Model C Gets Refrigerator Pal

[ha_asfan]

My fridge expert said to expect a DECREASE in our monthly electrical bill of $12-$15 with the vintage fridge. They are hyper insulated [like the Chambers stove] and cool by convection, no fans or blowers. Typically, they run about eight minutes an hour. Ours is a manual defrost, not really a big deal. The gaskets are easily replaceable...interior body damage is difficult to repair so only buy pristine interior equip unless you are good with fiberglass sculpting. Not sure who, but we are most likely going to have this babe restored to it's original splendor. The fridge is the next logical step after getting the stove...all the small appliances are in place, the Sunbeam Mix Master, the Sunbeam toaster, the Waring Blender [copper !}, the Hobart Coffee MIll...even the Hobart scale for baking. If you run ads in your local papers for a vintage fridge, you'll get plenty of results, millions were made ! It's not like looking for Chambers!

[chipperhiker]

Hi everybody. Not to be too picky, but I'm not sure how an old fridge can save you that much per month, unless you have a real power guzzler to start with, and most modern fridges aren't.

Our fridge uses 1 KWH per day. We have a watt hour meter and checked it out recently. This cool little gizmo plugs in between the wall outlet and the device you're measuring, and allows you to figure out exactly how much power you are using to run an appliance. We monitored our fridge over 4 full days, and averaged the total usage over that period. (We have an Amana Energy Saver, by the way, nothing special, just an Energy Star appliance.)

To make a long story short, our fridge costs us less than $4.00 per month. The only way to save much more would be to turn it off!

According to Dept. of Energy data, pre-1993 refrigerators use over twice the electricity of modern Energy Star versions. While the old fridges may be super-insulated, their compressors are less efficient. That said, an old fridge can always be given a new compressor.

After you get your fridge up and running, Ha, it would be interesting if you could figure out how much power it actually uses, and we can have some fun data to compare the old and the new. Until then, don't ditch your modern fridge if your goal is to conserve energy.

-jenn

[BlueBeetle]

can we factor in the energy saved in NOT manufacturing new fridge components?

[ha_asfan]

I think you MUST factor in that new fridge manufacture energy...we consider that with all purchases. Not only the energy used but the quality of the components, the design and certainly the uniqueness of the product. Having all of these incredibly heavy duty well designed and well built appliances, large and small is a real treat...now I'm beginning to think more seriously of that Studebaker.....

[chipperhiker]

Hey, I think old fridges are cool, as long as your motivation is aesthetics and not energy savings.

As for saving the energy to make a new fridge, that's an absolutely real savings. However, if you are getting rid of a perfectly functional recent model fridge and sending it to a landfill, then it cancels out.

As long as you recognize the energy issues involved, and make informed choices, there is no need to rationalize your final action. Be happy!

-Jenn

[lowracer]

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ March 10, 2006 12:18 AM: Message edited by: lowracer ]</font>

[Todd W. White]

By "Vintage refrigerators", we're talking pre-1960 or 62, maybe earlier. After that, the quality and insulation go downhill fast.

Machines that are well insulated run less, therefore, though the compressors may be less efficient on their own, the SYSTEM is MORE efficient than new ones that have built-in defroster mechanisms, ice makers, ice crushers, CD players, an X-box and an online computer...

[ha_asfan]

All true ! And our old fridge won't land in a landfill by our hands ! .....it will most likely go to a shelter for homeless, abused, addicted, ill....lot's of places need good equipment and we are happy to donate.

[ha_asfan]

I think local energy rates may be a factor in calculating savings...our current fridge seems to run all of time and I know it is a gas guzzler of a fridge. Truth be told, regardless of energy savings, a vintage fridge would still be my ideal...the sacrifice I made was electric over gas...some of the old gas fridges are just incredible !