My Refrigerator is So Dramatic

[NJCher]

For a while now, it has been letting me know it wants to retire. It started by taking a long time to freeze ice cubes.

Prior to that, the light would come off and on, whenever it felt like it.

A produce drawer broke, but the RG fixed it.

It cools sorta' ok in the main section but the freezer is slow.

This refrigerator is located in the utility room, adjacent to the kitchen and it is my main refrigerator. (I have another one in the kitchen, a smaller one and made for a professional kitchen, so I won't be completely out of a 'frig while I shop. It works like a champ.)

Yesterday my ailing 'frig started making unusual sounds: a distinctive "nom, nom, nom." I just looked at it and asked: Are you suggesting I eat everything in this refrigerator? It continued with the "nom" all day long.

However this morning it really cracked me up. It was making a sound like Al Capone with a machine gun: rat tat tat tat tat. Then it would "load up on another round" and continue with rat a tat tat tat."

I said, "Fine, I understand you want to head over the rainbow bridge of refrigerators."

Guess I'll be shopping.

I want a U.S.-made refrigerator and I am using this guide as a start in my search:

https://allamerican.org/lists/fridges/

Did you know U.S. steel is four times stronger than Chinese-made steel? It tells about that at the link. Only one more reason for buying American. Being a union person, I want to keep Americans at work.

[Ocelot II]

1. My old refrigerator announced its impending demise with strange grinding sounds.

It was '70s Harvest Gold. I can't say I missed it after it departed.

But its crossing the rainbow bridge of appliances wasn't as dramatic as the departure of my old microwave, which suddenly issued crackling noises and an odor of burning plastic. Had to unplug that sucker right now.

[2naSalit]

2. Next comes the death rattle!

I'm laughing but it is serious, especially if it's your only fridge.

Best to get whatever's left out of it.

[hippywife]

15. Or like mine...

the whole mechanism holding the bulb has become unstable. Very aggravating.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. I endured fridge shopping for a whole year

When ours decided to conk out during the pandemic. Most stores told us many people decided to remodel their homes (and kitchens) because they were bored and stuck at home under quarantine. So they got rid of perfectly good appliances in order to install everything new, and matching. And the appliance companies weren’t turning out too many new ones due to the pandemic so the smaller size fridge we needed was practically impossible to find. The only fridges left in the stores were the gigantic ones that would have taken up half my kitchen and set me back 4 grand. Uh uh.

My old one made a noise that sounded like Ricky Ricardo on the bongo drums.

Good luck finding what you need, Cher!

[hippywife]

5. Oh, my!

You've been so patient with the dying. Thank goodness you have back-ups in the meantime.

Mine's still going strong after 20+ years, but I fear the day it (and the washer, around 30 years) bid me arrividerci. I really wish I'd had the forethought to repair the one husband had when I married and moved down here. It was very old, don't even remember the manufacturer. It had a slightly bowed out front, the freezer on the bottom, and its most endearing quality - solid metal, cantilever shelves that you could swivel out to reach items at the back with ease. But, no! Like good 'mericans, we had it carted away and bought a brand new one.

Hope you find one that suits all of your needs.

[CousinIT]

6. If you have a small house or laundry closet...don't look for a washing machine that fits

'cause you won't find one. Except front-loaders (which I didn't want on a wood floor).

What a massive PITA.

Washing machines, dryers, refrigerators - all of them are taller and deeper these days than will even fit in older or smaller homes. It's a crock of bullshit.

[Diamond_Dog]

11. So true.

And just try and find a new refrigerator that will fit in your kitchen with the 1950’s dimensions. Most all new refrigerators are massive.

[Freddie]

27. DH had to shave a quarter inch off the counter

To fit our new fridge in. He measured the space and it was supposed to fit. Didn’t count on the wall being crooked. But I love the fridge, it’s a Kenmore (do they still make those?) side-by-side we bought in 2018. About $800 on sale. Around the same time my daughter bought a Samsung for $1300 and already the ice maker quit.

[Kali]

7. I inherited an OLD (70's?) kenmore from my neighbor

love the thing, almost a commercial model, small frost free freezer inside on bottom right. Hate dual fridge freezers, hate gallon door storage, hate sidebysides the most. have an almost-as-old GE with the old style glacier-creating freezer inside on the top. I am sure they are not as well insulated as newer models but I don't care, I need fridge space. have two real freezers, a chest and an upright (not using that at moment)

also have a more modern frost free freezer on top out on the porch, pretty much hate that thing and it is rusting out but ok for some storage. it tends to freeze stuff so no fruits or veggies can go in there but good for leftovers and meat. freezer is too small for anything serious so mostly use it to store ice and stuff that doesn't matter if it gets dried out. (empty meat trays until dump day)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. "Did you know U.S. steel is four times stronger than Chinese-made steel?"

I find that a questionable assertion, and I'd like to see a citation for that.

Did you know U.S. steel is four times stronger than Chinese-made steel? It tells about that at the link. Only one more reason for buying American. Being a union person, I want to keep Americans at work.

From the article:

In addition, it’s worth noting that US-made steel is three times stronger than Chinese-made steel. So, if you’re after quality, you should definitely be on the lookout for a steel fridge made in the USA.

The factories at which these appliances are made are in the U.S. but who owns the companies? GE, for example.

