Bad Refrigerator - AR15.COM

Posted: 7/17/2002 9:53:09 AM EDT

The repairman tells me that my GE (piece-o-crap) refrigerator is about to go belly up. He recommends a new one, and says he likes Whirpool, Kitchenaid, and Maytag the best. Anyone know who makes Kennmore refrigerators, the price seems good on them but I do not want another GE unit.

I am hoping to keep this under $600-700. Any recommendations?

GunLvr

Posted: 7/17/2002 9:54:53 AM EDT

[#1]

Unless it's changed, Kenmore appliances are made by Whirlpool.

Posted: 7/17/2002 9:55:06 AM EDT

[#2]

Consumer Reports claims that GE has the most repair prone refrigerators. Kenmores are highly rated.

Posted: 7/17/2002 9:55:35 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Unless it's changed, Kenmore appliances are made by Whirlpool.

View Quote

What he said.

Posted: 7/17/2002 10:16:18 AM EDT

[#4]

If Kenmore=Whirpool that is good news. Looks like I can save some $$$ and still buy guns!

Thanks,

GunLvr

Posted: 7/17/2002 10:21:27 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
If Kenmore=Whirpool that is good news. Looks like I can save some $$$ and still buy guns!

Thanks,

GunLvr

View Quote

Best plan would be to go to Sears & inspect the fridge. Then go to the Wirlpool place & compare the 2. You can tell as soon as you look at them that the only difference is the Label.

Posted: 7/17/2002 12:17:07 PM EDT

[#6]

Thanks for the information. What sorts of features do you guys look for in refrigerators? Our current (piece-of-crap) GE model is 19 cu feet, has nice interior shelves and door trays. No water or ice machine on the current one.

GunLvr

Posted: 7/17/2002 12:22:10 PM EDT

[#7]

Where's DrFridge? He should be here by now!

Posted: 7/17/2002 12:23:44 PM EDT

[#8]

I got about a 24 cubic foot stainless side-by-side Kenmore (Whirlpool) a couple of years ago when my old clunker died. My electric bill went down by about $30 per month, and my food keeps about twice as long as it used to.

I went to the Sears Outlet store in San Diego. That's where they sell off blemished and returned items. If you have such a place anywhere near, check it out. My 'fridge was marked $1,850 retail. I paid $800. Had to un-tweak a few things but it runs great.

Posted: 7/17/2002 12:31:40 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Thanks for the information. What sorts of features do you guys look for in refrigerators? Our current (piece-of-crap) GE model is 19 cu feet, has nice interior shelves and door trays. No water or ice machine on the current one.

GunLvr

View Quote

All I like is an Ice maker. The water / ice dispenser is nice, but you lose capacity for beer or frozen pizza with that crap. I prefer overhead freezer to side x side. You are just too limited with them. Imagine putting a leftover large pizza box in one or the turkey from thanksgiving dinner in that skinny section.

Posted: 7/17/2002 2:50:15 PM EDT

[#10]

What specificlly did the repairman say is wrong with the old 'frigate? If it is not the compressor or someone poked a hole in the tubing, the most thing that fails is the defrost timer. The timer cost about $50, about 10 years ago. Reader's Digest publishes a home repair manual with a blue cover on how to fix refrigerators. If you are fairly adept mechecially and have a VOM you may possibly want to attempt it.

Posted: 7/17/2002 3:09:38 PM EDT

[#11]

Doesn't make much difference unless you find a unit that doesn't use a GE compressor. (they look like a 1 gal paint can and suck)

Posted: 7/17/2002 6:16:46 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Where's DrFridge? He should be here by now!

View Quote

********APPLAUSE!!!*********

"Thank you thank you JetLag!! For that wonderful introduction!!"

OK Kenmore Refrigerators...BEWARE!!! some are made by Gibson, some are made by Whirlpool and some are made by GE. If I can recall you have to check by their "source" number. it is the 3 digit number that preceeds the model number.

source 253 is Gibson, 106 is Whirlpool and 363 is GE.

STAY AWAY FROM GE...STAY AWAY FROM GE

I say screw it and buy a Sub-Zero, they only cost $5,000.00

If you want to do right for yourself Stick with either Whirlpool, Kitchen Aid (built by Whirlpool), Kenmore (once again Whirlpool built) or Amana.

I would go after the Amana myself.

I am sad to say that GE just forgot what customer service is all about and it just seems like they dont give a hoot if you have a working refrigerator or not.

Posted: 7/17/2002 6:23:54 PM EDT

[#13]

Try to find a used one at a garage or estate sale. but smell it carefully BEFORE taking it home.

