Need Homeowner Advice

[Imagebuffet]

As most of you know, I just bought my first house. Apart from the bedrooms I've rented over the last year, I haven't lived in a house for 16 years, and home-dwelling in DFW is a new set of rules for me.

I am looking for a forum apropriate for asking advice on home ownership. Does anyone know of one?

For example, the previous owners of my house left a Frigidaire 22. After I got the electricity turned on today, the refrigerator ran for at least 4 hours. I'm thinking that it might not work. Should I get a repairman? How would I dispose of it if I can't salvage it?

Edit: Correction - The refrigerator is a Kenmore 22 side-by-side.

[carrbowl]

Getting rid of it is a PITA...you have to have a repairman take all the fluids out and sticker it before you can get rid of it. I have a place in Houston that picks them up for free...it's a dream.

Probably ought to get a thermometer and see how cold it gets...did it cool off at all??

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

Getting rid of it is a PITA...you have to have a repairman take all the fluids out and sticker it before you can get rid of it. I have a place in Houston that picks them up for free...it's a dream.

Probably ought to get a thermometer and see how cold it gets...did it cool off at all??

Yes, it is cooling. I'll see how cold it is when I get home, tonight (haha, happy thought! I now have electricity, so I can see well at night!).

[knowimagination]

if you are going to be purchasing a new one I know places like best buy will sometimes include hauling the old one away when you pay for delivery. Might be worth looking into if you have to buy a new one anyway.

[carrbowl]

I am a fix yourself kind of person..I hate paying someone to do much of anything. About the only thing I don't fix is the air conditioner and the dishwasher. oh...and these dang computers!!! I have several on line places where you find your appliance and you can plug in what it is or isn't doing, and they will make suggestions as to what part(s) might need to be replaced. You will be surprised how cheap and sometimes easy it can be.

[Imagebuffet]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I was a bit suspicious when I saw the refrigerator in the kitchen. Why would they leave behind a refrigerator that isn't in the contract?

They also left the dishwasher and stove behind.

Next, I need to figure out how to work the A/C thermostat and the automatic lawn sprinklers.

[MHampton]

Things are are "built in" such as stoves and dishwashers normally stay with the house. Refrig is about 50/50.

[andyz]

Under VA, what was in my house was to be there when I sold my house, even curtains. Those terms were lost after a refi. We had one of those BIG old satellite dishes too. We never used it and the pole rusted, it fell and I recycled the aluminum. Glad I got it removed on a refi too.

And if the home the old owners were moving to had appliances, they'd leave the old one behind. PITA to sell some of those old things when you're moving.

[bondarnes]

Old appliances usually use a lot more electricity than new ones so you may save yourself some money in the long run to get a new one.There is a guy in my town that will take in old appliances, but I have to haul it to him. Some he is able to fix and re-sell. The others he strips of usable parts and recycles the rest.

[texkam]

Years ago previous owners left behind a 20 yr. old fridge. I had to replace an inexpensive part and the thing was as good as new for 10 yrs. when we moved and left it behind. If you can get past the ugly a lot of times fixing it makes sense.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

For example, the previous owners of my house left a Frigidaire 22. After I got the electricity turned on today, the refrigerator ran for at least 4 hours. I'm thinking that it might not work. Should I get a repairman? How would I dispose of it if I can't salvage it?

If the fridge was really warm, I mean all of the metal and plastic, it may take a long time to initially cool all of those parts down again.

But before doing anything, be sure the coils and fins are clean and free of dust and grime. That junk can really slow down a refrigerator, and can eventually kill it.

[AndrewCCM]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I am a fix yourself kind of person..I hate paying someone to do much of anything. About the only thing I don't fix is the air conditioner and the dishwasher. oh...and these dang computers!!! I have several on line places where you find your appliance and you can plug in what it is or isn't doing, and they will make suggestions as to what part(s) might need to be replaced. You will be surprised how cheap and sometimes easy it can be.

Me too.. I hate paying photographers when I can just do it myself too!

[texkam]

be sure the coils and fins are clean and free of dust and grime

+1

Then take a look at the fan and see how robustly it's spinning. A fan motor will wear out over time.

[Jeff_Green]

Best way to get rid of it is to put it in the "FREE" section of Craigslist. I did that with a dryer that went out. Listed it at night and had someone picking it up as soon as I got off work. Speaking of which... anyone know of someone with a dryer they are looking to get rid of... THAT WORKS??

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Hogleg 44

If the fridge was really warm, I mean all of the metal and plastic, it may take a long time to initially cool all of those parts down again.

But before doing anything, be sure the coils and fins are clean and free of dust and grime. That junk can really slow down a refrigerator, and can eventually kill it.

Yes! That's what I was coming to say. With power off for a while, it will take the house a good 8 to 12 hours to cool back down and a fridge about as long. Then to actually get COLD, expect another few hours on top of that... longer during a really hot 100+ day.

And if you have an air compressor, pull the fridge away from the wall and blow off all the coils. Get all the dust and crap off them for it to work its best.