A refrigerator is a fairly expensive and complex piece of equipment. Therefore, when delivering home, a thorough diagnosis of the refrigerator is required. At the time of purchase, it is difficult to verify the serviceability of the device. In addition, a sample will be on display in the store, and the device will be delivered to your home from the warehouse. Therefore, in the store you can only evaluate the appearance and technical characteristics. Before you sign for delivery of the goods to the bank, you should carefully inspect the new device. This will allow you to avoid many problems in the future. Therefore, you need to know how to properly check a refrigerator when delivered to your home.
Checking upon delivery will help avoid possible problems
Checking and diagnosing the refrigerator yourself
After delivery, the device must be checked for functionality and the presence of external defects. If a manufacturing defect is discovered, the device can be replaced within 14 days. However, if damage occurred during transportation, it will not be possible to replace it unless the damage was discovered at the time of delivery.
The check should include:
- external inspection of the device;
- thorough inspection of the compressor;
- inspection of the device inside;
- performance check.
You should also carefully study all documentation. In addition to the product passport and sales receipt, the documentation must also include a stamped warranty card.
What to look for when delivering household appliances to your home
A refrigerator is an expensive piece of equipment, and people buy it with the expectation that it will last a long time.
In the store, the buyer is punched through a cash register receipt and given a copy of the invoice for delivery of the goods. The second copy remains with the supplier. The delivery contract must indicate whether the goods are delivered to the entrance or to the apartment.
Since the opportunity to check the purchase is provided only when it has been delivered, you need to inspect the refrigerator very carefully. Most importantly, do not rush to sign the delivery form.
Loaders always demonstrate a lack of time, thereby forcing the buyer to quickly fill out documents, unload the goods and leave for the next address.
What discrepancies can be found during delivery of goods:
- Equipment of a different model. Models of the same type of household appliances may differ in functionality and technical characteristics. Even if one letter or number in the model name does not match, there is a risk of getting something completely different from what you already paid for. Therefore, upon acceptance, you must carefully check the model.
- Errors in paperwork. The documents must include a completed warranty card and operating instructions for the product in Russian (model passport).
- Mechanical damage to the product. If new equipment has mechanical damage, it can not only ruin its appearance, but also affect the quality of work and further warranty service.
- Used equipment. There are cases when, instead of new equipment, unscrupulous sellers provide equipment that has already been sold, returned and repaired, or from a storefront. Therefore, before accepting a technique, it must be thoroughly tested.
It is not always possible to detect damage to equipment immediately after delivery. The buyer has 14 days to inspect the refrigerator. The check includes:
- assessment of the external and internal condition of the unit;
- compressor check;
- performance check.
Visual inspection
An external inspection is required first. During delivery, your device may develop cracks, scratches, or other imperfections. You should carefully inspect its outer surfaces. This will help to immediately identify the presence of damage.
After delivery of new household appliances, a careful inspection is required.
The device must be inspected in good lighting. This will allow you to find even minor damage. You should not rush to inspect the device, even if the movers are in a hurry and ask you to quickly sign the delivery document.
Attention should be paid to the fastening of doors and handles. They must not have any defects. If they are weak, then over time they can become loose and fail. But such repairs cannot be performed under warranty, so they will cost a decent amount. If defects are found, it is better to refuse the purchase. A description of the deficiencies should be provided in the appropriate form.
What to do if defects are identified
If even the most minor defect is detected, you should refuse to purchase this piece of equipment. Don’t trust the manager’s promises to eliminate him within a few days. This may result in the buyer being blamed for the defect being caused by improper delivery or installation. If the defect does not affect the operation or appearance, we can negotiate a discount.
Assessing the condition of the refrigerator before purchase
If damage or manufacturing defects are detected, a report must be drawn up. It describes the defect and other nuances of this device. Having such a document will allow you to apply for repairs under warranty. If there is no defect report, the manufacturer has the right to refuse warranty repairs.
