Doggone it! The fridge is not cooling enough AGAIN!
I know we need a new one, but we want one with no ice maker and no fancy stuff. They all tend to break down too easily.
When we were looking for refrigerators in pre-COVID days, we saw two other people looking for refrigerators without ice makers also. I'd like to get refrigerators like the olden days when they lasted longer than 10 years. Our daughter has our 30 year old freezer in their basement in Illinois and it's still going strong.
The last time our refrigerator stopped cooling was in May. It’s only been about 6 months!
So here we are again, having to de-ice the vent with a hair dryer.
I hate looking for appliances.
Once COVID is over, we'll have to go fridge hunting again. This is extra problematic because we need a fridge that is counter depth. Not easy. And it's more expensive. 😬
Not looking forward to it at all.
It seems that nothing is made to last any more.
ReplyDeleteDear Kay, i don't like ice makers, or the bells and whistles either.
ReplyDeletePs, just more short-lived stuff for the land-fill.
Shoot, I'm sorry for your fridge woes Kay... have you had that refrigerator a long time? I feel guilty for even saying this, but I've been waiting for my LED tv to break down so I could buy a much bigger one--I got my current one in 2011 and it's still going strong.
ReplyDeleteMy frig came with the apartment so it's up to my landlady to keep it going. I sold mine and the over the range microwave and glass topped range to the last landlady over in Coffeyville. I didn't want my kids to have to move them here.
ReplyDeleteI did hear that newer refrigerators are more energy efficient these days.
ReplyDeleteI bought a new refrigerator two years ago. When I said no ice maker the salesperson looked at me with disbelief and then took me into a back room storage area to look for one. They say it is hard to find new appliances these days, because of the virus of course.
ReplyDeleteYour fridge is so neat!!!!
Olga made me go back and look. Yep, it is neat. I am like you on no need for an ice maker. Only time that is handy is when the power goes out and you need some for the coolers. Just as easy to go to the store.
ReplyDeletealways some challenge...
ReplyDeleteMy big, expensive, bells-and-whistle refrigerator died one year past the warranty. Of course we failed to buy the extended warranty. There was no way to repair it. We replaced it with a much less expensive fridge and no bells-and-whistles. It has lasted over 14 years. (Knock on wood.)
ReplyDeleteWhen we bought out last refrigerator, I just made sure the ice maker was easily replaceable and bought a spare ice maker to keep in stock. Sixteen years later, ice maker number two is starting to periodically stop making ice for reasons unknown before starting up again and I have my third replacement ice maker waiting in a box in a garage. It takes me about fifteen minutes to swap out. Other than the ice maker, the rest of the fridge has been working fine.
ReplyDeleteYup, Art did replace our ice maker once and it broke down again rather quickly so we just gave up and use ice trays.
DeleteTo save money, I've purchased appliances from a store that sells excellent, lightly used appliances. They are definitely much cheaper, and sometimes just old enough to be the good quality brands. Most places usually have a complete 6-month warranty on their items. I've purchased a fridge, portable dishwasher, range this way, and they're still going strong!
ReplyDeleteMaybe some of the hotels and resorts might have a sale on that size of fridge as they remodel.
Good Luck! (I already warned my kids about your Bosch dishwasher challenges, but their model is still working well.) Linda in Kansas
The Bosch did last 12 years though so it's OK. Granted my brother's Bosch died faster than ours. Sigh. On the other hand the OLD Kitchen Aid that we have in Illinois must be 20+ years old and it's still working. My daughter says no way she's going to replace that. Our freezer in the basement in Illinois is about 30 + years old and is still going strong too. Appliances are seriously made to break down more quickly these days.
DeleteI gave up on counter depth. Instead we went for the simplest one we could find. Consumer reports shows a good selection, but in the end we shopped only one store, Sears. It's much quieter than the previous one, and there is tons of room in it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, shopping for appliances is too complicated and too frustrating. They have a thousand different varieties ... but not the one you want! Thankfully, our 'frig came with the house when we bought it, and it's still working -- even if it does make some strange noises in the night!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Kay. It's the same here. And with cell phones. So difficult to get something simple.
ReplyDeleteWe've had several CBC Marketplace shows that explained why appliances are breaking down. I don't know if you can see it. They are meant to, and there is little recourse. Big business can be shameful.
I've heard that refrigerators are difficult to procure these days. People are stocking up and buying extra fridges because of that. I don't know what counter depth means so I'll have to look it up. :) I like my side by side with ice maker and water because I try to drink lots of liquid, which I prefer very cold. It's 24 years old--knock on wood!
ReplyDeleteI don't like having to replace or shop for appliances either. When we replaced our refrigerator a while back, we had a hard time finding a white one. All of our appliances are white. I prefer white. And refrigerators are expensive!
ReplyDeleteKay, I believe you are a victim of what is called "built-in obsolescence." Our appliances are made to break down more often, so the manufacturers can cash in on our need. It's terrible but there you go. The almighty dollar wins again.
ReplyDeleteI would highly recommend a local appliance dealer, not a big box store like Lowes or Home Depot. The local guy will be safer, too, as they probably adhere to the protocols better than those other stores. As for cabinet depth appliances, look at Smeg. Yes, expensive but beautifully made and much smaller than the behemoths currently being sold. Tell the dealer what you need, and if it's a local company, they will work with you. We have to drive to another city to find the local, small GE retailer, but the service is impeccable. They deliver, set up, and haul away the old appliance.
ReplyDeleteOur fridge is underneath part of the kitchen cupboards and if you find one that fits it has some drawbacks.
ReplyDeleteSorry to read about your refrigerator woes, I certainly hope you will be able to find a suitable replacement.
ReplyDeleteWhen we need new appliances we try and shop local to support the nearby stores, which I think in these Covid times seems to be even more important.
Take care.
All the best Jan
I agree - those really old simple refrigerators were the best. Lasted forever. My mom had a pink one that we had in the carport but gave it away to someone who needed one. It was slim with a small freezer and it kept everything so cold. I am becoming very suspicious of the "foreign" appliances and stick to Maytag if possible. Knock on wood, but all is well.
ReplyDeleteI would certainly check out the supply in your area sooner rather than later. In many areas there is are extremely long waits for certain appliances. Our son waited 4 months in Colorado for a refrigerator.
ReplyDeleteHello Diana,
DeleteIt’s so wonderful to meet you. I’ve heard about the long waits for appliances. I will definitely look into any local appliance stores to see what they carry once the pandemic slows down. It’s a little spooky right now. Fingers crossed the fridge chugs along for a few more months.
We can't use an ice maker. Our water comes from our well, which supplies very hard water. An ice maker only lasts about a month, with the ice cubes getting smaller and smaller until there are none. The hard water kills Keurig coffee makers within a month, too. The water is safe to drink and tastes all right, but it's loaded with calcium that messes up things.
ReplyDelete