One month ago, our Whirlpool refrigerator vents iced up which caused the temperature to rise to 50 degrees F. We defrosted it to enter the new year without rotten food. Sadly, it only lasted about a month before icing up again. The fridge temperature rose to an alarming 60 degrees F.
"I can fix it," said Art. "Let me get the hair dryer."
When the ice maker died, Art ordered a new one online and fixed it. One year later, it broke down again so I got out the ice trays and made ice cubes manually.
Then it started this whole vent icing thing a year or so ago. Art learned from friends that the vents needed to be defrosted so that's what he's been doing.
We bought the refrigerator in fall of 2006. I've read that refrigerators last about 10-18 years. The average fridge life expectancy is about 14 years. Our fridge is 14 years old.
This time, I put my foot down. No more YouTube DIY fixes. No more blowing hot air into the vent to melt the ice.
My cousin told me she has a Whirlpool too which was only 5 years old when the gasket broke. I told her I'm never buying a Whirlpool again. She said, "Me too."
The problem is it's very difficult to find a refrigerator that is counter depth and we needed a counter depth. I REALLY regret not finding a way to avoid this problem when the kitchen was designed. We also decided we didn't want an icemaker. In fact, when we were looking at refrigerators a year ago, we bumped into someone who said they were also looking for a fridge without an icemaker/water dispenser.
We went to look at it. It could be delivered in 3 weeks. Free delivery and $24.99 for hauling away the old refrigerator. It's stainless steel which will match our other appliances.
And the brand?
Sigh... Whirlpool
Well, we bought it and will be keeping our fingers and toes crossed that it lasts at least 14 years. I did look online and it said Whirlpool was a good brand. Let's hope that my cousin just happened to get a lemon (which did get repaired and is working) and our new fridge will be a peach. 🤞
POSTSCRIPT: Since we're waiting for our new fridge to be delivered Art did defrost the vent and yes, it's working fine again. For now.
Appliances do seem to make a suicide pact and all go at once. I bought a new refrigerator in Florida a couple of years ago. I told the salesperson I did not want an ice maker and I also wanted one considerably smaller than the one I was replacing. I swear a gasp went out through the entire showroom -- no ice maker!! He said he thought they might have one in the back and he took me to a store room of misfit appliances.
ReplyDeleteI have had good luck with Whirlpool appliances.The double door I had when I lived in Coffeyville was bought in 2003 and I moved here to Caney in 1999 and I had never had a problem with it. My son-in-law bought me a Whirlpool washer and dryer when I moved here to Caney. They do a great job!
ReplyDeleteIt's annoying. They used to last almost forever in their ehnergy-sucking way. Ah well.
ReplyDeleteYep, ice-makers are nothing but space-hogging hassles waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteWell, on the upside your new refrigerator looks really nice! How come everyone is against ice dispensers? I feel lucky to have gotten new appliances when I moved into my current apartment in 2017 (they had just remodeled the kitchen), but my standard fridge doesn't do any tricks. My sister has an ice dispenser, I think it's amazing! Kay I didnt mean to laugh here but you share stuff about Art so well, I love the guy!
ReplyDeleteI have a handy dandy appliance repair man who advises not to buy new. He said they have planned obsolescence so you will have to buy another. All my appliances came when the house was built 25 years ago and I have only had him out to repair my washer once in the 17 years I have been here and never for the refrigerator. Hope the appliances can't read.
ReplyDeleteToo late for you but I learned many years ago that a lot of vent icing up is due to to many things on the top shelf and blocking airflow. Since we learned that the top shelf needs to be spaced out a bit more than other shelves, we haven't had any icing problems.
ReplyDeleteI worked as a design engineer in the appliance industry for many years. You would be surprised at how little difference there is between them. Almost all the components inside are made by the same manufacturers and are just given part numbers that match the end assembly manufacturer of the refrigerator. So a thermister made by XYZ company in China might be used in a Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid, Wolf, etc but just have different part numbers. What mostly sets them apart is the larger parts like the plastic interiors and metal/plastic exteriors that set them apart but aren't a moving part and thus unlikely to break.
Another thing many don't realize is that there aren't all that many manufacturers out there. For example, Whirlpool also makes Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Gladiator GarageWorks, Inglis, Estate, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Ignis, Indesit, and Consul refrigerators but just tags them differently depending on where in the world they are being sold.
Thank you for your advice about not putting too many things on the upper shelf. We’ll try to remember that from now on. Wow! You were an appliance design engineer. Now I know who to ask if something else goes wrong. sigh...
DeleteHere's our appliance story. We have a gas range - burner and oven- here at our new home. A Kitchenaide with lots of options. The previous owner had an extended warranty. We moved in Dec 4, warranty expired Dec 23. First week of January oven having trouble lighting. 3 trips by appliance repair guy before he was able to fix it. Major part - the "mother" board - the brains of the oven, essentially a computer! Last trip required having the propane service guy here too because appliance guy wasn't certified for propane. We were expecting a bill over $1000 for all those visits. Appliance guy only charged us for 1 hour labor despite being here 3 times. He said he doesn't charge when he's learning what problem is. We gave me a bit more than he charged us as a bonus.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I haven't had to buy too many appliances, but when I do I focus on the ones Consumer Reports rate the highest.
ReplyDeleteI hate buying new appliances, but from time to time it is necessary.
ReplyDeletealways something, we love our whirlpool appliances!
ReplyDeleteWe have a Sears=Whirlpool, and it has kept on working.
ReplyDeleteI've gone to a "barely used" appliance and repair store for years. MUCH lower in price and usually durable pieces. But with the humidity and salt in Hawaii, that may not be a good option. Have fun with the new one. On most, you can add an ice maker later if you like. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for mine to go out; it's nearly 25 years old. It's a Kenmore side by side with ice and water. I would want something similar next time, although probably not white. I'm sure the price for a new refrigerator is going to make me faint. You are very fortunate that you have someone who can keep it limping along at least.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it lasts.
ReplyDeleteWe all remember when refrigerators lasted forever, and when we finally bought new ones we moved the old ones out to the garage, where they just kept on working. Now everything is made to self destruct.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter still has the freezer we bought about 35 years ago. It's still running. She says she considered getting a more energy efficient one, but decided against it since this seems to just keep going and going.
DeleteStuff that works when it wants to is a nuisance.
ReplyDeleteIt should last fourteen years. Tell them I said so. Shame about all the brands getting bigger than anyone's counters!
ReplyDeleteIt is so frustrating with new appliances - the guarantee is that they will break. In the old days (oh boy I am sounding like a grandmother) things were made to last and last. Cars, refrigerators, stoves. Not any more. One brand that I do like and try to stick with is Maytag. Maybe because of the lonely repairman in the commercial that didn't have any jobs because Maytag products didn't break. Lol.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new refrigerator!