If no defects were found, it is worth checking at the point of sale whether this particular copy will be delivered or the one in stock. Most likely, the exhibition copy will remain in the store without damage, so it is worth carefully inspecting the device that will be delivered. Any external defects must be reported within 14 days of delivery to allow for a replacement unit. However, if the damage occurred due to the fault of the delivery staff, this must be noted in the relevant documents.
When purchasing a new device, you need to remember:
- The device must be checked immediately after delivery and in the presence of service representatives. And only after this can you sign a document stating that there are no complaints about the appearance and quality of the product.
- First you need to check all the functions of the device and inspect all its surfaces. Only after this can you begin operating the unit.
- You can exchange or return a product only within two weeks after purchase. If faults were discovered later, replacement will no longer be possible. If a breakdown is detected, you will have to contact the service center.
A new refrigerator should be checked immediately after delivery. This will make sure there is no damage and check the device’s functionality. In addition, you must ensure that all supporting documentation is available.
Most often, it is not possible to check the refrigerator at the time of purchase due to the fact that you will only see a sample on the display window, and your refrigerator will be delivered from the warehouse, reports techseller.ru. Thus, you will only see it at the time of delivery. The main thing is not to rush to sign the form that store representatives will hand you.
A used refrigerator can be an excellent purchase if you listen to the advice of experts who understand the repair of household appliances, or buyers who took a risk and made such a purchase. After all, buying used equipment is always a risk. How to minimize it?!
Buy simpler equipment
Experts say that the more functions and additional capabilities a refrigerator has, the greater the chances of buying it with a defect. The buyer will not be able to check all of them, but he will have to pay for them. In addition, repairing premium refrigerators is a fairly large financial expense.
Where to buy a used refrigerator
You can find a used refrigerator on forums, websites, and in newspaper advertisements. Sometimes you come across very tempting and profitable options. Most often, if sellers leave the country and they urgently need to get rid of equipment. There are usually no guarantees when purchasing household appliances that are not new, although there are cases when you can buy the same refrigerator with all the necessary documents, and not yet expired, which guarantees free repairs at a service center. Ask the sellers if they have such documents, when the warranty expired, whether it was repaired, and the reason for the repair. There are specialized stores that sell used equipment. A refrigerator there will cost more, but such a purchase has several advantages: - Possibility of delivery - Availability of a receipt. - Installment plan. - Minimum guarantee.
Refrigerator Inspection
Never buy equipment without inspection, even if it is already beautifully packaged and the seller is ready to deliver it to you as a bonus. An unpleasant surprise may await you at home. Make an appointment with the seller in advance, ask to turn it on a day or a few hours before your arrival. Otherwise, you will practically not be able to check its performance or the presence of defects. Check if freon is leaking. To do this, wet your hands and touch them to the walls of the freezer. If they stick to it slightly, it means there is most likely no leakage, and everything is fine with this indicator. If the walls are not completely covered with frost and your fingers do not stick to them, it means that there are some defects in the operation of the freezer. After checking the operation of the freezer, turn off the refrigerator. After about five minutes, turn it back on and be sure to notice how its engine starts. If it is almost silent, you can be calm and make a purchase.
note
— It’s best to buy used equipment from people you know, or from stores that provide at least a minimum warranty. — If you ordered home delivery of appliances, make sure that they bring you exactly the refrigerator you were looking at. There are cases of substitution.
If you don’t risk buying used equipment, or have already become a victim of such a purchase, pay attention to discounted goods in stores. Usually, these are either old models without additional functions, or they have certain cosmetic defects - scratches on the body, etc. If the coolant generator is faulty, definitely refuse such an offer. Such a refrigerator will work no more than six months to a year and will break down completely, although consultants may claim that this is a minor breakdown. It is not possible to return a discounted refrigerator. In this case, stores usually do not provide a guarantee, so the buyer takes upon himself all subsequent problems with the operation of such equipment. A used refrigerator can be an excellent option for a summer residence. Pay attention to options that are energy efficient.
