Question of the Day: Can a mini-fridge be recharged? Worth it?

[Bailey Guns]

I have a small, dorm-room type Kenmore mini-fridge. It's probably over 10 years old and it's in excellent shape. But it's been sitting unused for 2 or 3 years...maybe a little longer.

I plugged it in today and it's not cooling. Everything seems to be working fine, it's just not cooling down. The compressor runs, it's quiet and it seems fine. I'm assuming it needs to be recharged but, of course, I don't know for sure.

Question for those appliance pros out there: Assuming it just needs a recharge, is it worth it? I probably paid less than $100 for it. I have no idea what a repair/recharge would cost. But the new ones in the same size/quality range seem to be significantly more expensive.

[OtterbatHellcat]

I'd say it's worth looking into getting it recharged....if that's what the problem is. A service call wouldn't be, but take it to someone instead.

[OtterbatHellcat]

Has the unit ever been laid on it's side at any time?

[Bailey Guns]

Has the unit ever been laid on it's side at any time?

Not completely. I probably had it to 45 degrees on the hand truck wheeling it from the barn to the house.

[beast556]

I you have a service call and they come to you it will probly cost you pretty close to what a new one costs. A new one is approx 150$ from home depot, around the hollidays you can score killer deals on them. If you take it to some one I would guess it would be some where in the 50-75$ range. You seem to know a lot of people ask around and may be a friend of a friend can help you out. Just my 2 cents for whats it's worth.

B

[Wulf202]

yes it can, no it's not worth it at all

[def90]

Time for the Marshall fridge..

http://usa.marshallfridge.com/

34309

[bryjcom]

Throw it out.. Trust me..

Your gonna spend well over $100 to have it recharged and then its just gonna leak out again.

Buy a new one and use the old one as target practice.

[Gman]

yes it can, no it's not worth it at all
^^^This

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Igloo-1.7-cu-ft-Refrigerator/19895933

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Decker-2.7-cu-ft-Refrigerator-with-Freezer-Black-Refurbished/24216166

[sniper7]

News ones are super cheap. Turn that one into a target or ammo storage or scrap or all the above

[newracer]

A repair guy once told me that many times when you shut off a fridge or freezer for an extended period of time the condensation in the lines will rust and cause pinholes, coolant leaks out and they are toast.

[Bailey Guns]

OK. The consensus is it's trash. Out it goes. Thanks.

[Badger]

OK. The consensus is it's trash. Out it goes. Thanks.

I've seen people turn the shell of those into a pretty cool little smoker to dry meats. Doesn't cost much materials wise to do, does take a bit of your time though. Just figured I'd offer it as a suggestion.





Badger

[Bailey Guns]

Good idea, but I don't really have the time or inclination to do that. You're welcome to it if you'd like it. I'm just gonna toss it or give it to one of the guys up here who collects scrap.

[Sawin]

You may be able to recharge it yourself with a little freon. Watch this video and others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlx48QxQVVM

[StagLefty]

IKEA carries them [Coffee]

[Bailey Guns]

You may be able to recharge it yourself with a little freon. Watch this video and others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlx48QxQVVM

I watched a few of his videos. That dude has a PhD in Redneck Engineering! I don't have all the stuff to do that. It's outta here.

[waxthis]

yes it can, no it's not worth it at all

X2