Appliances, what are the odds...

wcc · 01-03-2010, 03:47 PM

So with in the last month and over the SAME weekend all the appliances needed work or replaced. Here's the breakdown....

Started with the ice maker in the freezer on Friday night. I ordered a new one on line and when it came in I replaced it. Then the Garbage disposal on Saturday morning. The wife ran to home depot and bought a new one. Just finished replacing it while she was doing laundry and I got the o-dear while you're working on stuff can you look at the washing machine? I was told it wasn't working anymore. As I was messing with that because it was stinking like burned belt the dishwasher was giving her fits. I said one thing at a time. So I ordered a water pump for the washing machine and replaced it when it came in. Then I looked at the dishwasher, pretty minor, but it needed basket wheels and a new door hinge. Ordered the parts and fixed that when they came in. All over that one weekend.. Sheesh! But then on Tuesday the furnace quit and I found that the air purification system was preventing the blower fan from running so it's been by-passed for now so at least we have heat. I'll mess with it this spring. So yesterday the evaporator fan in the frig went bad and I messed with it to get it running temporary until the part comes in. Then the compressor quit. C'mon!

I NEED a break!

Here's the kicker, all these appliances were new in 2000 or newer and haven't made it 10yrs? These weren't cheap and actually considered higher line then average but probably not 'top' of the line but close to it. Anyways, tonight we bought a new frig that'll be here tomorrow. But what gets me is that we have a early '70s frig in the garage that has been moved numerous times over the years with no issues, a late '60s freezer in the basement that is the same as the frig, and another mid '60s freezer that has no issues. My parents have a late '40s frig and that still works great. They just don't make things like they used to I guess or I just have a black cloud floating over me right now.

When the new frig comes tomorrow in I'll probably fix the old one (yr 2000, not really 'old') and use it as a spare or sell it off. But I'm to the point of just throwing my hands up and replace everything with LONG term warranties.

Sorry for the rant and thanks for listening..... I feel much better now!

Oh Haha · 01-03-2010, 03:50 PM

Holy crap!!!

I've had a couple things go wrongbut never like that.

Hang in there, Bill.

The weekend's almost over.

wcc · 01-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Thanks Wayne! I'll get there, but I just need a light at the end of the tunnel right now. I just can't believe they would all do this at once. I just want to come home and relax for a change and the 'off' days just came to an end today..

herr_oberst · 01-03-2010, 05:56 PM

Any chance you can wait for "cash for clunkers" part deaux? This is where we can trade in inefficient appliances for more energy efficient ones.

Monza_dh · Monza_dh's Garage

Holy shtt!, this SAME thing is happening to me right now as well!

10 year old JennAire down draft electric range, gone. The surface top elements just went and I've not been able to read the oven temp in 3 months.

8 year old Jenn Air dishwasher handle just broke, had to order one on line so hand washed for two weeks. And now the internals are rusting.

10 year old Kitchen Aide fridge internal blower motor went. Had to jump the fan to run continuous until I get it fixed or pony up the $$ for another.

I think its a total case of "planned obsolescence". Companies figure that the average American owns a house for 6.5 years or whatever so appliances only have to last one-two owners to be free and clear or warranty claims.

The kicker of course is that the wife just doesn't want to replace the appliances but instead do a total kitchen redo!! Ouch!

looneybin · 01-04-2010, 10:23 AM

thats because newer appliances are CRAP
not made to last like they were 20 years ago
How else do you think the gov't gets the "durable goods" figures to go up

wcc · 01-04-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monza_dh

Holy shtt!, this SAME thing is happening to me right now as well!

10 year old JennAire down draft electric range, gone. The surface top elements just went and I've not been able to read the oven temp in 3 months.

8 year old Jenn Air dishwasher handle just broke, had to order one on line so hand washed for two weeks. And now the internals are rusting.

10 year old Kitchen Aide fridge internal blower motor went. Had to jump the fan to run continuous until I get it fixed or pony up the $$ for another.

I think its a total case of "planned obsolescence". Companies figure that the average American owns a house for 6.5 years or whatever so appliances only have to last one-two owners to be free and clear or warranty claims.

The kicker of course is that the wife just doesn't want to replace the appliances but instead do a total kitchen redo!! Ouch!

That's CRAZY! At least I'm not alone! Well the new frig was delivered today and they said they are built to last 8-10yrs and if you get 12 you're doing great. Well ours broke after 5 and again at 9yrs. So hopefully this new one makes it the 12! We'll see.... All that's left now is to replace the dishwasher. It works now but I know it's on it's last leg.

Good luck to you and I hope you don't have to redo the whole kitchen!

Hugh R · 01-04-2010, 04:33 PM

go to and join applianceguru.com for $5. It's well worth it. You can search for free. Read their instructions about make, model no., serial number before posting. I saved a service call and spent $15 on a part for dishwasher.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I think it's time to simply burn the house down.