Appliance woes

[graygun]

My washing machine broke Sunday and the refrigerator yesterday. I ordered a new timer for the w.m. and am shopping new refrigerators. I'm only looking at low-end boxes. I went to HD,Lowes,Best Buy and Costco today. One is a Frigidaire model FFTR1514QW...18 cf for $479 on sale from $579.

I've heard that all the new stuff is junk compared to the older ones. Costco doubles the warranty to two years but the only cheap one they have is only 14.3 cf and is $449.

 

[SamV]

I have always suspected that somehow they send out failure waves as they go down, somehow making other devices die in some strange death pact. I especially suspect this with vehicles.

 

[graygun]

Are there any good ones out there?

 

[737tdi]

Graygun, my advice is too stay away from to much electronic garbage on the fridges. My last two died due to the electronic panels. Also, after research I put a decent surge protector on the one we have now. I guess they are very susceptible to power fluxes.

Karl

 

[Colonialgirl]

Look for ones that are slightly damaged on the side; They generally get marked WAY down and still function as designed. Usually, you can get them to take even more off the "damaged price" if you negotiate. Keep in mind that there is a BIG BIG MARK UP on appliances .
That's the way I bought my Washer, Drier AND Refrigerator and all are still working great after 8+ years.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I got a Whirlpool in that price range from HD a bit over three years ago.
The only "problem" is that the temperature adjustment is for both freezer
and refrigeration section. That means that to get the freezer cold enough
(around zero F) the fridge section is running around 35.

It's a bit noisier than the old one was, but has worked fine.

 

[graygun]

Well,my current,GE,unit has "fixed" itself. I turned it off for about 6 hours and plugged it in again(read about doing this online). The freezer has gotten to -5 and other side to less than 40 F. The defrost t-stat might be faulty...???

Karl: I would buy a cheap one so there'd be very little electronics.

 

[blume357]

One of the marvels of modern day manufacturing is they have perfected 'planned obsoleteness' they can actually make something and know how long 90-95% of them will last to within a year or two.

 

[427mach1]

It must have a Windows-based operating system...

 

[Kevin]

We have one of those double ovens in our kitchen. It quit working but flashed this power failure number on the digital display. So I looked it up on the Internet and the whole electrical system and board inside need replaced. But from reading online, sometimes it will work with a new board and sometimes not. I didn't want to gamble the 300 to 400 just for the parts, so never got it fixed. And honestly, it's been about 3 years now and we don't miss an oven. Well, once or twice a year. Modern toaster ovens can do a lot of baking these days.

 

[graygun]

The electronics in these appliances should/could be hearty enough to last decades and handle most voltage spikes. It's bordering on criminal,IMO...$300 or more for a board that is doing such a small task. My home cptr only cost about $450(peripherals excluded).

 

[SAJohn]

My aunt still has a working frig she bought in the early 1950's. I have a chest freezer my Mom gave me which was made in about 1960. My current $200 Kenmore frig is only about 35 years old.

 

[gramps]

Sorry about your plight graygun. I noticed water stains on my bathroom floor yesterday AM. Traced it back to my hot water heater that came with the trailer 25 years ago. I bought a 30 gallon heater to replace the 40 gallon, because of space. It took till 2300 to get the water back on, and hot water at 0400! Only cost me $790. I feel your pain.
gramps

 

[737tdi]

Graygun: If you unplugged it and it started working again, the condenser is freezing up. Unplug it again, pull it out and remove the back panel that has the louvers in it. Clean all of the dust and grime out of the coils. Verify your condenser fan is working. If not it's a very easy fix for you.

As far as the comment on freezer control. All refrigerators work the way described. You set the freezer temp and the fridge portion stays cold due to this temp. setting. Yes, the new ones, like mine, have various ways of varying this but none work terribly well. IMO, freezers should be freezers and refrigerators should be just that.


Karl

 

[graygun]

I did vacuum back there but will have another look.

 

[mohavesam]

...I've heard that all the new stuff is junk compared to the older ones...

Actually I'd opine all the cheap stuff is junk compared to the good stuff...
we all know that you get what you pay for these days. Like toilet paper, the cheapest is never the best bargain. :shock:

 

[blackhawknj]

Not so much "planned obsolescence" as poor PRC quality control, total lack of spare parts and so many things are stamped and pressed together so you really can't disassemble them.

 

[caryc]

It must have a Windows-based operating system...

My refrigerator went out on me. I noticed in the afternoon that it wasn't running. It stayed out all night. The next morning I was sitting in the kitchen looking in the phone book for appliances sales places and I heard the refrigerator kick on and start running. I called a repair man anyway and he said that it was probably the timer that was going bad.

He came out and replaced the timer and it's been going for another 6 or so years. He said the timer operates the self defrost part of it.