Defrosting the refrigerator....

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I dont know about the Firestone

Fridge, but I DO see a Dixie gas stove...The comment about ALL new fridges being more efficient I STRONGLY disagree with, A good old round cornered manual defrost fridge will use LESS energy overall than anything built today, no mullion heaters, no defrost heatersor timers and they run about half as much as a new fridge.
 
frost free

I have a 1954 Westinghouse "frost Free" I got off G list a few years ago for $300.00 dollars. I brought it home, plugged it in and it has been working ever since. I do have to defrost about once a year. I found an extra seal ( self stick weather stripping ) just inside the original (so it won't show when the door is closed) helped a great deal to lessen the times you have to defrost. Mine does not seem to soak everything either.
 
Hans,

 

You're absolutely right.  The older refrigerators, early 1950's and before were very energy efficient.  The cost of electric back then was high.  The later models were the energy hogs.  The green police continue to fail to acknowledge this.  They've also failed to account for continual replacement of said newer efficient units.

 

I am not advocating rampant waste, but there are many open doors everywhere that are negating all the energy that I could ever save.
 
Its funny....

My Great Aunt bought a Philco in 1942 just before WW2 stopped all consumer goods from being produced, My cousin still has it in her basement and its never been touched by a repairman, you can hardly hear it run, and according to the rating plate it draws all of 2 amps.....Now when you factor in all the service calls you WILL have with new fridges, plus replacing them every 10 or so years...That old Philco is MIGHTY efficient..and it STILL isn't taking up space in the landfill!Our neighbor in my hometown bought a Frigidaire in 39...used it until 75 and her neice has it in her basement...never a service call and that old Meter Miser is still purring right along!
 
Hans,

 

When either of those old units has trouble, it will likely be a relay or control issue.  I have a 1928 or 29 unit that has been rebuilt and is in use.  Another 1930 unit just failed on me.  I guess 86 years is pretty good?
 
Wall Mount fridge frost free or not??

Neptune Bob: I would buy the artistry in a heartbeat, but it's not counter depth.

Jeb: I would buy a frost free westinghouse today if I could get one nearby for a reasonable price. The closest one today is in PA and another in CT on ebay.

vacerator - I don't see a drain in the freezer. I do see what looks like a drain in the fridge which seems odd to me. And Those U-Line under counter units are exactly what I was thinkng of for the lower units! They're pretty expensive too though.

Does Anybody know if the wallmounts are supposed to be frost free or not? I've read about people defrosting them, but I've also read they are frost free.

"With any refrigerator/freezer that has more than one door, you can keep food in the refrigerated section while defrosting the freezer." RP2813, I'm glad to hear that's how old fridges are supposed to work, but I had a different experience. Within a few days of defrosting, ice would even form INSIDE the gaskets and on the freezer door. When I defrosted it, no matter what strategy I employed, the freezer door would always defrost onto the lower fridge. Both doors open, one door opened, towels inside, it didn't matter.

It was just as well anyway that I empty the whole thing, because the fridge would form mold near the defrost drain where a little condensation would puddle. Is that common?

And yes, The entire fridge was rehabed by one of the big an antique fridge repair stores in Los Angeles. He replaced the gaskets, and did who knows what to it.

BTW what is G-list? another name for craigslist?
 
Wall Mount fridge ...

If the wall mount fridges are frost free, they would be the answer? I've read about people defrosting them, but I've also read they are frost free.

Neptune Bob: I would buy the artistry in a heartbeat, but it's not counter depth.

Jeb: I would buy a frost free westinghouse today if I could get one nearby for a reasonable price. The closest one today is in PA and another in CT on ebay.

vacerator - I don't see a drain in the freezer. I do see what looks like a drain in the fridge which seems odd to me. And Those U-Line under counter units are exactly what I was thinkng of for the lower units! They're pretty expensive too though.

"With any refrigerator/freezer that has more than one door, you can keep food in the refrigerated section while defrosting the freezer." rp2813 I appreciate all your helpful feedback,... but in this case I've had a different experience. On my two door fridge I had to empty the entire thing every time. Within a few days of defrosting, even on the warmest temperature setting, ice was everywhere.

Ice would even form INSIDE the gaskets and on the door. When I defrosted it, no matter what strategy I employed, the freezer door would always defrost onto the lower fridge. Door open, door closed, towels, it didn't matter.

It was just as well anyway that I empty the whole thing, because the fridge would form mold near the defrost drain. Is that common? Condensation would pool in the bottom corner of the fridge ... Most often a little mold would be forming there.

And yes, I did have the entire thing examined. I had the entire thing including the gaskets rehabed an antique fridge repair expert. He had been working on these fridges since he was a boy and runs one of the most popular shops in Los Angeles. You know the ones who charge a gazillion dollars to look at an old fridge. He replaced the gaskets and made sure it was in tiptop working order.

I know this sounds like complaints, but they're really not. I loved my old fridge and would take her back in a heartbeat.

So back to the question ... are the wall mounts supposed to be frost free?
 
The GE wall mounts were made before the advent of GE's Frost Guard system. The freezer has to be defrosted. You have to place towels in the bottom of the freezer and probably under the freezer section on the counter. The fresh food section has a self-defrosting coil that develops frost during the chilling phase. The frost melts and drips into a drain trough when the coil warms after the compressor shuts off. This water is evaporated into the room by the heat from the compressor.
 
I have my grandmothers 1941 Kelvinator fridge. Only fridge she ever had. Only repair since new was a door gasket. Still runs fine. A few weeks ago I plugged it in and turned in on. I was very surprised to find the plate in the freezer was cold to the touch in about 60 seconds.
 
Was originally going to create a whole new thread about this but I figured, why not bring back the old ones:) Anyways, it's that time for us to defrost our freezers again. This is from our Kenmore.

panasonicvac-2024080612464800161_1.jpg
 

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