How long did YOUR freezer last?

[clemsonfor]

Welcome to the nineties


I noticed the price was still almost the same, what twenty years later? How does that work? Choices? I have a cousin who will build you a walk in freezer if you want to pay for it and it will last. Enjoy while you can, or don't but there are up sides.

Works similar to a computer in the 80's cost what thousands of dollars and today you can get a decent desktop for way less than $500. Technology changes and gets easier and cheaper.

 

[JDgreen227]

Works similar to a computer in the 80's cost what thousands of dollars and today you can get a decent desktop for way less than $500. Technology changes and gets easier and cheaper.

I only wish every consumer item we buy was that way...paid 6 grand for a basic 2WD F150 back in 1979, todays version of what I paid six grand for then probably stickers for thirty grand today. Granted, it has a lot more standard equipment and safety features, but I was earning $6 an hour then. No way I would be earning $30 an hour today, even if I was still working.

 

[Duffster]

I only wish every consumer item we buy was that way...paid 6 grand for a basic 2WD F150 back in 1979, todays version of what I paid six grand for then probably stickers for thirty grand today. Granted, it has a lot more standard equipment and safety features, but I was earning $6 an hour then. No way I would be earning $30 an hour today, even if I was still working.

Basic 2wd F150 cost 30K?

 

[JDgreen227]

Basic 2wd F150 cost 30K?

Good question, I was just making a guesstimate. Mine had most popular options, (PS PB V8 Auto AM FM rear posi dual tanks rear slider step bumper etc) Being retired it has been 11 years since I have priced a new truck of any kind.

 

[clemsonfor]

i think you can still get one for 20K. But i have never considered a new truck. But again im only 28.

 

[JDgreen227]

i think you can still get one for 20K. But i have never considered a new truck. But again im only 28.

20K...cut that in half and I can afford to go look...

 

[roamerr]

I tossed a 1975ish Sears Coldspot in 2003. Freezer still worked perfect but consumed $18/month in electricity. That is crazy. I replaced it with a refrigerator I had that uses $35 a year in electricity. We needed mainly more refrig space.

 

[LBrown59]

Back in the mid to late seventies my parents bought another freezer because they needed a bigger one.
They gave us their older smaller one and it's still gong strong for us .
Our 1971 Ref and Range are alive and well .
Our 1978 Washer and Dryer are going good.
I don't know how old our dishwasher is but it's a long ways from new and works well.

 

[JDgreen227]

I went to a site to price parts to possibly repair my old freezer, which cost me $365 new. It may be possible the relay was at fault...well, the two appliance parts stores here in town didn't have one, the online site price was, get this...over $68 PLUS SHIPPING. If I installed that and it turned out the compressor was bad, a replacement for that would be close to $300 PLUS SHIPPING, and I would have to pay to have the replacement swapped out. Pic shows the size of the old relay in front of the cat...WHAT A RIPOFF. I think the companies that make new appliances are in cahoots with the parts sellers so you buy a new one instead of repairing what you have.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Coils are under the freezer or refrig with a fan to help attract the dust to them on most frost free models but most self-defrost models have them on back where they don't get dirty as fast and are easier to clean. The self-defrost models only use about half as much electricity too.

Owning a refrigeration business for 38 years, I learned that the expected life of a freezer was:
50 years in the 1950s
40 years in the 1960s
30 years in the 70s & 80s
20 years in the 1990s
10 years in the 2000s

My coils are all below my fridge. I can clean the first row but all behind I can't. Once and while I blow compressed air to try and clean them. The best way would be to completely empty out the unit, tip it on it's back and clean from the bottom. Stupid design. I would prefer them on top or behind.

The newer ones, less than 15yr old, have the coils imbedded in the walls. At least they dont get dirty, but otherwise this practice has to compromise the effectiveness of heat insulation.
larry

 

[kenmac]

I know it's not as efficient as the newer ones. I have a 1970's sears cold spot that I got from my parents several years ago. It still works great. I 'm in the HVAC business.I still service some of the older units (60's-70's).Can't get my customers to replace them.. The newer ones won't last that long

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My freezer was my wifes grandparents freezer, from the 50's probably, still running strong. For the last 20 yrs I've been expecting it to stop "any day now". They sure don't make them like they used to.

