Refrigerator Repair or Buy new?

No fries

No fries

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Location
Fort Mill
First off any appliance made in this century sucks!
Our front load washing machine broke and I am replacing that already made a decision on that one.

Last night evidently the Fridge decided to stop working also. So 11:30 last night I had to slide and stack all the beer water, and soft drinks over and make room for food in the garage fridge, also throw out some of the garage freezer stuff that needed thrown out anyways. (that fridge is a 23 year old jenn aire)
Temp got up to 56, seems that the compressor stopped working, I can hear the fan running but no compressor. Didn't have time to check what was actually wrong other than reset what I could, turned it off and unplugged it and re plugged it in, to no avail.
Debating on calling a repair guy (need a good repair guy near Charlotte) or buying new. The fridge is maybe 7 years old. If it is a sensor or switch it could be cost effective if its the compressor I'd think time to replace. I don't have the time or patience right now to look into it myself.
 
It is a Frigidaire side by side on top and freezer on the bottom. says professional series on the front, I forgot to get the model number (at work now)
Thanks for the txt.
 
This recently happened to me and I decided to attempt a repair because who wants to throw out an otherwise perfectly fine fridge? Turns out it was a bad compressor relay. First check to make sure your coils are clean. If so, take the compressor relay off and give it a shake. If it rattles or sounds like it has a loose part inside then it probably is bad.
 
Yeah if it is something like that I agree, work is just crazy right now, and life, dont want to mess with another appliance at this point. But thanks I'll check that when I get home.

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I give an honest attempt at trying to fix appliances first...usually cap expected costs at 20-30% of what buying new would be. Have a 2.5 year old Bosch dishwasher on the fritz...internet says my symptoms are a bad control panel, but pisses me off because the warranty expired around October.
 
Replace
 
Yup, replace it.....buy cheap appliances and expect them to need to be replaced every couple years.

I had a repair guy come out for a fridge years ago, while disassembling the fridge he kinked a refrigerant line, damn fridge melted from the inside out, probably would have burned the whole house down if given enough time.
 
UTfball68 said:
I give an honest attempt at trying to fix appliances first...usually cap expected costs at 20-30% of what buying new would be. Have a 2.5 year old Bosch dishwasher on the fritz...internet says my symptoms are a bad control panel, but pisses me off because the warranty expired around October.
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Same thing happening at my house...I've just been hand washing everything. Thanks for the tip on the bad control panel!
 
Lurch830 said:
Same thing happening at my house...I've just been hand washing everything. Thanks for the tip on the bad control panel!
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Is yours doing the pump runs/drains/pump runs...never actually goes into it's washing cycle and then says the load is clean??? Looks like a common problem on all models, panels/modules seem to range from $120-180 depending on model. There is an internet hack if you turn off the dishwasher at the second 'pump runs'...wait a couple seconds, turn it back on, it'll work. Some folks said they've been operating years that way...worked for mine about 2 weeks, and last night, when I turned it back on I couldn't get the pump to stop running. My particular model doesn't have the module in the face plate, mine is on the back bottom...debating if I want to spend $180 and a couple of hours or just go buy another $600 replacement and let Lowe's install, but opt for the 5yr warranty this time.
 
UTfball68 said:
Is yours doing the pump runs/drains/pump runs...never actually goes into it's washing cycle and then says the load is clean??? Looks like a common problem on all models, panels/modules seem to range from $120-180 depending on model. There is an internet hack if you turn off the dishwasher at the second 'pump runs'...wait a couple seconds, turn it back on, it'll work. Some folks said they've been operating years that way...worked for mine about 2 weeks, and last night, when I turned it back on I couldn't get the pump to stop running.
Click to expand...

Well :poop:...mine doesn't turn on, no lights, just dead. Haven't pulled it yet to check for power, but that's on the agenda one evening. Right now I'm not concerned, but if/when I sell I assume the new owners will want a working diswasher.
 
Lurch830 said:
Well :poop:...mine doesn't turn on, no lights, just dead. Haven't pulled it yet to check for power, but that's on the agenda one evening. Right now I'm not concerned, but if/when I sell I assume the new owners will want a working diswasher.
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In that case, go buy the cheapest shit possible and throw it in there.
 
Fridges are the 1 exception to me...theyve gotten too expensive to toss.

There is an appliance repair place in gastonia that is decent and fair priced...but its been 5 years or so since ive used them
 
UTfball68 said:
In that case, go buy the cheapest shit possible and throw it in there.
Click to expand...
That's the plan unless its something easy and/or cheap to fix! Downside is all my appliances are SS so I feel like I have to replace with SS to match.
 
Update,
Pulled fridge out and found the problem almost immediately,

"I'm lazy" lol the condenser coils were covered in dust and dog hair. I plugged it back in and compressor came on. Turned it off cleaned them and let it run overnight, temps are good now. So contributing factors to make me feel better,...... we now have hardwood throughout downstairs so more dust bunnys are roaming around and can get under appliances. Really just need to brush the dog more, clean the floors more and coils. I do think the floors contributed to the speed at what they got covered, and the dog dander and hair.
Original 23 year old fridge still keeping my beer cold and freezing the water bottles in the crisper drawer. That is on the schedule for cleaning too now.
Now have to move the food back into kitchen fridge.

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I thought it was pretty bad, but glad that was all it was. Another pic.
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Oh damm yeah I'm gonna check .one too.

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Vacuum or compressed air...
 
I used a brush with a vacuum, attachments we had did not fit between coils, garage I'd use compressed air and a engine passage brush.
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Reviving this thread, im still having problems, RQs guy was a good help and was going to come out to repair but said where are you again, FT Mill, oh that is too far......in our several phone discussions we determined it is most likely not defrosting correctly. Freezer maintains its temp but fridge temps go high due to icing. I've called some smaller repair places, prefer to give business to the small guy not some large box store. But they are so busy or don't return calls.

So I am again looking for a appliance repair guy for Charlotte/Fort Mill area.

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I have a business card (from an appliance repair place) that was sitting on the sales counter at Plaza Appliance from a few weeks back, let me see if I can dig it up.
 
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