Refrigerator Anxiety
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (189792)
Boise, Idaho
February 12, 2026 3:44pm CST
Every time we get groceries, I get a little anxiety ridden. We have lived in this apartment for 23+ years. The dishwasher, washer and dryer have all had issues and have either been replaced or fixed. But the refrigerator still stands as the lone appliance that has not had any issues. I know on wood as I type that. I have daymares of it breaking down and all the food going to waste. What would we do? A bit of a scary thought that comes to me from time to time.
16 people like this
15 responses
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
12 Feb
We rent this house but all the appliances belong to us. The fridge is 30 years old and seems to be running well still. We replaced the washer and dryer about 12 years ago and have had to have the washing machine worked on last year. We have a dishwasher but I stopped using it when Pretty was a teenager. We don't dirty enough dishes to make using it worthwhile. I just use it as another part of the kitchen counter.
5 people like this

@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
13 Feb
@DianneN Sometimes Pretty will "hide" dirty dishes in her room unless I ask if she's got some in there. Then she'll bring them out for me to wash. I don't understand why it's difficult to bring them out when she goes in to get more food.
2 people like this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
13 Feb
@DaddyEvil 
I can understand why. Sometimes we are too lazy until we’re going in that direction anyway.

I can understand why. Sometimes we are too lazy until we’re going in that direction anyway.2 people like this

@NJChicaa (127116)
• United States
12 Feb
My sister had a 2nd fridge/freezer in her basement at her last house. Packed to the gills. They lost power after Superstorm Sandy (probably the same one @DianneN is referring to) for 2+ weeks. She said they would never have it that full again b/c homeowners insurance only covered like $250. Now they buy half a cow's worth of meat at a time (literally half a butchered cow) and have it in a freezer. Guess lesson not learned.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
I hate to hear that story. Ugh! I would like to have a small freezer and then have most the meat and such in it.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
13 Feb
I rent so I don't have to worry about my appliances. You could keep a couple of coolers handy in case this happens. They probably wouldn't save all of your food but some at least. Then you would have to get some ice and hopefully it would help some.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
Yeah, we rent too. We've been here in this apartment for 23+ years using the same refrigerator. I think the cooler idea is a good one.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Feb
@velvet53 .......Yes, it has been a while. I know they will have to replace it. Just how long will it take and such is my question. I don't any spoilage.
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
14 Feb
@celticeagle Hopefully if the refrigerator goes out your landlord will replace it. 23+ years is a lot.
1 person likes this

@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
I'd like a new one. This one is pretty antiquated. I think I might see the landlady says next time I see her.
1 person likes this
@pahak627 (5347)
• Philippines
13 Feb
@celticeagle I guess she will give you a new one.
1 person likes this

@DianneN (254949)
• United States
12 Feb
I have an old refrigerator in our basement in Connecticut. It came with the house and we’ve been in the house since 1980. It works fine. They don’t make them like they used to. We lost all of our food in that, our stand up freezer, and in our fridge in the kitchen during a massive hurricane years ago. We were so lucky that our insurance paid for it. I think of that while here in Florida with the horrible snowstorms going on.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
We usually have a lot of food in ours, so it gets worked. I have horrible thoughts about losing all our food. Ugh!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
13 Feb
@celticeagle Just put it out of your mind like I do 

1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Feb
@DianneN .........I am better able to do that nowadays.
1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
13 Feb
I wonder the same thing sometimes. I have a chest freezer that we bought around 1970. The fridge is probably about 10 years old.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Feb
@LindaOHio .......And they don't sell a lot of the parts anymore so you can't even repair them.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
14 Feb
@celticeagle Appliances today don't last for more than 10 years usually. I just replaced my washer and dryer. They were over 20 years old...that's when they still made them well.
1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
13 Feb
If you knew that the power went out, you could, possibly get coolers. Also, if it is cold outside things could be stored in plastic totes outside, but it is all problematic and worrying, I agree.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
I have thought of that. Knowing how our luck runs it would probably happen in the heat of the summer. Yes, coolers are a good idea.
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Feb
When I moved to this place, I gave away the honking big fridge that came with the house and bought a much smaller fridge. It seems to be doing okay.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
We need the big one we have. I don't know how long the fridge here had been in use already.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
12 Feb
I can understand where that anxiety is coming from.
I remember when our fridge broke down, we had to buy a new one right away. Good thing it broke down during the day when all appliance stores were still open.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
I hope so too. I will become prepared though and hope that the maintenance people can get another one here quickly if it should happen.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Feb
I came here and the fridge3 was here but I don't know how long but 8 years down the line all is fine, I try not to worry,
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
I try not to worry too. But thinking about us having been here for 23+ years and the fridge was here when we got here.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
I think I will bring this up at our next family meeting and have both the kids watch for any changes in the fridge's performance.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (33873)
•
12 Feb
Aye well you are not alone
I panic that this will happen to us as well
Especially after buying a lot of meat like we bought and had delivered yesterday.
It would take a couple of days to replace it
What would happen to our food?
Ouch!!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
It's good to know I'm not alone in this. Thanks. We'd put ours in coolers and hope for the best. Hopefully maintenance could replace it pretty quickly.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
12 Feb
I am a bit concerned with our fridge because it seems to be maintaining the proper temperature only intermittently recently. I thought I would have to look for a replacement, or at least a new thermostat! But then it cooled down again. And now I have broken the thermometer I had in there so it's hard to tell!
It was here when we bought the house and it's part of the fitted kitchen so I think it has been here since they remodelled the house and I think that was 1998. For a fridge that's actually relatively young!
Even if it does break down though it wouldn't be such a disaster. It mostly contains part-used jars of jams and chutneys, cheese, milk and some fruit. All of those would survive at room temperature just fine for long enough to be eaten. Especially as 'room temperature' in our house is only about 15C (59F) at the moment.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Feb
That's quite a while. We have a lot of food in ours.
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