area and their honoring of warranties - 1 year, parts and labor - is not really helpful since we have been here four years. So this evening was spent moving things from inside to outside and "culling" what would not go (not a bad idea, as it turns out - refrigerators can tend to be refuges for items you would not otherwise dispose of).
Suspecting this was the case - or at least the thing was failing - Nighean Dhonn and I went to The Orange Big Box Store to look at replacements. After out tax return and after paying for the coil replacement and AC on the Van, we have just enough to cover a baseline steel model with the optional ice maker.
On the one hand, very thankful that the tax return came through right when it was needed to cover what needed covering (Thanks, Lord). On the other hand, things always seem to come up just when you get a little money.
And our Stove/Oven is an LG as well. And now I am looking at that with a concerned eye as well...
Stay away from the "upper fridge, lower freezer" models with the ice maker in the door. The ice makers on this type of fridge depend on cold air from the freezer to keep the ice frozen. Think of the ice maker being on a permanent spacewalk, outside the freezer. It doesn't work well. You end up with slush more than ice. I had such a problem with the one on my Samsung unit that Samsung bough the thing back! If you're going for ice/water in the door, go for a side-by-side unit.
ReplyDeleteThat's awful TB...thanks for the heads up about LG. Our fridge, washer and dryer are currently dying the slow death, but they were all used, which somehow feels like they are better quality than all the new crap out there! We are hoping they make it until we leave this place, because we have no intention of taking them with us and we certainly don't want to have to replace them!
ReplyDeleteGood to know Pete. This actually came with the house when we bought it. My preference at this point is for a side by side unit.
ReplyDeleteYes Rain, I would stay completely away from LG. Not sure who to recommend though - We have Kitchen Aid for a dishwasher and have had Whirlpool appliances in the past and were pretty satisfied with them. Not sure if those are even up your way.
ReplyDeleteDo you have to replace appliances when you lease? Typically here, refrigerators/dishwashers/stoves are the responsibility of the landlord.
New fridges are more economical to run, appliances here in the UK have to have energy ratings, we had to buy all new when we moved as our previous ones were all built in.
ReplyDeleteThat is true here as well, Dawn. We basically acquired these as part of our home purchase (here in the US, appliances tend to run with the house). Every appliance has its "What it costs" in terms of money and kilowatt hours (Although I have no evidence as to where they come up with this "cost").
ReplyDeleteMy rule of thumb on appliances is similar to my rule of thumb on window replacements: Probably every 10 years, the technology has sufficiently improved such that replacement may make sense in the case of failure.