How long should things last?

[ponytug]

The only thing about these old, still running refers and freezers is the amount off energy they use. Ive had customers complain to me about high utility bills and want to see if theres a problem with the wiring. I would place recording devices on the major appliances. Some of these old freezers could suck down a huge percentage of the customers power use. A hot tub might only add $10 to the monthly bill while an old freezer is sucking 50-75 bucks a month to operate. A brand new efficient unit might only use $10.

The ranch kitchen came with a 35 year old refrigerator that sweated like the proverbial pig and ran constantly. We replaced that with a new and dropped our power bill to about 60% of what we started with. Then we replaced the old Kenmore top loader with an LG front loader and dropped it to 40% of the original (the spin cycle got clothes much drier), after a number of years we dropped the electric dryer in favor of a condensing version and dropped it to less than 20% of what we started with.

At our electricity rates the ROI on higher efficiency appliances is pretty darn quick. The price of efficiency is often complexity, and these days the ultra low cost provider gets the business, and that doesn't translate well to long lifetimes. Wasn't someone here posting about appliance control boards that were several hundred dollars a piece retail, but he claimed he could by them for $7/board in quantities of a thousand? (EDIT: it was @kenmbz, posting below)

All the best,

Peter

 

[Oaktree]

I have never in my life paid more than 60$/month for electricity.

We've had a few bills that topped $70, but that was usually during a spell of high oil prices and the utility added a fuel surcharge. Typically, it runs mid 50s-mid 60s, a bit higher in the winter. We'll see what happens when the next rate increase kicks in later this month.

 

[kenmbz]

yes, the $200 control board for the GE, I got for $100 on Ebay I found were $7 each in lots of 1000 from China.
These same boards are used in many brands, not just GE, since most now are made by the same company and in the same plants in China.

I verified my new washer was not made in China and did not have that board.

 

[ponytug]

@kenmbz sorry for not naming you as the source. I remembered the story, but could not seem to surface the post last night. My apologies.

All the best, Peter

 

[kenmbz]

@kenmbz sorry for not naming you as the source. I remembered the story, but could seem to surface last night. My apologies.

All the best, Peter

No worries, it's open info here

 

[ultrarunner]

Number 1 to me is reliability…

While true a broken appliance often uses no energy this misses the fact it comes up short getting the job done.

I got a light used Kenmore Washer/Dryer pair maybe 25 years ago when the widow lady bought new Neptunes… which never worked right so she bought LG and one replaced under warranty and now has something different.

No kids or piles of laundry yet I still have her 1970’s pair and she is on pair number 3…

 

[2manyrocks]

They obviously knew how to build washers and dryers to last at one point. Mom's 50 y/o Maytag clothes washer still running.

 

[rontaki]

Number 1 to me is reliability…

A broken appliance often uses no energy but comes up short getting the job done.

I got a light used Kenmore Washer/Dryer pair maybe 25 years ago when the widow lady bought new Neptunes… which never worked right so she bought LG and one replaced under warranty and now has something different.

No kids or piles of laundry yet I still have her 1970’s pair and she is on pair number 3…

I bought a brand new Maytag Neptune (front loader) that lasted 24 years before a sensor went out. I thought about replacing it, but was having a hard time finding that one, plus it seemed like it was going to start nickel-and-diming me. For the washer's entire life it made a "scritching" squeak noise, probably a main bearing, that never failed. I can only hope the replacement lasts for a long time.
Apparently the Neptune model had a lot of problems with internal mold, and the costs associated with that drove Maytag to sell out to Whirlpool. I always leave the washing machine door open to vent between loads, even with the new one.

 

[ponytug]

I bought a brand new Maytag Neptune (front loader) that lasted 24 years before a sensor went out. I thought about replacing it, but was having a hard time finding that one, plus it seemed like it was going to start nickel-and-diming me. For the washer's entire life it made a "scritching" squeak noise, probably a main bearing, that never failed. I can only hope the replacement lasts for a long time.
Apparently the Neptune model had a lot of problems with internal mold, and the costs associated with that drove Maytag to sell out to Whirlpool. I always leave the washing machine door open to vent between loads, even with the new one.

That reminds me. The house came with the original appliances. Say mid-80s. The dryer always had this clunking sound that I chalked up to out of round / old bearing. After we had had it for fifteen years, one of the thermal sensors went, so I bought two new ones, and opened it up to replace thermal sensors. Piece of cake, ten minute job. The icing on the cake was a D-cell flashlight that someone had left inside the dryer for me.

No more clunking! I do wonder how many decades the flashlight was in there.

We also always leave the washer and dryer doors ajar.

All the best, Peter

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^
Did the flashlight still work?