Has your equipment stopped turning on and working? First of all, diagnose the motor - this part is called the “heart”. How to check the refrigerator compressor? If you don’t want to go to a service center and pay a technician, we’ll tell you how to do the work yourself.
The operation of a refrigerator of any model (Atlant, Indesit, Stinol) is generally the same. It is based on the circulation of refrigerant (freon) in the system. Initially, the refrigerant is a gas, the pressure created by the compressor causes it to enter the condenser. There the gas cools, turns into liquid and flows into the evaporator. When heated, the liquid returns to its primary state and repeats the cycle.
Therefore, if there are problems with the operation of the compressor, it will not create pressure or there will be insufficient pressure for normal operation.
The degree of cooling - the temperature in the chamber - is regulated by a thermostat. From it the signal goes to the motor start relay, which starts the whole process.
A motor-compressor is located on the rear side of the unit housing. It is fixed in a special oil and covered with a protective casing, which you can see in the picture.
The electric motor consists of a starting and operating winding, as well as a relay.
Three terminals are connected to the case, one of which is common. The other two lead to the start and run windings. The latest models of refrigerators are equipped with an electrical circuit that can regulate the speed of the engine.
Inspection of the compressor block
The electric motor and compressor are the main elements of the device. In modern models they are a single compressor unit. It is difficult to independently assess the performance of a motor, compressor, posistor, capacitor and other structural parts. However, obvious visual defects can be identified visually. During transportation, some components could be damaged, which will further affect the performance of the equipment. During transportation, the integrity of the circuit may be compromised. This causes the device to malfunction.
Inspecting the compressor will reveal its defects.
In some cases, the compressor unit is covered with a special grill, and loaders may refuse to remove it. However, it only takes a few seconds to dismantle and reinstall it. To do this, simply unscrew the four screws that secure the grille to the body. If movers or other store or delivery service representatives refuse to open the compressor unit for inspection, there may be some damage to the unit.
Removing the protective decorative grille to check the compressor unit
How to choose a discounted refrigerator
An option for an inexpensive refrigerator can also be a discounted model. Such devices are substandard due to minor decorative damage or manufacturing defects. If your goal is simply a functioning refrigerator, markdowns due to scratches, dents, or unsalable packaging are essentially irrelevant to you. The main thing is that the device fulfills its direct duties, despite existing external shortcomings.
We do not recommend that you buy a refrigerator at a discount due to faults in the refrigeration generator system, since there are no guarantees that you will be able to repair the breakdown yourself and continue to use the device for many years. Most likely, it will serve you no more than six months, despite the fact that sales consultants will convince you otherwise.
When buying a refrigerator at a discount, you must understand that the store declines all responsibility for its condition and does not provide a warranty, even if the reason for the price reduction is just a scratch or a torn handle. That is why you must be firmly confident that it is in good condition when purchasing, since it will not be possible to return it back.
Thus, used refrigerators and discounted refrigerators are a good option for families on a limited budget, as well as for summer residents and landlords. When choosing such a device, you must carefully check its operating condition and make sure that there are no critical faults. Enjoy the shopping.
We continue the topic of checking household appliances. Today we will talk about how to check a refrigerator when purchasing or upon delivery.
A refrigerator is a rather expensive piece of equipment that is purchased for more than one year, and you need to take the purchase of a refrigerator seriously. Now I will not develop the topic of how to choose the best and most suitable refrigerator for you. We will assume that you have already decided on the model and all that remains is to pay the seller and take your new assistant home. And before you take this important step, you must check your new acquisition.
A refrigerator is a type of household appliance whose performance simply cannot be fully verified at the time of purchase. Why, I hope, is clear. And the sellers will convince you of the same. But! You can still check some things.
Let me start with the fact that most often it is not possible to check the refrigerator at the time of purchase due to the fact that you will only see a sample on the display window, and your refrigerator will be delivered from the warehouse. Thus, you will only see it at the time of delivery. This is fine. The main thing is not to rush to sign the form that store representatives will intrusively push on you, rudely hinting that they are in a hurry. Don't believe what they say you have 15 days to check your refrigerator. Of course, they exist - these are 15 days, according to the law, but you can return or exchange the refrigerator within this period only if you discover a defect that arose through the fault of the manufacturer. That is, any mechanical damage will not be considered such a defect. Therefore, before confirming with your signature that you have no complaints about the product, you must carefully and without haste inspect your new item.