GE Appliances

GE Appliances is an American home appliance manufacturer based in Louisville, Kentucky. It has been majority owned by Chinese multinational home appliances company Haier since 2016. It is one of the largest appliance companies in the United States and manufactures appliances under several brands, including GE, GE Profile, Café, Monogram, Haier and Hotpoint (Americas only, European rights held by Whirlpool Corporation). The company also owns FirstBuild, a co-creation community and micro-factory on the University of Louisville's campus in Louisville, Kentucky. Another FirstBuild location is in South Korea, and a FirstBuild location in India opened its doors in 2019.

The company was owned by General Electric until 2016, and it was previously known as GE Appliances & Lighting and GE Consumer & Industrial. Haier has the right to use the GE brand name until 2056.

{snip}

Further, there are a lot of appliances out there made by Samsung and LG, which are Korean companies. They probably have factores in the U.S. The LG appliances tend to have good reviews.

I am eying the purchase of a replacement refrigerator too.

[Diamond_Dog]

10. When we were fridge shopping

We were told to stay away from LG and Samsung! We were told they don’t last.

[Paper Roses]

21. Same here from my repair man. He will not service either one. n/t

[Freddie]

28. Samsung is junk

My daughters Samsung fridge is only 4 and the ice maker died.

[Pathwalker]

18. Our TWO YEAR OLD LG refrigeraror died on Christmas morning!!!

Bought during the pandemic, still under warranty, and arguing with LG on whether or not they will deign to honor the warranty. Compressor died. Also, cannot find a single local tech willing to work on LG. I do NOT recommend LG!!!!

[Diamond_Dog]

24. I also know someone whose LG only lasted a couple years

Same thing, the compressor went.

[Phentex]

31. Ours wasn't even 2 when it had issues...

my Kenmore lasted 18 or 19 years we think but some power outages caused some damage and it died.

We got the LG because it was one of the few things we could find during the pandemic and it took weeks to get.

Warranty or not, you have to get LG to schedule the service because other places don't know how to do it or won't have the parts.

We had it repaired (replaced the compressor) and then about 2 months later, it died again. This time, they basically rebuilt it. All I want is five years out of it. And that's just sad.

I'm pretty sure the minimum warranty for the compressor is 5 years. Don't back down!

[Luciferous]

26. I know LG has plants in Tennessee, not sure

about Samsung.

[Phentex]

30. Do NOT buy LG fridge!...

the rumors are true. There was a class action lawsuit against them but some of the same technology was still in appliances during the pandemic. What was sold as smart tech is really difficult to maintain and few repair places can keep up.

[cilla4progress]

9. I like to consult Consumer Reports

for big purchases.

My library card gets me free access (NY Times, too)!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

14. Most of my local libraries have free access to CR via the library card.

Thanks for pointing that out.

[druidity33]

12. Home energy audit?

Sometimes you can get a rebate on an energy star fridge (even a free one) if you have an home energy audit done. Not sure if your state does that. Also 0% loans to insulate or upgrade windows.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. I think that's up to the electric utility.

For me, in Virginia, Dominion Energy has or had such a rebate.

[PJMcK]

16. Here's my appliance story

During the pandemic, we remodeled the small kitchen in our NYC apartment. We wanted an under-the-cabinet microwave and PC Richard had exactly the right model.

When we got to the store, however, we discovered that there were two versions: one countertop and one for hanging. The countertop model was $150 but the hanging one was almost $300! Except for the tops of the ovens, they were identical. Here’s the kicker: I still had to buy the mounting hardware for an additional $40! Who would buy the unit without the hardware?!

It’s turned out to be an excellent device but, jeez…

Good luck with your ‘fridge. Let us know what you decide on. We need a new one, too.

[PJMcK]

17. An appliance joke

From Woody Allen in the 1960s (when he was funny but before he was a creep).

https://m.

[rsdsharp]

19. We're on our 4th refrigerator since 1987.

My mother-in-law has one in her basement from the 1950s that works fine. They really don’t make ‘em like they used to.

[Paper Roses]

22. Bravo to the old appliances. My stove, refrig and washer and dryer: Wonderful!!

Stove=Whirlpool, refrig=GE, washer & dryer=Maytag. All are at least 35 years old. No service required except a belt on the dryer. One of these days, one of them will die and I'll look for a used appliance. There are several stores in my area that sell used appliances.
My only problem is that all the appliances are Almond color. Might have trouble with that. This 200 year house does not lend itself to Stainless Steel unless I win the lottery.
Hopefully they will outlive me!

[rsdsharp]

23. We bought our first appliances in 1987 when I got out of school.

Stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer. We’ve had 4 refrigerators, 3 stoves, and 3 each of washers and dryers. We had the dryer fixed a year or so ago for about $250.

If I recall correctly, the first set totaled $1600, so I didn’t expect them to last a long time. They were replaced piecemeal as they failed with name brand stuff, and nothing has lasted more than 7-8 years.

[Luciferous]

25. Electrolux, Frigidaire, and KitchenAid refrigerators are

also made in the United States.

[trof]

29. On recycling major appliances:

We have a used, refurbished fridge/freezer, washer, and dryer.
We have had them for years.
The ice maker is the best I've ever had.
Less than half the price of new.

[spinbaby]

32. I hate my Bosch refrigerator

Only five years old and the shelves are disintegrating. The ancient beer fridge in the basement is holding up just fine.

[NJCher]

33. shocking

for the kind of money they charge.

Glad you spoke up on this. It was on my list but not very likely I'd buy one simply because of the amount of money they charge. $3400 seems to be the entry price.