Just got home from a long vacation to a home with a dead refrigerator.
It died while we were away and my sis-in-law who's house-sitting, called the GE repair center to have it fixed. Repairman came and replaced the freon for P3.5k. After a day, it died again.
This is now where we're at: Wife calls up repair center. Repairman says the compressor needs to be replaced. Wife says how could that be? We had our ref only since 2004. Repairman says ref warranty is only 5 years so life is about that.
So we ask what should we do. Repairman says a GE compressor would take months to order and would cost P17k. He has a Panasonic available which would cost only P7k. Apparently, GE outsources their repair service to companies that do different ref brands. Wife argued and was able to negotiate that we should not be charged for freon refill.
We're desperate and I'm about to bite on the Panasonic option. Any advice?
Here's the photo of our ref:
It's a twin freezer-ref. On the left is the freezer (working fine) and on the right is the ref (dead). They're separate units so, luckilly, we still have a freezer.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
I would suggest to upgrade to more energy efficient refs...
but if it was me, I would question the charge to replace the freon if the repairman knew the motor needs replacing....
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
May be desperate situation, but I would try to understand more from repair center what happened or may have happened, and use as learning opportunity ...
why was refrigerant replaced. measured with gauge to be low or just a guess as part of trial/error procedure.
if low, possible reasons why ... gaskets? joints?
probable sign of impending compressor failure, or unrelated
any kind of compressor testing possible, besides 'if it works, it works'
any kind of compressor testing done on first visit
refill worked at first, then compressor thought to have failed...
refill triggered compressor failure, or unrelated
i.e., were low refrigerant and compressor failure independent problems
exactly how does a compressor fail
difference between GE and Panasonic compressors, aside from cost
e.g., their experience on reliability of the two brands
basis for their reliability comparison (just feeling/hearsay or can cite quantities and durations)
implications of putting Panasonic compressor in GE ref, if any
in general, what's the relevant compressor spec that determines compatibility
warranty on new compressor (vs. warranty on new ref)
I would also try to go through the motions of...
find/ask/estimate the KWh/day of the ref section
compute breakeven time on a new ref of similar size but lesser KWh/day
(average KWh/day is typically shown on the sticker now ... I have some recent figures for various brands/sizes, if you need)
...even if I may not necessarily reject new ref option on the basis of long breakeven time
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
Thanks, Guad and Timber.
I'm afraid that, since I did not deal with the repairman directly and my sis-in-law is already out-of-town, I'd have only a very sketchy idea of what happened in the analysis. All I got was the repairman says "pinasok ng tubig ang compressor.
From what I recall, there was some buildup of ice at the top portion of the rear inside wall of our ref befre I left on vacation and left instructions with the maid to have the ref deforested to remove it.
I think the repairman realized his erroneous diagnosis which is why he is willing to give us teh next freon refill for free.
Will look into compressor compatibility. Have no idea how to do this but will probably look at whatever's printed on the compressor's spec plate later.
I'm hesitant to change to a new ref since the freezer is working still and the ref matches the freezer. That corner in the kitchen was also custom built to fit the ref. Dificult to find a similarly sized ref.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
our aircon must have read this thread... the fan suddenly doesn't work, all I get is a hum... dang! now I need an a/c repair recommendation. Anyone?
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
Ding: I think guad had said it all. Just make sure you get warranty. Better yet, get a second and a third opinion from other repairmen.
Timber: Depends on the aircon brand as most repair shops specialize in certain brands. I got a National/Panasonic and had good cleaning experiences with Miranda Engineering services.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
Timber: Depends on the aircon brand as most repair shops specialize in certain brands. I got a National/Panasonic and had good cleaning experiences with Miranda Engineering services.
Carrier brader eh...
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
He-he. My ref's condition must be cyber-contagious!
Sorry, wish I could help.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
My Canon digital camera must have had ex ante knowledge of this thread ... picture suddenly went dead a few days ago, all I see are the icons and playback of stored images ... dang now I need a camera repair recommendation. Anyone?
balarila,
In case it wasn't clear, those questions were not for you but intended as talking points in an ex post discussion with repair center. I hope absentee but returning owner can have an ex post discussion with repair center, otherwise what kind of repair center is that where you cannot have an ex post discussion regarding a visit.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
OT:
My Canon digital camera must have had ex ante knowledge of this thread ... picture suddenly went dead a few days ago, all I see are the icons and playback of stored images ... dang now I need a camera repair recommendation. Anyone?
The PinoyPhotography has some threads about this. Haven't been there for quite some time now though.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
maybe we should change this thread to "suddenly it won't run, what the?" .... hehehe we are so off topic na with the original title :whipass::boom1::boom1::boom1:
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
our aircon must have read this thread... the fan suddenly doesn't work, all I get is a hum... dang! now I need an a/c repair recommendation. Anyone?
it could be a stuck'd up bearing or probably a starting capacitor problem...
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
Just got home from a long vacation to a home with a dead refrigerator.
It died while we were away and my sis-in-law who's house-sitting, called the GE repair center to have it fixed. Repairman came and replaced the freon for P3.5k. After a day, it died again.
This is now where we're at: Wife calls up repair center. Repairman says the compressor needs to be replaced. Wife says how could that be? We had our ref only since 2004. Repairman says ref warranty is only 5 years so life is about that.
So we ask what should we do. Repairman says a GE compressor would take months to order and would cost P17k. He has a Panasonic available which would cost only P7k. Apparently, GE outsources their repair service to companies that do different ref brands. Wife argued and was able to negotiate that we should not be charged for freon refill.
We're desperate and I'm about to bite on the Panasonic option. Any advice?
It's a twin freezer-ref. On the left is the freezer (working fine) and on the right is the ref (dead). They're separate units so, luckilly, we still have a freezer.
there is nothing wrong with panasonic compressor. actually i do prefer it...
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
Looked "under the hood" and found that the GE compressor is actually Matsushita. Odd.
But that makes me have more confidence on the Panasonic compressor's compatibility, at least, from a brand standpoint.
Re: Refrigerator Compressor Repair
Looked "under the hood" and found that the GE compressor is actually Matsushita. Odd.
But that makes me have more confidence on the Panasonic compressor's compatibility, at least, from a brand standpoint.
National Panasonic uses Matsushita Compressors w/c have been known to be very reliable. In fact, most older models are still running up to now. Just watch out for those fake Matsushitas. Carrier and Condura also used this brand on their A/C units.
@ Timber715
I usually try to carefully spin the fan blade manually just as i hit the fan/on switch to check whether the starting capacitor has failed already. If it turns then my hunch is right. You may use a multimeter to test the capacitor but a lil disassembly is required depending on where Carrier placed the starting and running capacitor. Also check for continuity of the fan winding if a line or two has been cut-off. You may also check for burn or darkening marks on the coils w/c indicate a heat build up or it may have burned already.
