Purchasing a used fridge can be an effective way to obtain one of the most necessary kitchen appliances, and it can also keep more of your hard-earned cash in your wallet. Pre-owned refrigerators often cost less than half the price of new models. However there are a few things to look out for:
Remember to measure your space
You wouldn’t want to get this fridge in your house and then find out that it doesn’t fit. Remember to measure the width, depth and height of the space you have. Then remember that a fridge needs to have an inch clearance on all sides to function properly.
Inspect the Unit
When you’ve narrowed your search down to a few units, it’s time to inspect each one thoroughly. Be prepared to perform a thorough inspection, and if you can bring a friend or relative with you for a second opinion, all the better. Here are some things to look for:
Coldness: If possible, check the internal temperature of both the freezer and the fridge. In order to keep food from spoiling, these temps should be -18°C and 4°C, respectively.
Smell: Once a repugnant odour becomes embedded in an appliance, it’s exceedingly difficult to get rid of the smell, so take a good whiff before you buy.
Door Seal: To test for a tight seal, insert a piece of paper between the closed door and the unit. There should be resistance as you attempt to remove the paper. If not, check to see if the problem can be remedied by tightening the hinges.
Overcome Obstacles
There are certain obstacles you might come across, but you can overcome them if you find an otherwise perfectly good used fridge. Don’t let these minor details deter you from buying the unit. For example:
Colour: If you don’t like the harvest-gold colour of an otherwise great appliance, a can of spray paint can easily turn it white or black.
Direction of Door Opening: If the door opens to the wrong direction for your home’s layout, it can probably be easily adjusted to swing the other way.
