[Frankenbrew]

I bought a Summit Kegerator about 13 years ago for about $650. About a week ago, I noticed some of the beer in the kegs was freezing. So, I turned it down a bit and it started defrosting, and I turned it up somewhere between where it was freezing and defrosting. Then, all of a sudden today it starts defrosting again and won't go on even when I turn it all the way up.

What is the approximate life span of these things? Do I need to get a new one? Is it worth it to get it repaired?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[spurviance]

I'm no expert by any means but 13 years on any household appliance and it would not surprise me if certain components start acting up.  Could be a thermostat issue??  I recently consolidated from 2 fermentation chambers to one so had an extra digital thermostat available and use it in my kegerator to more accurately maintain serving temperature.

[jeffy]

The fact that it was making the beer freeze tells me that the main components, compressor and evaporator are working.  It could be something simple, like dirty cooling condensor coils.  It may be worth it to have it serviced.

[BrewBama]

It is possible that the defrost timer has started to fail



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[KellerBrauer]

I have learned through my experiance in the HVAC industry, that major household appliances are no longer built to last for 20-30-40 years like they once were.  I believe the reason is to try and generate and stimulate market sales on a more regular basis...keep the economy moving.  I have a 14 year old Kitchenaid high end refrigerator freezer that cost me $3500 and the compressor is on its way out — I can hear it when it cycles on or off. So....

Your issue sounds to me like the thermostat is shot.  It may be worth having a technician come look at it.  A replacement t-stat may cost about $125 and the fridge may last another few years.  However, before calling, I suggest cleaning the condenser coil as jeffy mentioned.  It’s doubtful this is the issue, but cleaning it will save the technician from having to clean it before he can properly test the machine.

[Robert]

I have learned through my experiance in the HVAC industry, that major household appliances are no longer built to last for 20-30-40 years like they once were.  I believe the reason is to try and generate and stimulate market sales on a more regular basis...

A couple of years ago, my I had my long time HVAC guy finally replace a furnace his dad had put in a rental house nearly 40 years earlier for my dad.  Not really needed yet, but AC he had put in over 30 years earlier needed replacing, made sense to do it all together.   He told me he wasn't going to sell me the most expensive,  top of the line equipment he carried.   He said "this will last ten years.   But I could sell you one twice as expensive and it would last ten years too.  That's just how they make them now, they're intended to fail."  Honest guy, that's why we dealt with his family.  He recently died of a heart attack.  Bet I won't find another tradesman of that quality anymore either.

[Frankenbrew]

Thanks, All! I think I'll clean the condenser coil, and give my appliance guy a call. It may still be worth saving.

[KellerBrauer]

Thanks, All! I think I'll clean the condenser coil, and give my appliance guy a call. It may still be worth saving.

+1 to that!

[coolman26]

They now employ warranty staff that is to make sure they do not last much beyond warranty. My fridge is through its second compressor in 9 years. They all use virtually the same compressor. I’d call 13 years a success story. I store my hops in my mother’s chest freezer from 1973. Inefficient I’m sure, but still works.


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[a10t2]

It isn't quite the same situation, but my 11-year old chest freezer kegerator died recently and, after our HVAC guy took a look at it, he said that between how inexpensive and how energy-efficient they've gotten over the years, the replacement parts wouldn't pay for themselves even if it could be fixed. Fortunately he lets me pay for service calls in beer.

[Robert]

It isn't quite the same situation, but my 11-year old chest freezer kegerator died recently and, after our HVAC guy took a look at it, he said that between how inexpensive and how energy-efficient they've gotten over the years, the replacement parts wouldn't pay for themselves even if it could be fixed. Fortunately he lets me pay for service calls in beer.

He even takes payment in WARM beer?