Got myself a garage fridge

[Scott P]

For almost two weeks, a neighbor down the street a few houses had a fridge sitting at the top of his driveway. The guy travels a lot (I have never met him or even seen him) so he wasn't around for me to ask about it. I learned from another neighbor/friend that he was getting rid of it since "the compressor blew up" and he bought a new one. Rather than let it sit there, a buddy and I rolled it down the street and into my garage. I have a GE fridge in the house that I've had to fix a couple times already, so I thought I'd give it a shot. If it was a costly repair I could call a local junk guy to give me $25 for it.

I found a nice appliance repair forum and posted the model and symptoms on there. A few simple tests with a multimeter and a light switch and the problem turned out to be a $90 Freezer Control Switch. I ordered the part from them and it was here within two days.

I now have a six year old 26 cu ft Kenmore Stainless Steel side by side for a garage fridge. Much bigger and better than the nearly 20 year old dorm fridge that it replaces.

We've already filled the thing too with sports drinks, water, beer, wine, etc. It's nice having the extra space for marinating or brining meat and even defrosting meats that I had in the upright freezer.

 

[darkk]

Now just hope HE doesn't show up wanting HIS fridge back because YOU took it without HIS permission...

 

[Scott P]

His lawyer handles the details regarding the house and was very happy to hear that the fridge was finally removed from the driveway.

 

[Kevin54]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[geologist]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Scored a 32" LCD-HDTV basically the same way. I asked the guy that put the TV out if I could have it first though. Replaced a triplet of 1000 uF caps and it was as good as new.

 

[Scott P]

My only pic, taken with my iPhone right after I got it fixed and as it was cooling down.

To its left, you will see the fridge it replaced. All of those bottles of Gatorade and Vitamin Water are now in the fridge.

 

[Steevo]

That garage fridge is nicer than a lot of people's kitchen fridge.

Sweet deal for the cost of a part.

 

[letz4wheel]

A well deserved....YOU ****

 

[mdbeck1]

The wife's sister called me a couple months ago. She had bought a side by side fridge off of craigslist and needed it moved. So I grabbed the neighbors little trailer (6X8?) and my two wheeler. 40 miles from my house to hers, 1/2 mile from her house to the fridge, 20 minutes later the kid and I have it loaded, tied down, and moved. Loaded the old fridge for disposal and she tells me that it still work but the ice maker is shot and the light keeps burning the bulbs out.

Took the icemaker out and who cares about the light in a garage box?

My cost: Fuel for the round trip, lunch for the kid (17 years old), and a couple hours of my time. Now I have LOTS of room for beer and venison jerky merinade....

 

[Falcon67]

Good score

>If it was a costly repair I could call a local junk guy to give me $25 for it.
Hmmm - last fridge we had was a big 25' side by side, ice in the door, etc. Freezer worked but the box would not cool very well. Bought a new one. Figured easy to get rid of - wrong. 10~12 phone calls to every used appliance place, Goodwill, etc - I had to cut the compressor out with a sawsall and haul the unit to the scrap yard myself. Most places cited EPA regs and Texas restrictions on disposal of older compressors and oil. Scrapyards won't touch anything here with a compressor in it - fridge, AC unit, etc.

 

[37ford4dr]

party at Scottys!!!!!

 

[djkeev]

Moral, it pays to ask if you see something you want!

Also, around here it would COST money to have that carted away! No one wants greenhouse gases and an old refer!

I called my commercial refrigeration guy about removing the gases from an old walk in unit.

He said, Dave if you want me to I'll come and remove them but you won't like the bill! He then mentioned that isn't the reason that I'm pulling the unit is that it won't hold any gas ? ......right? Nothing illegal about having a leaky refrigation unit though there are laws about purposely releasing it.....hint hint hint.....

 

[pattenp]

I hope you live in a warm climate because if your garage is not heated and you live in a cold climate that frig is going to have problems keeping the temps correct between the frig and freezer during the winter.

 

[jamesemery728]

Cool, thanks for fixing that for me. I had set it out at the top of my driveway for the repairman that was coming to look at it. I'll be down tonight to pick it up after I get home from work. What a great neighborhood.

 

[58Yeoman]

When I bought my house in '08, there was an old fridge in the basement. The local utility company came out with a program where they would haul off any old, inefficient fridges/freezers and pay you $35. I took them up on it. But, I think it's now up to $50...should've waited.

 

[Scott P]

I had a junk guy come by to pick up an old metal gazebo I tore down and he asked me what the deal was with the fridge down the street. His ad mentioned a $25 gift card for fridges. I told him that the guy just put it out there (it had been two weeks though) and that was what got me thinking that I should just grab the thing. It rolled nicely down the driveway, down our street and up my driveway. Those things have some nice casters on them.

From what I was told, the guy came home to a smeely and non-functioning fridge. He didn't want to wait on a repair guy, so he bought a new one. In reality, it was probably a $300+ fix for an appliance guy. The thing is only worth $400 or so working.

I hope you live in a warm climate because if your garage is not heated and you live in a cold climate that frig is going to have problems keeping the temps correct between the frig and freezer during the winter.

I live in Houston and real freezing temps are rare. The heat will probably get to it long before the cold does. I guess I should get around to insulating that east facing garage door before summer hits. That thing just radiates the heat in the morning hours.

 

[shane3fan]

I got lucky a year or so ago. I drove through the neighborhood where my rental house is to check on the property--noticed a stainless fridge standing in the garage at a neighbors house who I knew through kart racing and stopped to talk to him. I asked him where he got the new fridge and he started complaining about his dad dropping it in his lap. I told him I would take it off his hands if he didnt want it----traded him a set of used race kart tires. The fridge is a Samsung with the pull out freezer drawer and the double fridge doors.

 

[barks]

The new reefer, much larger than the predecessor, is probably more efficient and will cost less to operate.

 

[Moose02]

here is an idea for your frig so the swmbo'd keeps out of it

she who must be obeyed

 

[superdutymike27]

That garage fridge is nicer than a lot of people's kitchen fridge.

Sweet deal for the cost of a part.

Nicer than the one I have in my kitchen........................ Great score!

 

[coolreed]

Don't forget that a proper Garage Refrigerator is stocked with the appropriate beverages and food stuff, otherwise it is just a cold box. Congrats on a nice Frig.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Moose, great fridge!

Mine is very modest, but free!

Can anyone spot it?

Jim

 

[Scott P]

I have given some thought to a couple black vinyl stripes and a racing number, but haven't really decided yet.

 

[geologist]

here is an idea for your frig so the swmbo'd keeps out of it

she who must be obeyed

Genius.