When do you replace your Fridge/Freezer?

Frank99

I have had most of my kitchen appliances for some time Washing Machine 38 years, Cooker 18 years, Fridge/Freezer 23 years simply because they are all still working perfectly and i like the old saying "if it ain't broke" etc.
Unfortunately yesterday my kettle of 17 years blew up and tripped the elecricity to go off, after i reset the electric and disposed of the kettle i wondered if keeping items this long is dangerous, in particular the one thing you can't turn off, the fridge/freezer.
I don't want the fridge/freezer blowing up when i'm at work or in bed as although it is not on any which fire risk lists it does have a plastic back.
Am i overthinking this as my wife believes or if it was you would you replace at least the fridge/freezer.

ka7e

I would say "Well done"! You obviously bought well in the first place to have your appliances work for so long. Although your f/f will fail at some time in the future, so will it's replacement - and there seems to be a built-in obsolescence with newer models and many have complicated electrics that are expensive to repair. A newer model would be cheaper to run due to better insulation, the downside is you lose some internal capacity to accommodate it. I think fridge- freezers are more inclined to quietly give up the ghost rather than explode, Maybe,if the value warrants it, it may be more cost-effective at the moment to add freezer contents to your insurance policy to give you some peace of mind.

EssexExile

You replace a fridge/freezer when the old one stops working or when you do up the kitchen and it doesn't fit any more. My tumble dryer is the last remaining  item from when I bought everything new in 1991. The cooker stayed at the old house, the fridge was sold and everything else died at some time.

Belenus

I agree with your wife, you are overthinking this.

The chances of your appliances failing and causing a fire are very small. Replace them if and when they break down and are beyond economic repair and not before.

Make sure you have adequate house insurance and install smoke alarms if you don't have them already.

We have a large fridge freezer in the garage that is about 20 years old. Our washing machine is about 15 years old. Both survived a house move ten years ago and are still in full working order.

Our integrated dishwasher was in the house we bought ten years ago and probably dates back to 2004 when the house was built.

Our integrated fridge freezer was replaced about six years ago as the one we inherited with the house failed.

None of them will get replaced until they fail and can't be repaired economically.

Frank99

Thank's all, I know that spending money when the item is still in working condition goes against the MSE scriptures and defeats the object of saving money in reality.
I needed a kick up the backside to i suppose!

[Deleted User]

Dates when I renewed my appliances:
Fridge 2013, 1970, 1964
Freezer 2000. 1988
Washer dryer 2014, 2000, 1988
Cooker 2013 (2nd hand from 1992), 1963
The old fridge was still working, but costing a fortune due to a leaking door seal.
The old cooker was also working but costing, due to a ropey oven thermostat.

chrisw

Fridge freezers don't often fail. Its usually the plastic bits inside such as broken drawers and compartments which prompt their replacement. Or a new kitchen as mentioned above.

fenwick458

whilst working on a job in an unattended house, either me or a colleague (still disputed) must have left the freezer unplugged. it was a large chest freezer that was packed solid with food. I realized my/ his/ our mistake 5 days later, and when I returned to check and plug it back in, to food was all still frozen.  that was around autumn time in the UK so temps 10-15 degrees outside, but the point i'm getting at is a fully loaded freezer with the door kept shut will keep stuff frozen for a long time. it doesn't simply defrost instantly when the power turns off. how long are you planning a holiday for??
I have also insulation resistance tested many 30+ year old freezers that have outer casings which are in fact rusting to pieces, yet they are still electrically fine. they don't make them like they used to. if it ain't broke, don't fix it

theoretica

My fridge freezer must be about 27 now and I am muttering about replacing it because it has got noisier and is annoying me. But it still does its job fine.

RelievedSheff

chrisw said:

Fridge freezers don't often fail. Its usually the plastic bits inside such as broken drawers and compartments which prompt their replacement. Or a new kitchen as mentioned above.

We replaced our fridge freezer last year purely because we moved house and our existing 55cm wide fridge freezer looked daft in a spot designed for a large american style fridge freezer.

Our old one had been residing in the garage where it came in handy during lock down for extra freezer capacity. So handy in fact that we decided it would be a good idea to have a full sized freezer in the garage. We were not using the fridge part so it was wasted really. We sold the old one for £60 and put that towards the new freezer which should be arriving within the next hour.

Some of you must have bought quite expensive appliances for them to last so long. We were in our old house for 12 years and were on our third Hotpoint fridge freezer and our third washing machine. Although to be fair the second one was working fine and we sold it on we just replaced it with a washer dryer instead.

neilmcl

I replaced a really old FF about 7 years ago and was amazed at just how much electricity the old one consumed compared to it's replacement. It was probably the biggest power draw of all the appliances I had.