8 year old house - stuff is starting to fail

[Big_Ed]

Originally Posted By: XS650
That 1950s power hog was wasted enough electricity to pay for an more efficient fridge. It's not as bad as a 1970s power consumption be [censored] self defrost fridge though.



Still, they were obviously built with durability in mind. That's more than can be said for most modern ones. Besides, it's a lot easier to come up with the extra money to pay a little more each month for the additional electricity, than it is to come up with several hundred dollars at once when replacement time would have come. And I'm sure if they would have replaced it in, say 1980 or so, they would have had to buy a couple of them by now. The old one is not broken, so there's no sense replacing it. The $600 or so to replace it will buy lots of electricity for years to come to power that good old unit. I wouldn't doubt if I end up inheriting it some day. And I'm sure it'll still be purring like a kitten.

 

[AcuraTech]

I'm getting really, really sick of the plasticized indebted not built to last Dixie cup culture that we live in. These side by side filtered water sub zero compartment fridges are GREAT. Until they need an $800 dollar part 3 years later. Give me a top freezer/bottom fridge simple made in USA any day.

Yes, the old stuff was energy inefficient. But it also lasted forever, was easy to fix, and was made by fellow Americans.

I live in a house built in the 1920's, and I love it. Beautiful hardwood floors, lots of character, and walls that are almost soundproof because they're (seemingly) 2 feet thick. This new construction, every time the neighbor cuts a fawrt or hocks a loog, you hear it!

 

[crinkles]

i dispute that old stuff like fridges were built with durability in mind.

fone one, manufacturers did not have all the modern aids in design and manufacturing, so they were more clunky, but more on the safe side. like, if 99% wasn't good enough, they'd get a bad name, but the next step in economical machining would be 105% which means it lasts for what - 50 years.

i bet if they had the means they would have made them just as much disposable back then.

 

[Lurch]

I have a 1982 Kenmore washer & dryer that were here when I bought the house in 2003 that I've used several times a week with no problems at all for over 6 years.

In 2000 I bought a new GE washer that quit working and needed to be repaired by a repairman after just 1 year of use. I don't understand why they can't make appliances like they used to. I thought they'd get better, not worse.

 

[cousincletus]

Originally Posted By: Lurch
I have a 1982 Kenmore washer & dryer that were here when I bought the house in 2003 that I've used several times a week with no problems at all for over 6 years.

In 2000 I bought a new GE washer that quit working and needed to be repaired by a repairman after just 1 year of use. I don't understand why they can't make appliances like they used to. I thought they'd get better, not worse.


Had the same prob with a whirlpool washer. I replaced it with a speed queen commercial for about 600 bucks.

 

[kb01]

I have a 100 year old home with most appliances from the 60's and 70's. It definitely has its share of problems but I've never had a string of bad luck like the OP. My sister owns a 10 year old house and it seems like she's always having problems with something.

It seems like the quality of construction and of appliances should be improving over time, not getting worse.

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: cousincletus

Had the same prob with a whirlpool washer. I replaced it with a speed queen commercial for about 600 bucks.


We had to replace a 2 year old Whirlpool gas hot water heater. It couldn't maintain a pilot light and the thermocouple had to be replaced every few months. It was only a year old when it started acting up and we just got sick of constantly not having hot water.

 

[Kestas]

Some time ago, I wanted to replace my 1965 water heater that was 30 years old as a preemptive measure. A knowledgeable person told me not to, since it was built well, I maintained it, and it may outlast anything that I replace it with. He was right. It lasted 13 more years before it leaked.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn

Don't buy anything from "Keystone/KBRG". The attention to detail is well, lacking, to be ultra polite.


Ditto for MDC Holdings, aka "Richmond American". Unless you think beer cans inside your walls is how it ought to be.

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
Some time ago, I wanted to replace my 1965 water heater that was 30 years old as a preemptive measure. A knowledgeable person told me not to, since it was built well, I maintained it, and it may outlast anything that I replace it with. He was right. It lasted 13 more years before it leaked.


Interesting. My dad's plumber visited a water heater factory. Apparently, the "glass lined" tank is now made by a spray pipe that is inserted into the tank and shoots a thin spray of glass while the pipe rotates and moves in and out. Seeing how that was made, which is now apparantly industry standard, his conclusion is that many pinhole rust locations will begin to form in these tanks the day you put water in them. Around here he is saying the tanks will typically begin to leak around the 8 year mark if not sooner. His recommendation was to change the water tank every 8 years or so, so you can do it on your own time and not in emergency circumstances.

