New Fridge Discussion

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Senecio

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#3109761 30-Jul-2023 14:13

neb:
alasta:

On the other hand, I don't want to replace it if it has a few years of life still left in it as fridges are an environmental nuisance when disposed of.

Look at it the other way round, do you want to put it on Trademe now as working fridge or on the kerb in a few years as inorganic rubbish?

In this case I would only buy a new fridge it if you could repurpose your old one. Put it in the garage/laundry to be used as a beer fridge or overflow when guests are over.

johno1234

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#3109871 30-Jul-2023 19:33

Many retailers on selling a replacement will accept your old appliance and send it for recycling which includes degassing

mattwnz

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#3109931 31-Jul-2023 00:56

duckDecoy:

We've got 2 fridges, an LG and a F&P. The LG has never had any problems or broken bits, we've broken various bits of the F&P. So I think the F&P is a bit tinnier than the LG.

We nearly bought a Samsung because for the external dimensions it had more interior room. The sales staff warned us off them, they said getting spares can be impossible, especially a few years after the model was made, so a small issue can write the entire fridge off. I assume this is still the case.

F&Ps ones seem quite dated on the interior. They don't look like they have changed much over the decades when they were still being made in New Zealand. But they do seem quite reliable and don't have the gimmicks that other have, such as wifi. I am still a bit annoyed that the government didn't buy it during the GFC and instead it got sold off overseas, and is now a premium brand. My next fridge is likely going to be a F&P, mainly due to reliability and it fits a hole perfectly, and needs a left side hinge. Not many have that option anymore. Consumer ranks the model quite highly, although it isn't as energy efficient as some which is a bit odd.

jonathan18

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#3109934 31-Jul-2023 05:47

mattwnz:
F&Ps…don't have the gimmicks that other have, such as wifi.

My sister recently installed an F&P fridge and I noticed what looked like a wifi password on it; so, yep, while it seems to do SFA at least some models do have a wifi module.

https://www.fisherpaykel.com/nz/connected-living

johno1234

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#3109938 31-Jul-2023 06:57

Wifi just replicates the control panel switches plus allows you to check the door and temperature. All on your phone.

trig42

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#3109945 31-Jul-2023 07:33

Yep, just noticed that mine (F&P) had WiFi on the weekend - the app works pretty well (it's a GE branded app), but as above, only for replicating the control panel buttons (I suppose I could turn on Ice Boost from work if I really need extra ice for my after work gin).

jonathan18

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#3109947 31-Jul-2023 08:03

johno1234: Wifi just replicates the control panel switches plus allows you to check the door and temperature. All on your phone.

Yep, that’s why I said it does SFA - really doesn’t seem worth the effort of the manufacturer installing the module, or the owner connecting it to WiFi and installing the app. The ‘value add’ seems pretty damn negligible compared to adding WiFi to other household products such as garage doors etc where it makes a meaningful difference.

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Senecio

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#3109949 31-Jul-2023 08:19

I can turn my oven on, set the heating mode and temperature and set a timer from the App on my F&P oven. Can also turn it off. That's all pretty useful but yeah, wifi on a fridge?

johno1234

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#3110033 31-Jul-2023 12:45

trig42:

Yep, just noticed that mine (F&P) had WiFi on the weekend - the app works pretty well (it's a GE branded app), but as above, only for replicating the control panel buttons (I suppose I could turn on Ice Boost from work if I really need extra ice for my after work gin).

Does it also report status - temperature of the compartments and door open? Motor running time, power consumption etc?

trig42

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#3110110 31-Jul-2023 13:53

johno1234:

trig42:

Yep, just noticed that mine (F&P) had WiFi on the weekend - the app works pretty well (it's a GE branded app), but as above, only for replicating the control panel buttons (I suppose I could turn on Ice Boost from work if I really need extra ice for my after work gin).

Does it also report status - temperature of the compartments and door open? Motor running time, power consumption etc?

No, nothing useful like that. It will tell me when I need to get a new water filter though.

Mattnzl

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#3110128 31-Jul-2023 14:51

Semi on topic: Is getting an Inverter fridge/freezer worth it? Are they more efficient?

With A/C it's obviously totally worth it as they can ramp up/down the motor speeds as required rather than cycling on/off.

But does an inverter fridge work the same? (continuously running rather than cycling???).

Senecio

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#3110137 31-Jul-2023 15:46

I don't think inverter fridge/freezers run continuously. They still cycle like a non-inverter model but the difference is when they come on, they can come on at ~30% for example.

mattwnz

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#3110161 31-Jul-2023 16:54

jonathan18:
mattwnz:
F&Ps…don't have the gimmicks that other have, such as wifi.

My sister recently installed an F&P fridge and I noticed what looked like a wifi password on it; so, yep, while it seems to do SFA at least some models do have a wifi module.

https://www.fisherpaykel.com/nz/connected-living

Must only be on some of the more expensive or bigger models, and can't see it as a feature on their regular sized ones. But IMO such a feature over time could become a liability and security issue and allows manufactuers to plan the obsolescence of a product if it relies on that online service to access all features.
This is a good video that discusses smart fridges

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7W0YVVmz1Y&t=1s&ab_channel=HughJeffreys

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