But let's talk in more detail about how to inspect the refrigerator.
First: inspect the external walls of the refrigerator.
It is necessary to inspect the external walls of the refrigerator in good lighting. Under no circumstances do this in the dim darkness of the entrance or in the corridor, where the lighting often leaves much to be desired. Only in good, preferably daylight, lighting.
Why? – you may ask.
Yes, because not all flaws can be seen in poor lighting. Moreover, on the front wall, that is, on the doors of the refrigerator, there may be small dents that are noticeable only at a certain angle and with a certain incidence of light rays.
Therefore, first carefully inspect the side walls of the refrigerator. After this, if the product was delivered to your home, place it in the place where it will be used in the future and look at it from different points in the room. If you pick up the refrigerator from the store yourself, then find a brightly lit place in the sales area, place the refrigerator there and also carefully look at all the walls from different angles.
Be sure to carefully inspect the handles on the refrigerator and freezer doors, especially at the fastening points.
There should be no cracks, otherwise the handle will not last long, and a new one will be expensive.
Second: inspection of the compressor unit.
I would like to clarify right away that in many modern refrigerators the compressor installation location is hidden by the manufacturer behind a special decorative grille. Of course, you can remove it, but whether to do it or not is up to you. The grille is usually attached to several self-tapping screws.
I understand perfectly well that for the vast majority of buyers, inspecting the compressor block will not yield anything. Clearly, we are not experts. And a specialist in appearance is unlikely to be able to determine the functionality of the refrigerator cooling system. So why bother looking then? Yes, then, to identify mechanical damage, if any.
For example, after an impact during transportation, a compressor may fly off its mounts or become warped. This can lead either to its failure or to more noisy operation during operation. Do you need it?
Read more: What documents are needed to get a foreign passport?
For clarity, I would like to show a photo taken in our sales area on a BOSCH refrigerator.
Pay attention to the circled area. With a quick and inattentive inspection, you most likely will not notice anything.
But let's take a closer look.
Now the torn tube is clearly visible. The cooling circuit is broken and the first time you turn it on you will hear freon whistling out. Therefore, the refrigerator will not perform its functions. And the saddest thing is that this defect is mechanical damage, and, therefore, is not covered under warranty. Repairs will cost you a tidy sum, at least 1000 rubles.
Believe me, such mechanical damage is not an exceptional case or even a rarity. You just haven’t had to watch how new refrigerators are loaded, unloaded and transported...
Internal surfaces
Even if the outer surfaces are intact, it does not mean that the device is working properly. You also need to take a good look at its internal surfaces. It is necessary to assess the condition of the drawers and shelves. They must be intact. Otherwise, repair or replacement of parts may be required.
You should also pay attention to the rear walls. Evaporators are installed here. They are one of the most expensive elements of the device. They should not have any defects.
Internal inspection of shelves and drawers
It is recommended to pay attention to the smell of the new refrigerator. It should only smell like plastic. However, it may smell like food or cleaning products. This may indicate that the device is being used. The refrigerator may have been defective and was returned to the store by previous customers for this reason.
Functionality check
The most important stage of testing the equipment being diagnosed is assessing the quality of work. Therefore, after examining the inside and outside, you should plug the unit into the network. However, doing this immediately after delivery is prohibited. You must wait at least half an hour.
If the purchase was made from a reputable store, the delivery service employees should offer such verification themselves. If this does not happen, you must insist on your legal rights to check the functionality of the delivered equipment. Without this check, it will not be possible to diagnose a malfunction of the power cord, light bulbs, motor and other elements of the device.