That reminds me, it's probably time to get some quotes for a new water heater.

 

[mpvue]

there has always been good stuff and bad stuff. not all old stuff is good, and vice versa. we have a samsung fridge about 8 yrs now, lots of electronics, paid about $1100 IIRC, been flawless. (the ice gets clogged once in a while if the room temps changes alot though).
had a ge range, needed a few repairs in a few years, not happy w/ it, got rid of it after it needed even another small expensive part. we've got a Viking range now, incredible performance out of that and we use it A LOT.
we bought our circa 1900 twin about 14 yrs ago; it came w/ a small Kelvinator fridge. we still use it, works perfectly, even the light bulb still works!

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Our home is 8 years old this past month. I suggest to NOT purchase anything from "Keystone/KBRG" homebuilders.

This is water leak repair #5 for this home. The guy was here this morning to fix it:

 

[fdcg27]

Is Speed Queen a particularly durable brand of washing machine?
We bought a very basic Speed Queen fifteen years ago from a regional category killer, since killed off, for all of $200.00.
It still works just fine, and it has done four or five loads each week since 1995. No electronics, just a mechanical timer.
We bought our current dishwasher, a basic GE, later in 1995.
Once again, no electronics, just a mechanical timer.
It still delivers clean dishes without issue, although it is certainly noisier than a higher end machine.
I would think that electronic controls would be more reliable than mechanical ones.
Maybe not.

 

[Schmoe]

TnS....what the [don't bypass the censor software] is that????

 

[AcuraTech]

I'm gonna take a guess and say some idiot who was building the house ran a screw through the water pipe and didnt realize it or just left it.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
TnS....what the [don't bypass the censor software] is that????


Ooops, forgot to give the details. It's a nail through a water supply pipe for the upstairs bathrooms. Once the nail got rusted enough, the hole started leaking. We noticed a leak on a wall, I thought it was the kids messing around. Nope. The top 2/3 of the wall was mushy.

Oh joy.

A local guy showed up to fix it this morning, thank God for him being quickly available.

Since we owned this new home, 3 leaks on the main floor, 2 of which soaked the pergo floor so that had to be replaced. 1 leak on a tub-supply line upstairs, more drywall to be patched, now this.

Oh wait, forgot about the day after we moved in...all the toilets started backing up within 8 hours of living here. The T underground outside the house was crushed, so they fixed that within a day or two.

That makes 6 so far.

Perhaps I should rename this house, the "Sienna" in honor of our old lemon '99 Toyota.

 

[wander2039]

You guys are depressing. Although our house was built in the 1950's it's not any better than houses of new. I'm surprised it hasn't fell down... for example they used 2x4 for the floor for the upstairs bedroom. Jumping jacks isn't advisable lol. Our water heater is coming on 8 years, central air 20 years, frig/stove though Kenmore is 7 years and washer/dryer is 12 years. Had to pull a sock out of the washer's water pump the other day and the central air has a new control board (water corrosion) but knock on wood no other problems.. I may of just cursed myself.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: AcuraTech
I'm gonna take a guess and say some idiot who was building the house ran a screw through the water pipe and didnt realize it or just left it.


It's tough to find good help at the 7-11 parking lot!

 

[Steve S]

Things aren't made like they used to be built or made it is all garbage.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

Is Speed Queen a particularly durable brand of washing machine?


Speed Queen is the consumer brand of a company that makes commercial grade high capacity washers. I used to work at an appliance distribution warehouse and speed queens moved very well. (this was about 1984) I'm thinking a company that makes commercial grade equipment probably has a good "lessons learned" list.

Quote:

I would think that electronic controls would be more reliable than mechanical ones.


I have "real" maytag W/Ds from about 17 years ago, all mechanical. No issues for either unit, although use is limited to a single guy. IMHO "electronic anything" on a unit that produces steam, water and vibration is just a bad idea unless it yields substantial benefits (like on a car)

My friends electronic unit on his washer needed replacing and it was cheaper just to buy a whole new washer. I'm sure the repair guy appreciated that decision.