Retired appliance tech urges homeowner to repair early-2000s fridge before shopping new

After a homeowner's early-2000s Kenmore side-by-side fridge quit working, they took to Reddit's r/Appliances community for advice.

They wondered whether it was too old to get fixed and if pursuing something newer would be a good option.

Here's what to know

The owner asked whether repairing the unit was realistic. They said shopping for a new refrigerator was not appealing because models seemed smaller inside and loaded with unnecessary technology.

"You could at least have someone come and take a look at it to see if it's worth fixing if you really like that specific fridge," one commenter said.

Another user added: "Get an estimate before you do anything. It could be a minor problem; older machines tend to last forever."

"Fix it, but I'm a retired appliance repair guy and have the wherewithal to do that," someone else wrote. "If I were you, I'd pay the house call fee to find out how much it would cost to fix and go from there."

More background

Part of the hesitation around replacing a refrigerator is cost, and several people questioned whether a new model would be better. Their case for keeping the older machine was that it may be less complicated and more durable.

"There are parts available for a lot of older appliances. My GE refrigerator is from the 1980s and still working," one commenter wrote. Another shared: "I had a washing machine from the '60s. Easier to get parts for that than a brand-new washer."

Keeping a refrigerator in service can delay a major purchase and reduce unnecessary waste from throwing out a large appliance.

Still, users did not say that an old refrigerator should be repaired no matter what. The broader point was simply that age by itself does not settle the question.

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