Posted by Doc on July 9, 2007, 7:19 am
Looking to replace my current Hotpoint refrigerator if I can't easily
do a DIY repair - i.e. if it isn't just a matter of replacing an
internal fan - freezer works fine, refrigerator section having
problems. Or maybe even if I can repair it. I'm not in immediate
desperation, I'm using an old shorty "student" model that will tide me
over but will want to get the big one fixed or replaced in the near
future.
I've read assertions that "new refrigerators are more efficient".
Looking through the archives I see some debate as to whether this is
true.
How are they more efficient? How much more efficient? With a new 18
cu. ft. no-frills top-freezer Hotpoint -vs- a 1988 no-frills top-
freezer Hotpoint how much of a difference am I likely to see in the
monthly electric bill? For example, if I were to find the problem with
my old one is relatively easy to remedy and manage to squeeze a few
more years of service out of it, how much less would I be spending
over those same years on a newer model if in fact it's even true? I
see these tags inside the floor models with a measure of "cost per
year" and comparative energy consumption, but have no idea if they're
remotely realistic, or are more like the old EPA gas-mileage ratings
that in no way reflected reality.
Where do you find the straight story on dependability? Is Consumer
Reports really the gospel?How does anyone do a meaningful reliability
test on an item with so many models and where it might take years to
prove itself a "lemon" under real-world daily use. I wonder if brand
name is a reliable indicator since manufacturing/corporate issues can
change over time, so a brand that was possibly once regarded as great
becomes crap. Further, I don't see much concensus regarding what
brands are good/bad. I'm more interested in rock-solid dependability
and longevity than a lot of features. I've never even had an ice-
maker. Still using plastic ice-cube trays.
How would you find out the nitty-gritty on issues like where the
compressor for various models come from and what makes it great or
crap?
What's a good resource to learn DIY refrigerator diagnosis and
repair?
Thanks.
Posted by Jay Stootzmann on July 9, 2007, 7:40 am
Check the "Energy Star" web site.
> Looking to replace my current Hotpoint refrigerator if I can't easily
> do a DIY repair - i.e. if it isn't just a matter of replacing an
> internal fan - freezer works fine, refrigerator section having
> problems. Or maybe even if I can repair it. I'm not in immediate
> desperation, I'm using an old shorty "student" model that will tide me
> over but will want to get the big one fixed or replaced in the near
> future.
> I've read assertions that "new refrigerators are more efficient".
> Looking through the archives I see some debate as to whether this is
> true.
> How are they more efficient? How much more efficient? With a new 18
> cu. ft. no-frills top-freezer Hotpoint -vs- a 1988 no-frills top-
> freezer Hotpoint how much of a difference am I likely to see in the
> monthly electric bill? For example, if I were to find the problem with
> my old one is relatively easy to remedy and manage to squeeze a few
> more years of service out of it, how much less would I be spending
> over those same years on a newer model if in fact it's even true? I
> see these tags inside the floor models with a measure of "cost per
> year" and comparative energy consumption, but have no idea if they're
> remotely realistic, or are more like the old EPA gas-mileage ratings
> that in no way reflected reality.
> Where do you find the straight story on dependability? Is Consumer
> Reports really the gospel?How does anyone do a meaningful reliability
> test on an item with so many models and where it might take years to
> prove itself a "lemon" under real-world daily use. I wonder if brand
> name is a reliable indicator since manufacturing/corporate issues can
> change over time, so a brand that was possibly once regarded as great
> becomes crap. Further, I don't see much concensus regarding what
> brands are good/bad. I'm more interested in rock-solid dependability
> and longevity than a lot of features. I've never even had an ice-
> maker. Still using plastic ice-cube trays.
> How would you find out the nitty-gritty on issues like where the
> compressor for various models come from and what makes it great or
> crap?
> What's a good resource to learn DIY refrigerator diagnosis and
> repair?
> Thanks.
>
Posted by ransley on July 9, 2007, 8:26 am
> Check the "Energy Star" web site.
> > Looking to replace my current Hotpoint refrigerator if I can't easily
> > do a DIY repair - i.e. if it isn't just a matter of replacing an
> > internal fan - freezer works fine, refrigerator section having
> > problems. Or maybe even if I can repair it. I'm not in immediate
> > desperation, I'm using an old shorty "student" model that will tide me
> > over but will want to get the big one fixed or replaced in the near
> > future.