 

[clemsonfor]

My freezer was my wifes grandparents freezer, from the 50's probably, still running strong. For the last 20 yrs I've been expecting it to stop "any day now". They sure don't make them like they used to.

You know, now that you posted that it will stop running next week! :laughing:

 

[Pilot]

Timely topic!

Bought our refrigerator less than 4 years ago; compressor went out Wednesday. Whirlpool.

Sales folks at 3 stores say not to expect much more than 10 years out of a modern unit because of what was said early in the posts--compressors are smaller to save energy; smaller compressors have to work harder.

Bought a refrigerator in '78, had one service call in 30 years. When it had a problem 4 years ago, we foolishly believed all that energy saving nonsense that said the energy savings would cover the cost of a new unit and replaced it with the Whirlpool unit that lasted 4 years. I don't understand how you can save much energy when you have to discard an old unit with a good chassis and good insulation after just a few years and cause a new unit to be manufactured, shipped to a warehouse, then to a distributor, then to a home. Then there was the energy spent shopping all day yesterday for a new unit, plus the cost of the repair guy coming out to say the unit would cost almost as much to fix as we paid for it. When you consider all the costs in the system, the energy savings are probably infinitesimally small.

I won't buy another Whirlpool unit. Bought a Samsung last night; almost bought an LG because they have a 7 year parts warranty on the compressor and a 10 year warranty on the sealed systems, which says to me the fact that failures will cost them is an incentive to build a decent unit.

If you feel the same way about Whirlpool as I do (they used to be OK, but apparently they have gone way downhill--they are the cheapie units when you price shop), note that Whirlpool bought and ruined Maytag and also owns Kitchenaid. They used to build for Sear's Kenmore, but LG now builds Kenmores--at least their refrigerators. But also note that just because LG builds them, doesn't mean they are the same. The manufacturer and retailer get together and go over a list of features and parts, so Kenmore may select a better or worse compressor than LG uses in their brand models. So the LG & Kenmore may look alike when side by side, but internals may be different. And that may be the reason Kenmore only has a 1 year warranty while LG has a 1 year overall, 7 year compressor and 10 year sealed systems warranty. Or it may be that Kenmore's warranty is based on hoped for sales of extended warranties, which is where retailers really make their money.

Our GE freezer, which we bought in the early '90s is still going strong--knock on wood!

 

[ultrarunner]

Isn't LG the same Korean company that used to go by the name Goldstar?

 

[tallyho8]

Isn't LG the same Korean company that used to go by the name Goldstar?

Yes, LG owns Goldstar and Zenith too.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes, LG owns Goldstar and Zenith too.

On no... not Zenith...

Every TV in the family is Zenith and they all have made in USA labels... as do the Zenith VHS recorder and Stereos

Probably can tell we have not bought a TV in a long time... thank goodness for the Digital Converter Box!

Electrolux for vacuums, GE and Ammana for Appliances, Western Electric Telephones, Mag Flashlights and the list goes on...

Two of my last 3 computers are also USA made... the last one is partially USA and came with windows 98.

It really wasn't that long ago we still made things here...

 

[s78wingrider]

I'm 64, my Mother has a large freezer in her basement that my Grandparents bought used, still running! I think it may be a westinghouse? Sure don't build them like that anymore :thumbsup::confused2::laughing:

 

[JDgreen227]

I'm 64, my Mother has a large freezer in her basement that my Grandparents bought used, still running! I think it may be a westinghouse? Sure don't build them like that anymore :thumbsup::confused2::laughing:

"Sure don't build them like that anymore"....one of the saddest expressions there is, IMHO.

 

[clemsonfor]

Isn't LG the same Korean company that used to go by the name Goldstar?

Goldstar, now theres a quality brand!