Buying used fridges and freezers: what to look for?

[Balog]

Aside from the obvious parts about working, non-stinky etc what should I be looking for in terms of getting a chest freezer and garage beer fridge? I know the older models are less energy efficient but much more reliable, but I don't really know years/makes/models. I'm mostly interested in something that's built to last, energy is cheap enough (compared to the east coast) that repair or replacement costs are more than just using a less efficient tank that'll outlive me.

[charby]

I picked up a cheap ass Haier from Lowes in 2004, its still running, been run continuously since I bought I except for 3 moves. Mine is 7.1 cubic feet and two deer, one antelope and couple turkeys will not fill it. I think they go for about $200-250 new.

Beer fridge? Get a tall dorm fridge, that is what I have in the garage and it holds 2-3 cases of canned beer with room for a few other items. New these are $80-150 depending where you shop.

[BobR]

No bodies of people who were trapped in it while it sat out on the patio!!!!   


bob

[tokugawa]

I got a working freezer  for free, put it in my garage and doubled my electric bill.  Tossed it and bought a newer unit.
 Seriously, it was really pulling some amps- I don't know how much, but I do know with it and the  other fridge on the same load side of the panel my 5K generator was kicking off after a half hour.

[zahc]

I have a brace of 7? Cu ft GE medium-freezers from LowesDepot. They sometimes go on sale for $160.

I hear a out people getting $50 or less fridges and freezers on craigslist but I never get so lucky.

[never_retreat]

I snagged an almost full size ge upright from craigs list a few years ago. Local company recently got it for there office. They were moving to new digs that had one in the kitchen already. Thing still had the tape holding the racks in place. No decontamination even required.
I forget the amps it draws when running but it is very low. I made sure it was on opposite phases in the panel from the kitchen fridge for when we are on gen power but its so low it really would not matter. I think the tube TV uses more juice.

[Nick1911]

I got the fridge for my kegerator off craigslist.  It was pretty dirty/nasty but only cost me $35.  I believe it's a Hotpoint, and it's run just fine for the last few years I've had it.

[RoadKingLarry]

I've got 2 large freezers, one is a commercial grade upright I bought used in the late '80s I don't know the actual CF size but if you take the shelves out you could stand 2 average size people up in it with room to spare.
My chest freezer I bought from my late aunt's estate sale. From the paper work we found in it we think it was bought new in '77. Easily big enough to stack at least 4 average size people in it without having to be creative.

[vaskidmark]

Check the door seals.  A dollar bill still is an excelent test instrument - seal is good if a dollar bill will not slip ot when the door is closed on it.  Be sure to test all along the seal.

Do compressors that are ging bad still leak lubricant?  Used to be how you knew in advance that you were not going to get cold for much longer.  Check that it sits level or the levelers work and hold when adjusted.  Watching a reefer walk off shims is disconcerting even when it happens in slow motion.

If possible, ask to have the unit turned on and see if it gets cold enough to at least make ice.  Refrigerators should hold 37* (??) and freezers hold -10* (??) - someone check those numbers for me, please.  Anyhow, the point being that it not only needs to run but run at the right settings.  Very few folks in used appliance stores orselling on Craig's List are willing to wait that long for you to decide to buy or not.

stay safe.

[makattak]

I've got 2 large freezers, one is a commercial grade upright I bought used in the late '80s I don't know the actual CF size but if you take the shelves out you could stand 2 average size people up in it with room to spare.
My chest freezer I bought from my late aunt's estate sale. From the paper work we found in it we think it was bought new in '77. Easily big enough to stack at least 4 average size people in it without having to be creative.

You know, I'm a little bit uncomfortable with the way you measure freezer size.... 

[Scout26]

I got mine at a used appliance store during the height of the housing boom.  People were buying houses, selling all the appliances and installing "new" high end stuff to replace barely used stuff.    I think I paid $50 with a $25 for a 2 year old Kitchen-Aid fridge/freezer.  It'll hold 2 deer+ in the freezer and many. many cases of beer in the fridge.  However, it's mostly used for water bottles and kid's drink for school lunches.   I do keep 4 gallons of distilled water in there and other stuff.

I came with a 1 year warranty (If it breaks, bring it back and we'll give you a different fridge.)  I picked this one because it was larger then then standard size.  


So check to stee if there's a used appliance store somewhere near you.  The ultimate in recycling.    

[Pb]

Don't get a whirlpool.  Ours had to be replaced twice during the warranty period for rotting our food; now that it is out of warranty, the ice dispenser is broken.