🚀 go-pugleaf

Logan Shaw wrote:
> 
> Seerialmom wrote:
> > Know what would be nice?  A site like fueleconomy.gov for appliances.
> 
> http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.display_products_html
> 
> > I mean how much more efficient are the refrigerators now than they
> > were 9 years ago?
> 
> It doesn't appear to go back 9 years, but if you have an existing fridge
> you want to compare, you can measure its performance with a Kill-a-Watt
> tool or something.  (Just leave the fridge plugged in through the
> Kill-a-Watt for a few days and do the math.)
> 
>    - Logan

The calculator for refrigerators at the site is available here:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.calculator

It goes back a lot farther than 9 years. It had our 1991 model year GE
side by side in the calculator when we were looking at replacing it this
year. You need to get the *exact* model number from the plate/label on
your refrigerator, and your electric bill - to input your electric rate
cost in your region. The calculator is very fussy about the model number
entry though. If it doesn't find an exact match it won't give you a list
of "these model numbers are similar..." or anything like it.

In our case we decided to dump our side by side and replace. It needed a
much more necessary $300.00+ repair (defrosting problem). If the
calculator info is even close to correct, it would cost us about $100.00
more per year to keep using the 1991 model vs. replacing it. ($155.00
per year vs. $50.00) And this would have been the second repair on the
unit - time to let it go.

Consider as well that most repairs have very short warranties on the
repair. 90 days is generous, a lot of repairs are only warranted for 30
days.

We also changed from a more repair prone side by side back to a top
freezer model. (Just saying what Consumer Reports members report - side
by sides are more repair prone. Our experience bears that out as well.)
Before remodeling we didn't have a choice - due to a kitchen island we
couldn't use anything but a side by side. After the remodeling the
island was removed so we weren't stuck with a side by side being the
only choice. *Love* getting back to the layout of a top freezer model.
All that big WIDE open space. 8-) What a pain side by sides are - that
skinny, tall freezer space is annoying, if not largely worthless.

And it cost *several* hundred dollars less for a similar amount of space
in a top freezer model vs. a side by side.

Rick