Community Forums

Terry W · 05-11-2015, 08:11 AM

We just changed MHs and we now have a residential fridge. The wife is concerned that it is 10 years old. Is there any info out there on the effect of hauling a residential fridge around mile after mile, year after year? Does it seem to kill them off? Just curious!

PDR John · 05-11-2015, 08:19 AM

It made it ten years, I'm sure it will last as long as in the stick and bricks.

HD4Mark · 05-11-2015, 08:31 AM

We have had our residential in the MH for about 3 1/2 years now. Only one minor problem with the ice maker that was covered under warranty and had nothing to do with it being in an RV. It is a Samsung RF217.

That said the fridge in our garage came with the sticks and bricks house and it is at least 10 but I would guess 20. I have repaired the evaporator fan once on that and it does not get bounced down the road.

I think it comes down to luck and what fridge you buy. Samsung does seem to be the brand of choice in MHs but many of us bought them for the size to have them fit better.

We did take an extended service plan when we first installed it figuring that if something did go wrong it would be better to have it fixed then remove and replace it.

dezolen · 05-11-2015, 06:47 PM

According to 2 of my appliance repair friends if you get 10 years out of any modern appliance these days you are lucky. That's in a stationary home.

jeryan59 · 05-11-2015, 07:07 PM

I don't use mine full time and the refrigerator is 6 1/2 yrs old and works flawless.

Mr_D · 05-11-2015, 07:19 PM

I have a Sears 31 cf freezer in the garage so it does get hot and cold depending on the season. It's over 30 years old now and still doing just fine.
As to a refer in the MH? I don't expect to get 30 years out of our JennAir. In fact I'll be lucky to live that much longer as I'm 68 now.

Mr_D · 05-11-2015, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD4Mark

I think it comes down to luck and what fridge you buy. Samsung does seem to be the brand of choice in MHs but many of us bought them for the size to have them fit better.

We did take an extended service plan when we first installed it figuring that if something did go wrong it would be better to have it fixed then remove and replace it.

Usually the factory warranty isn't any good in an RV and some service policies go by that so they might not cover a residential refer in a MH. That's one of the things lots of people forget about when changing out a refer. If you buy on in a new rig that's checked out by the factory or they take over warranty problems.

Cbones · 05-11-2015, 07:37 PM

Whether in an RV or stationary in a stick house, every year after 10 is a blessing. Appliances aren't built to last more than 10 years anymore. My brother has a 50s era Kelvinator in his garage (how many remember them) that has outlasted numerous modern refers.

docj · 05-11-2015, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Usually the factory warranty isn't any good in an RV

That's the sort of generalization that isn't necessarily true. For example, although Samsung doesn't "recommend" use of its refrigerators in RVs, I've not seen any documentation that the warranty is affected by such use.

HD4Mark · 05-12-2015, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Usually the factory warranty isn't any good in an RV and some service policies go by that so they might not cover a residential refer in a MH. That's one of the things lots of people forget about when changing out a refer. If you buy on in a new rig that's checked out by the factory or they take over warranty problems.

It was repaired by Samsung under the original factory warranty at no charge in the RV parked in a campground. I don't think we tried to hide the fact either. So either Samsung does not void the warranty in an RV or we were very lucky.

All that was wrong was a bracket that holds the sensor in the ice maker broke so the sensor was hanging down in the ice bin. They replaced the whole ice maker.

Ramets · 05-12-2015, 05:59 AM

I've been on this earth for quite sometime now, and I can honestly say I've NEVER had, nor have I ever seen a res. refrigerator fail. Maybe it's just been luck, but the only time I've ever replaced a fridge was when we wanted a bigger one. And then the old one went into the garage and just kept on percolating. We put a Whirlpool into our Dutch Star almost 2yrs. ago, and we both think it's been the best upgrade we've done.

hypoxia · 05-12-2015, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD4Mark

I think it comes down to luck

I've seen a number of them quit for various reasons. I keep spare compressor protection relays for my reefers as that seems to be a common problem and they are inexpensive. I also have a line tap and hose for adding R134 refrigerant. Leakage is rare but does happen.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-12-2015, 12:06 PM

Neither of our last two residential fridges made it 10 years and that's in the stick house. I would say if yours is still working at age 10, you got one of the good ones and not worry about it.

Terry W · 05-13-2015, 08:58 AM

Apparently the travelling around doesn't seem to shorten their life. I'm not worried, just curious.

Years ago I moved an old fridge out of the house into the garage and it quit working. It travelled about 30' on an appliance dolly and that killed it.