When you turn on the unit, the power indicator and lights should light up, and the compressor should start, making a characteristic sound. After which the doors must be closed for half an hour, so that after this time you can find out whether the temperature in the chamber decreases. To do this, it is best to use a thermometer, but you can simply check with your hand by placing it on the back inner wall of the device. The temperature should be several degrees lower than the original one. In addition, frost should form on the back wall.
If after half an hour the back wall continues to be warm, you need to close the door for another half hour and measure the temperature again. If the cooling process has not started, this indicates a possible malfunction.
What is the danger of a refrigerator not working properly?
The main function of a freezer is to maintain a constant temperature. Depending on the selected mode, it ranges from -12°C to -24°C. This temperature is optimal for storing frozen foods: chicken, fish, vegetables, etc. It prevents the development of putrefactive bacteria and slows down the oxidation of nutrients by air oxygen as much as possible.
We recommend: Is it possible to place a refrigerator on a heated floor and what suffers more from such a proximity?
A properly functioning freezer is an indispensable assistant in the kitchen. It is used not only for storing food, but also for making ice and quick freezing of berries and fruits. However, we cannot always say that the freezer actually functions as intended.
If the camera does not work correctly, it may turn off periodically. During idle time, the temperature rises to values sufficient for the food to begin to defrost. However, then the chamber turns on again, the temperature in it drops, and the food is re-frozen. At first glance, such work cannot be distinguished from normal functioning.
However, such a regime can lead to a whole set of unpleasant consequences:
- Periodic defrosting and freezing leads to the loss of consumer and taste properties of the product. For example, semi-finished products (dumplings, dumplings, khinkali) and frozen vegetables freeze into one practically inseparable lump when temperature changes occur.
- It is possible that food may have unpleasant odors or tastes.
- There may be a loss of stability with some mixtures (jellied meat, jelly, ice cream). When the temperature changes, water “snaps off” from them, which sharply reduces the taste.
- The most dangerous thing is the development of bacteria in food that can contaminate food with toxic metabolic products. The action of some microorganisms can make food hazardous to the health of those who eat it.
On the packaging of many products (for example, crab sticks) there is a warning: “do not refreeze!” Such products most often become a place for the development of dangerous bacteria, so they should be thrown away immediately if the refrigerator defrosts for any reason.
Checking a used refrigerator upon purchase
While a new refrigerator can be repaired under warranty in the event of breakdowns or manufacturing defects, this cannot be done with a used one. Therefore, it must be examined carefully. The advantage of choosing such a device is that it is a single copy. Therefore, you can assess its condition before purchase and delivery.
In addition to inspecting the appearance, you should carefully examine the compressor unit, checking for visible damage to parts. If they are not there, the refrigerator should be plugged in. You can immediately evaluate its serviceability, and after time, the rate at which the temperature in the chambers decreases. If everything is fine, you can agree on its delivery. Record verbally or on paper all cracks, scratches and other damage. You can take several photos. This will allow you to prove that new damage has occurred if loading and delivery is handled by a third party.
It is best to evaluate its performance before purchasing such a refrigerator by visiting an experienced technician. It will help make the correct diagnosis, minimizing the risk of detecting damage after delivery. Once the device is put into use, it will not be possible to repair it at a service center under warranty. Therefore, checking its performance is especially important.
Refrigerator freezer doesn't work well
Poor performance of a freezer is generally considered to be when the temperature in the cabinet is higher than required by the specification, icing has occurred from the inside of the freezer, and a puddle has appeared in front of the door due to water leaking out. The temperature does not rise, perhaps there is a refrigerant leak in the system, the compressor runs without stopping, but the cold performance is still not enough.
In the No Frost refrigerator, the drainage tube is frozen, condensation does not drain out, seeps into the joints of the panels, and ends up in the freezer. Here it spreads and forms ice growths. But it’s warm near the door - the circuit is working, and water collects and seeps through the rubber seal.
In the old refrigerator, the seal contour was frayed and came off in places. Air from the room enters the chamber. It cools and frost settles on the door. The ice gradually pushes the rubber away, and the gap widens. How should a freezer operate under such conditions? Badly.
