Another Refrigerator Story

This refrigerator story is getting to be comical. I’m so ready just to put it out with a “Please Take” sign and go buy another one . . even though this one is under warranty and should be fixed by someone or replaced but I’m beginning to believe it’s never going to be fixed or replaced.

Yesterday Repairman #1 came back. I can’t remember how many times he’s been here . . five or more times. He’s replaced the compressor, the main board, the ice maker, the board that controls the crisper drawers. It was about three weeks ago that he replaced the compressor and that’s when we noticed the board was out for the crisper drawers. He said he would order it and be back. The fridge worked for maybe 8 days after the new compressor but the temperature swings in the freezer were crazy – anywhere from -10 to 24 degrees. The fridge seemed to be doing ok. Then about 1-1/2 weeks ago, the freezer temp started going up and after three days, it settled at 65 degrees and the fridge temp was 55 degrees. Stayed that way for about a week til the repairman got here yesterday. He had someone with him. I stayed downstairs. He told Vince that he’s ordered a new compressor and something else and he’ll be back. The fridge is set for 36 degrees and it has not dropped below 39. The freezer is staying around -9. That at least means we have ice.

We put water and soda in the fridge because they say it will do better if it’s full but I’m not putting anything in there that can spoil.

This morning Vince and I worked outside. We came in about 1 and we were both tired. We talked about going to the hospital to eat but they stop serving lunch at 1:30, we’re about 20 minutes from there and I desperately needed a shower so I told him I would cook. I had pork chops defrosted.

I was cooking, Vince was in the garage. His phone rang and I answered it. A man said “I’m your technician and I’ll be there in about 15 minutes.” Hmm . . I didn’t know I needed a technician. I said “What kind of technician are you?” Refrigerator. OK.

I went outside, told Vince that a refrigerator technician would be here in 15 minutes. Vince said “Who called him?” I said . . I don’t know.

He arrived. He was an older guy – but probably younger than us. Vince said “Have you worked on this model before?” He kinda chuckled and said “I’ve worked on lots of models.” I think that meant no, he has not worked on that model.

Then he started looking at everything. There’s a port (or something you plug a reader into and it tells you everything about the fridge, including the fact that the door was left open for 15 minutes at some point within the last three years. 🙂

The technician said “No. I’m old school. I don’t use those things.” Hmmm . . I don’t think this model was meant for “old school repairs” though I’ll be the first to admit the “new school” repairs don’t seem to be very effective.

Then I said “This one hasn’t been below 40 degrees and it’s been over 24 hours since the repairman left yesterday. The technician said “40 degrees is good. You’re fine so long as it doesn’t go over 45 degrees.” That is NOT what I’ve always heard, nor what’s on the internet.

He said that when repairman #1 changed the compressor, he did not change the filter and that means he may have “contaminated the entire system” so the technician ordered a new filter and he’ll be back in two weeks. I know what’s going to happen. He’s going to come and replace that filter and then repairman #1 will come back, change the compressor and not the filter and then it will all be contaminated again . . if that even matters.

Question: What temp is correct where food is no longer safe in the fridge – 40 degrees or 45 degrees? I don’t even know why I ask. I may never put real food in that fridge again! How do you trust one that has been broken for four months and nothing they do seems to fix it??

At least we’re laughing about it and I’m very thankful to Metro Appliance for the loaner – even though it’s in the garage and it’s a side by side and it doesn’t have an ice maker or water on the door! 🙂