Freezer recommendation - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 08-07-2022, 11:49 AM

Hi we just discovered our four year old upright kenmore freezer is not working. What is people's experience ....throw it away? If I do that is there a go to brand of freezer we could count on to buy?

tbomachines · #2 08-07-2022, 12:20 PM

Try and fix it? Unless the compressor is bad or you've leaked all your refrigerant out its probably fixable. Might as well open it up and have a look...Id be checking the compressor relay, any start capacitors, fuses and the thermostat.

Assuming youve already done basic troubleshooting like ensuring the condenser and evap coils are not clogged/frozen.

merc lover · #3 08-07-2022, 01:11 PM

There are many self-repair books/guides available over at amazon.com along with some well-stocked appliance repair parts houses online. If it were me I would set both a dollar and a time limit for myself. Say, $200 in parts and four hours of my time. If it appears the repair will take more money and time than that, time to buy a new freezer! Also, better to purchase a manual defrost freezer for longevity. Only one issue, you HAVE to regularly defrost a manual defrost freezer. I use about eight insulated coolers to place the food items in while I defrost mine. If you don't regularly defrost your freezer, it will certainly wear out faster.

As far as brands to purchase, best to read freezer reviews on homedepot.com and lowes.com. From what my sources say, you should get at least ten years of life out of a refrigerator or freezer.

P.C. · #4 08-07-2022, 02:11 PM

Buckle your seatbelt before pricing a new freezer…

t walgamuth · #5 08-07-2022, 03:28 PM

$750 13 CF pickup at store. I'll have to do something with the old one....sounds like it might be repairable.

Oh yeah, made in Tailand.....is that better than china?

Idle · #6 08-07-2022, 03:53 PM

A few of the common freezer killers....

The thermostat goes bad. This is an easy fix.

The heating coils in the defroster loop fail. This can be a timer issue or a heater issue. You coils freeze up and the fan cannot blow the cold air past them and into the food area.

On buying a new freezer....

Upright ones are the easiest to use and the least prone to freezing up. Chest units freeze up more often but they hold the cold in better. When you open the door on an upright the cold air falls out. On a chest freezer the weight of the cold air keeps it in the freezer.

Tony H · #7 08-07-2022, 04:37 PM

Is it self defrosting? Much more complicated if so. I would hardwire the compressor bypassing any controls to see if it starts. There is always a wiring diagram somewhere on it or on the net. The non self defrosting freezer causes more freezer burn than self defrosting.

merc lover · #8 08-07-2022, 04:55 PM

Whatever you do, please don't hire these people. They ripped me off COLD (that's a joke, get it?) for $250 and didn't fix or diagnose my refrigerator properly. I figure I can screw up the same deal for half the money........

https://www.mrappliance.com/

merc lover · #9 08-07-2022, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.C.

Buckle your seatbelt before pricing a new freezer…

You got that right; these post-covid prices are a budget killer.....

barry12345 · #10 08-08-2022, 01:59 PM

Check on the net if you already have not. Make and model may show a common fault.

Also if you repurchase check brand quality. Some brands specific products are really bad today in general.

We have a 27 cubic foot chest freezer that is pretty scary.

It has been running fault free for over forty years now. I put a temperature alarm on it some years back. I have a feeling it just may survive me.

INSIDIOUS · #11 08-08-2022, 02:58 PM

Whatever you do, you should fill it with mammoth steaks

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/woolly-mammoth-extinct-revival-diet-b2140707.html

Idle · #12 08-08-2022, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Check on the net if you already have not. Make and model may show a common fault.

Also if you repurchase check brand quality. Some brands specific products are really bad today in general.

We have a 27 cubic foot chest freezer that is pretty scary.

It has been running fault free for over forty years now. I put a temperature alarm on it some years back. I have a feeling it just may survive me.

A true story.....

I inherited a freezer that was built by International Harvester. It was a giant chest type and weighed a bit over a million pounds. It actually took eight large men to move it. That or one large forklift.

When I got it I was told it was over thirty years old. And it worked perfectly.

I kept it for another twenty years and then donated it to a food bank.

Tony H · #13 08-08-2022, 05:48 PM

I have a 1950 Frigidaire fridge I rescued from a house being torn down. Cleaned it up and grounded it with a 3-prong cord on it and it runs perfect. I'm going to use it in my "mancave". I had a 30's era GE fridge that also ran perfect but it did not make the move.

fonzi · #14 08-09-2022, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony H

I have a 1950 Frigidaire fridge I rescued from a house being torn down. Cleaned it up and grounded it with a 3-prong cord on it and it runs perfect. I'm going to use it in my "mancave". I had a 30's era GE fridge that also ran perfect but it did not make the move.

My ~1950’s Frigidaire that I got with a recently purchased house says “General Motors” on it. Does yours too? My plug is also fraying. So I will replace it. Mine is already moved out of the basement of the house and into the garage. It works well, but is not currently plugged in.

I recently had a refrigerator from ~2006 go bad in a rental property. The main circuit board was bad. Ultimately I fixed it with a $39 board from eBay. I learned a lot, like exactly why the old board most likely failed, bad capacitors from ~2000-2010. You can replace them preventatively if you can solder.

I already owned an acceptable replacement refrigerator for the application, so I sure as hell wasn’t going to buy another for this rental property. I put the suitable replacement I own in the garage so it’s ready for next time… sort of like a car guy with cars. I guess maybe I’m a refrigerator guy too.

fonzi · #15 08-09-2022, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merc lover

Whatever you do, please don't hire these people. They ripped me off COLD (that's a joke, get it?) for $250 and didn't fix or diagnose my refrigerator properly. I figure I can screw up the same deal for half the money........

https://www.mrappliance.com/

Same deal with my sister’s rental property. When using the icemaker or water dispenser on the front of the fridge, this cracked hose would spray water out the top/side of the fridge. Repairman said it can’t be fixed and the part isn’t available, so the fridge will have to be replaced. Clearly, they aren’t a resourceful trade anymore.

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