> > I've read assertions that "new refrigerators are more efficient".
> > Looking through the archives I see some debate as to whether this is
> > true.
> > How are they more efficient? How much more efficient? With a new 18
> > cu. ft. no-frills top-freezer Hotpoint -vs- a 1988 no-frills top-
> > freezer Hotpoint how much of a difference am I likely to see in the
> > monthly electric bill? For example, if I were to find the problem with
> > my old one is relatively easy to remedy and manage to squeeze a few
> > more years of service out of it, how much less would I be spending
> > over those same years on a newer model if in fact it's even true? I
> > see these tags inside the floor models with a measure of "cost per
> > year" and comparative energy consumption, but have no idea if they're
> > remotely realistic, or are more like the old EPA gas-mileage ratings
> > that in no way reflected reality.
> > Where do you find the straight story on dependability? Is Consumer
> > Reports really the gospel?How does anyone do a meaningful reliability
> > test on an item with so many models and where it might take years to
> > prove itself a "lemon" under real-world daily use. I wonder if brand
> > name is a reliable indicator since manufacturing/corporate issues can
> > change over time, so a brand that was possibly once regarded as great
> > becomes crap. Further, I don't see much concensus regarding what
> > brands are good/bad. I'm more interested in rock-solid dependability
> > and longevity than a lot of features. I've never even had an ice-
> > maker. Still using plastic ice-cube trays.
> > How would you find out the nitty-gritty on issues like where the
> > compressor for various models come from and what makes it great or
> > crap?
> > What's a good resource to learn DIY refrigerator diagnosis and
> > repair?
> > Thanks.- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
You can maybe save 75% on operating costs vs your old unit. Shop by
the Yellow Energy usage tag. a few years ago Sears were the most
efficient, my 19.5cuft unit uses apx $4.50 a month in electric
verified with a Kill A Watt meter, www.EnergyStar.com gives full
ratings of usage, it may take a while to find the page but its there.
You should buy a Kill A Watt meter and see what your old unit uses. I
would not repair the old one.
Posted by Choise76Smu@EhOhEll.Net on July 10, 2007, 11:57 pm
>> Check the "Energy Star" web site.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Looking to replace my current Hotpoint refrigerator if I can't easily
>> > do a DIY repair - i.e. if it isn't just a matter of replacing an
>> > internal fan - freezer works fine, refrigerator section having
>> > problems. Or maybe even if I can repair it. I'm not in immediate
>> > desperation, I'm using an old shorty "student" model that will tide me
>> > over but will want to get the big one fixed or replaced in the near
>> > future.
>>
>> > I've read assertions that "new refrigerators are more efficient".
>> > Looking through the archives I see some debate as to whether this is
>> > true.
>>
>> > How are they more efficient? How much more efficient? With a new 18
>> > cu. ft. no-frills top-freezer Hotpoint -vs- a 1988 no-frills top-
>> > freezer Hotpoint how much of a difference am I likely to see in the
>> > monthly electric bill? For example, if I were to find the problem with
>> > my old one is relatively easy to remedy and manage to squeeze a few
>> > more years of service out of it, how much less would I be spending
>> > over those same years on a newer model if in fact it's even true?
buy used and hope that the fridge wasn't the jeffrey dahmer or edward teller fan
club's
old fridge.
>> > see these tags inside the floor models with a measure of "cost per
>> > year" and comparative energy consumption, but have no idea if they're
>> > remotely realistic, or are more like the old EPA gas-mileage ratings
>> > that in no way reflected reality.
yeah, like those tv ads, "filmed on a closed circuit by professional children.
please
keep adults away from this car and drink responsibly"
>> > Where do you find the straight story on dependability? Is Consumer
>> > Reports really the gospel?How does anyone do a meaningful reliability
>> > test on an item with so many models and where it might take years to
>> > prove itself a "lemon" under real-world daily use. I wonder if brand
>> > name is a reliable indicator since manufacturing/corporate issues can
>> > change over time, so a brand that was possibly once regarded as great
>> > becomes crap. Further, I don't see much concensus regarding what
>> > brands are good/bad. I'm more interested in rock-solid dependability
>> > and longevity than a lot of features. I've never even had an ice-
>> > maker. Still using plastic ice-cube trays.
even when hardly ever used, icemakers die in a few years. funny thing is well
into the
80's even the plastic on the outside looked like the 80's icemakers. i imagine
icemaker guts in new fridges are the same old 80's garbage.
i don't use ice.