Posted: 7/17/2002 7:18:10 PM EDT

[#14]

Kewl......I just bought $1200 worth of Kenmore Fridge a couple weeks ago for our new home. Maybe one day I will get this thing completed and be able to actually live in it! Anyway, this thread had me pizzed of there for a minute. I pulled my boots back on, grabbed a flashlight, and took off up the new driveway to go check the source code of my new fridge.

It's a 106. :)

Posted: 7/17/2002 7:39:22 PM EDT

[#15]

OH AND ONE MORE THING!!!

[b]NO SERVICE AGREEMENTS!!!![/b]

Most refrigerators come standard with a 5 year warranty on the sealed system (Compressor, evaporator and condenser) in other words, THE BIG MONEY items.

Service agreements are "play money" for the dealer (i.e. Sears) save the money and stock up that frige with food.

Worst possible scenario if a NON SEALED SYSTEM PART breaks: a fan motor lets say will run you about 40.00 for the part, another 3.00 for tax and 90.00 for labor... 133.00

BIG WHOOP.

Just remember: Clean the gaskets around your doors once a month and clean your condenser once every 6 months. Keep up that little maintenance and you should be allright. If a tech tells you to put vaseline around the gaskets. tell him to shove it up his ass.

Posted: 7/17/2002 7:55:09 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
What specificlly did the repairman say is wrong with the old 'frigate? If it is not the compressor or someone poked a hole in the tubing, the most thing that fails is the defrost timer. The timer cost about $50, about 10 years ago. Reader's Digest publishes a home repair manual with a blue cover on how to fix refrigerators. If you are fairly adept mechecially and have a VOM you may possibly want to attempt it.

View Quote

Repair guy said that compressor has the "ping of death" when the fridge starts up. Which apparently means the compressor is going. Opening the freezer compartment we see that only about 1/6 of the evaporator coils have frost on them, the rest are frost-free. When I opened it 3-4 weeks ago only half the coils had any frost. Also repairman noticed that even my freshly-made ice cubs have a funny look, apparently the temp in the freezer is below 32 but well above 0 (I will get thermometers to check this). Fridge is a GE 19.1 cubic foot model made in October 1988. Has previously had a new door gasket, and a new heater timer and switch replacement (all that cost me $300 thanks to GE service).

GunLvr

Posted: 7/17/2002 7:57:30 PM EDT

[#17]

Thanks DrFridge for the great advice! [beer]

GunLvr

Posted: 7/17/2002 8:04:35 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Thanks DrFridge for the great advice! [beer]

GunLvr

View Quote

ANYTIME! Well hopefully not... who the hell wants to have a relationship with an appliance technician? If you know your plumber, electrician or appliance tech on a first name basis... you have a problem.

Posted: 7/17/2002 9:12:11 PM EDT

[#19]

DrFrige, I have a Kenmore (by Whirlpool) that was used for 4 years, then it sat in my garage for 4, now I have moved to a place where I can use my fridge. What do I have to do to clean out the water system? When I moved I drained out the tank and lines as much as I could. I don't want to catch some weird bug from the lines.

Thanks.

Posted: 7/17/2002 9:44:03 PM EDT

[#20]

SHIT! I just spent $950 on GE fridge. Where were you guys when I need you! I just bought my girlfriend a GE too. It was a display unit with a little ding in the side, $650. Great this is all I need. My AC just died too.

Posted: 7/17/2002 11:30:22 PM EDT

[#21]

Crap - I just bought a 25 cu ft GE myself......

Posted: 7/17/2002 11:34:37 PM EDT

[#22]

I just bought a Kenmore last year and was told it was made by Frigidare, I guess you never know what your going to get with a Kenmore.

Posted: 7/17/2002 11:52:21 PM EDT

[#23]

I'm not a big fan of Frigidaire either. My Frig washing machine had the transmission go out but it was covered under warranty. Now it's going out again.

Posted: 7/18/2002 5:35:58 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
SHIT! I just spent $950 on GE fridge. Where were you guys when I need you! I just bought my girlfriend a GE too. It was a display unit with a little ding in the side, $650. Great this is all I need. My AC just died too.

View Quote

Doc, hopefully you will be okay. My repair guy said that they fixed the compressor problem I have (but the GE models still need more repairs than Whirpool). Probably helps to be aggressive about maintenance as DrFridge recommends. My GE model was only 13 years old. My parents have a GE fridge as old as their house (35 years). Has needed some minor repairs over the years.

GunLvr

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