"notbob" wrote in message
...
On 2010-06-29, The Daring Dufas wrote:
the fancy computer control of the the other folk's refrigerator. The
lesson being that you may want to forego fancy bells and whistles when
you choose a refrigerator.

No kidding. I've seen them with a comuter (PC) with touch screen on the
door. Lord knows what those cost to repair.

The one I had was that old GE/Amana/etc avocado-colored workhorse that
millions bought in the 60s. Frostless, top freezer, etc. I salvaged
mine cuz, despite still working, was not very efficient and I was
moving states away. OTOH, I knew of half a dozen just like it still
doing duty in ppl's homes (two on my block) as their primary or garage
beer fridge. My dog could repair it!

Does your dog make house calls? He's the right height to get to the
compressor and probably doesn't have bad knees.

The temperature of the upper and lower compartments follows the room
temperature, no matter where the dials are set. The problem has been coming
on slowly, and started last summer. Since we've moved away from AC and the
kitchen can run from 60F to 90F, it's only a problem when the air temp is
above 76F.

It used to go below -10F. Now it rarely goes below 8F (I know because I
bought a great wireless refrigerator thermometer set with hi/lo memories
some recommended here).

I've had to defrost it several times manually (and impatiently - I didn't
just let it stand, I used hot water and a hair dryer to defrost it) from the
door being left ajar on a humid night and the freezer coil condensate drain
hose getting plugged. I believe the last time this happened I may have put
a pinhole leak in the unit, although I haven't tested for it. Could also be
that after 30+ years, this old White-Westinghouse has bitten the dust.
Compressors don't last forever.

I just pulled the freeze floor up to check the coils and the fan. The coils
were really gurgling, a lot more than I remembered and I know from car A/C
work that gurgling usually means low refrigerant. From what I read, finding
the leak, repairing and recharging it are a little out of my league. I
might pay a reasonable amount to have it done, but I also know that old cars
and appliances reach an age where they can out-cost a new one in repairs and
efficiency.

So, ask your dog: am I right that this isn't a job for a formerly handy
person who can't get down on his knees if the good lord commanded it?

--
Bobby G.