>> > How would you find out the nitty-gritty on issues like where the
>> > compressor for various models come from and what makes it great or
>> > crap?
>>
>> > What's a good resource to learn DIY refrigerator diagnosis and repair?
imLIMITEDe, it's either refrigeration which i've never considered messing with,
or it's
easy stuff (of which weirdest is only the defrost timer. the rest is obvious).
moving the fridge will break your back. so maybe the largest fridge
replacement expense is the medical bills :-)
no, actually i remove the innards and doors, and roll fridges strapped to hand
truck on
shallow ramps out the door.
>
> You can maybe save 75% on operating costs vs your old unit. Shop by
> the Yellow Energy usage tag. a few years ago Sears were the most
> efficient, my 19.5cuft unit uses apx $4.50 a month in electric
> verified with a Kill A Watt meter, www.EnergyStar.com gives full
> ratings of usage, it may take a while to find the page but its there.
> You should buy a Kill A Watt meter and see what your old unit uses. I
> would not repair the old one.
in ca, utility(?) issues a list, which i saw a few years ago. $ energy use of 8
year old
fridge was almost as good as new fridge. IIRC, even if you had a 15 year old
fridge,
purchase cost of new fridge wasn't justifiable if repair of 15 yearold was more
than
minor. (a pile of obnoxious minor repairs equals a bigger repair. examples:
tearing
gaskets on both doors, bubbly rust where gasket "seals".) in my case, i was
comparing the existing 80's fridge (too damaged to repair) to a low mile (hardly
even
"dirty") $125 4 year old fridge. i was only curious about running costs because
the
benefit of the 4 year old fridge was undeniable :-)
either new or old fridge might be better than the other, if one fridge incurs
terrible
ordeal to delint the coils and fan, etc.
the fat doors on newer fridges seem convenient, but are pigs.
Posted by Ken Layton on July 9, 2007, 10:38 am
> What's a good resource to learn DIY refrigerator diagnosis and
> repair?
> Thanks.
Try here:
http://www.refrigeration-repair-tips.com/
XML site map
> do a DIY repair - i.e. if it isn't just a matter of replacing an
> internal fan - freezer works fine, refrigerator section having
> problems. Or maybe even if I can repair it. I'm not in immediate
> desperation, I'm using an old shorty "student" model that will tide me
> over but will want to get the big one fixed or replaced in the near
> future.
> I've read assertions that "new refrigerators are more efficient".
> Looking through the archives I see some debate as to whether this is
> true.
> How are they more efficient? How much more efficient? With a new 18
> cu. ft. no-frills top-freezer Hotpoint -vs- a 1988 no-frills top-
> freezer Hotpoint how much of a difference am I likely to see in the
> monthly electric bill? For example, if I were to find the problem with
> my old one is relatively easy to remedy and manage to squeeze a few
> more years of service out of it, how much less would I be spending
> over those same years on a newer model if in fact it's even true? I
> see these tags inside the floor models with a measure of "cost per
> year" and comparative energy consumption, but have no idea if they're
> remotely realistic, or are more like the old EPA gas-mileage ratings
> that in no way reflected reality.
> Where do you find the straight story on dependability? Is Consumer
> Reports really the gospel?How does anyone do a meaningful reliability
> test on an item with so many models and where it might take years to
> prove itself a "lemon" under real-world daily use. I wonder if brand
> name is a reliable indicator since manufacturing/corporate issues can
> change over time, so a brand that was possibly once regarded as great
> becomes crap. Further, I don't see much concensus regarding what
> brands are good/bad. I'm more interested in rock-solid dependability
> and longevity than a lot of features. I've never even had an ice-
> maker. Still using plastic ice-cube trays.
> How would you find out the nitty-gritty on issues like where the
> compressor for various models come from and what makes it great or
> crap?
> What's a good resource to learn DIY refrigerator diagnosis and
> repair?
> Thanks.
>