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Well.... we have a 1956 Sears Coldspot refrigerator still keeping things cold... and frozen.
A 1960 oil-fueled boiler still keeps things nice and toasty in the winter.
I did replace a 1960 GE stainless steel wall oven when it was 36 years old. Primarily, because it wasn't self-cleaning. Still worked fine. It's replacement died within 10 years.
The oldest appliance I personally use is my almost 15 year old GE frontload washer. I pray it lasts until I shuffle off to the great beyond.
1981 or 1983 Kenmore oven/microwave/microwave. I don't replace things that are not broken, with some exeptions. Like the 1981 or 1983 A/C that worked, but guzzled energy. I can't convince my neighbor that replacing hers, the same kind of original TRANE, would pay for itself in one summer. /shrug.
Don't remember why I had to replace the water heater. Nothing bad happened, though, I would remember damage. (The old one was better, and worked for 29 years)
If the prior owners had not replaced the energy guzzling dryer, I might have. Hard to say. HOW badly it guzzled energy being the deciding factor.
I know plenty of those still work, over 30 years old. I have seen them in other units, and been loaned one by the maintenance guy while he fixed mine.
He keeps/sells for cheap a lot of things that still work but were replaced just to upgrade.
Energy savings don't always add up to lower overall costs... not to mention the impact of the throw away society...
I manage rentals... the building had Amana Refrigerators... all bought in 1982... nice boxes with glass shelves, drawers, etc... will built metal units.
Half the tenants qualify for some type of assistance... the city had a Energy Star Refrigerator Exchange program... as manager I reluctantly signed off... 6 new refrigerators arrived and the old Amana hauled out...
What is not to like???
Well that was 6 years ago and only 1 of the 6 new refrigerators is still there... 5 failed and the owner was on the hook to replace... of the 4 units that did not get new refrigerators, 3 of the original are still on the job...
When I mentioned this to the appliance dealer I know... he said typical longevity has been exchanged for lower energy costs.... compressors are smaller, lighter and run more... coils are thinner and many do not have any copper... hingers, handles, shelves, door liners are cheap...
As an engineer by profession... reliability rates high on my list... the promise of energy efficiency has to be weighed as part of overall cost of ownership...
The front loaders all of Mom's retired neighbors bought have failed... they are on the second or even third pair... sure they use less water but they cost a lot more to buy and to repair... plus... some of her seniors friends fondly recall the old days where the manual wasn't 80 pages on how to use a Washing Machine...
We also have a flip flop toaster from 1911, but I lost the cord. So while it technically still works, we cannot use it anymore.
We also have a Magic Chef 1000 stove that is from the same era, but not sure what year. While it technically "works" in that you could hook up gas and make a fire, I am restoring it, so it resides in the garage.
I was too late to score a 1920's refrigerator with the coils on top... I do have a friend that keeps his in the shop... coldest beer in town... soon to be a 100 years old... from a time when having a refrigerator was akin to being a Rockefeller... well almost!
My flip toaster works great... it came with my 1922 house... found it in the closet top shelf...
yeppers, gotta admit to still using my 1988 Whirlpool washer..... yeah i look longingly every now and then when i enter a Lowe's Home Center, eyeing all those new washers with 15 different assortments of cycles and water temps and energy efficiency. Even have been known to salivate profusely, break out in a cold sweat from the temptation. I admit it. I lust after new shiny things.
mine only has regular and delicate and you can't switch the water temperature at all unless you run like hell when you set your kitchen timer to go off a minute before the rinse cycle, move the dial from the HOT/15 minute cycle to the COLD/5 minute cycle so i'm not wasting hot water on a rinse cycle. lol. NOPE, NOT GONNA GO THAT PRE-EMPTIVE ROUTE AT ALL, all my things die an often ignominious death, all dented, scratched, discolored and unfashionably energy inefficient.... JUST LIKE ME and how i'll end up in that crematorium!!!!!
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