# Beckdawrek and the ersatz elemental refrigerator **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874 "2023-09-29T17:37:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/1 "2023-09-29T17:37:46Z")
Mid-dau informed me a few days ago my overpriced refrigerator was acting stooopid! Being smart, as I am🤨(and due a previous incident with a certain red Washing machine) I always purchase an extra warranty on appliances. I called and set a service call. I told the computer voice it was acting _stooopid_. Hey it worked. Guy called back and said they would be out today. Yesterday there was water standing in the bottom. First elemental. This morning when you opened the door you felt air blowing. Second elemental. Me and the girls cleaned it out. (If you can lean, you can clean, hear that Lil’wrekker?) I smelled smoke. Oops. Fire. Third elemental. (Mid-dau thinks that might be old smoked chicken she found in the back🤔) Now I’m waiting on the spirit demon, fourth elemental? While drinking a kinda cool protein drink and also waiting on the service person. Yeah. I just misremembered or something. When you said you’d be here bright and early Friday. What? You live in a different time zone? Elemental, my ass. A piece of junk. Do they have elves in sweat shops building these things in god-knows-where? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/2 "2023-09-29T17:43:22Z")
What brand? Many of them get frozen over/up behind the ‘panel’ that _is_ the back wall. Then, the place where the defrost water is supposed to drain (to a pan underneath the fridge) … well … that gets frozen over/up, too, and … a rather bucolic pond develops at the bottom of the fridge. Just one possibility. DAMHIKT. Stay cool! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/3 "2023-09-29T17:53:33Z")
LG. Why doesn’t the defrost feature take care of that? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/4 "2023-09-29T17:55:17Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > A piece of junk. Do they have elves in sweat shops building these things in god-knows-where? Quality control is lacking in many of these foreign imports. A while back I decided to buy one of those cylinder water tanks with the rainbow lighting and mild circulation that gave a very lifelike look to the plastic tropical fish within. They shipped it without a bottom! Apparently, they didn’t notice that fish tanks need a bottom. So, I feel your pain. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/5 "2023-09-29T18:11:59Z")
Mine’s a different brand. Here’s an LG web page to help troubleshoot: > **[LG Refrigerator - Troubleshooting Leaking Inside My LG Refrigerator | LG USA...](https://www.lg.com/us/support/help-library/lg-refrigerator-troubleshooting-leaking-inside-my-lg-refrigerator-CT10000021-20153123905830)** > > LG Refrigerator - Troubleshooting Leaking Inside My LG Refrigerator. Learn how to use, update, maintain and troubleshoot your LG devices and appliances. In some of these units – mine included – there’s a ‘nipple’ at the verrrrry end (bottom) of the defrost drain tube, right as the tube sits over the aforementioned pan. The nipple is designed to prevent ambient humidity from getting into your fridge (via the drain tube). That nipple can get stuck closed. If it does, then the water backs up and … freezes. The defrost cycle can actually be working properly in this scenario, but the defrost water can’t drain. ETA: IF this is your problem, then unplugging your fridge to manually defrost it is essential, but it won’t solve the problem. If your unit has a nipple that has failed, then that nipple needs to be replaced _in addition to_ unplugging the fridge and letting it thoroughly defrost. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/6 "2023-09-29T18:24:50Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Now I’m waiting on the spirit demon, fourth elemental? It may be that the [brick](https://slang.net/meaning/bricked) that your Refrigerator has become counts as the fourth earth elemental. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/7 "2023-09-29T18:30:38Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Now I’m waiting on the spirit demon, fourth elemental? > While drinking a kinda cool protein drink and also waiting on the service person. Maybe the service person will turn out to be a spirit demon. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/8 "2023-09-29T18:35:14Z")
I sincerely hope the service person has that information on his laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/9 "2023-09-29T18:37:33Z")
Oh I forgot the earth elemental. Well, there might have been a Styrofoam cup of worms in there. I’m not saying I saw it. But there are many fisher persons around here. Not naming names, little boys. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/10 "2023-09-29T18:40:13Z")
Gaak. Within the past couple years we bought three LG appliances because they were highly rated by CR. Fridge, washer, dryer. Replacements for garbage GE. So far, so good. In the good old days a fridge would go for 25 years with no service. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/11 "2023-09-29T18:47:59Z")
This is the second of these fridges. They replaced the first one after a month and 3 service calls. This has been 5 years. Hard use. So maybe it’ll be ok. Still sitting on my egg waiting on the people to get here. Harshing my nap time.😑 ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/12 "2023-09-29T20:30:04Z")
I have an LG made in 2008 that was purchased used in 2013. It lasted 5 years. First it had water in the bottom of the freezer but then the compressor went out which solved that problem. It’s now a cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/13 "2023-09-29T20:43:50Z")
Well. The filters were all blocked. Things were frozen. He changed the filters and some little part thingy He said it was from well water. Well. Now I suppose the water filtration stuff on the well pump are next. And the stand alone ice maker. The washing machine. The dishwashers. And the shower heads. What else? Well. My stars. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/14 "2023-09-29T20:46:20Z")
Glad to hear it’s all fixed! 🥳 I’m not a fan of LG mainly because an expensive front-load washer’s main bearing failed after the warranty expired. Someone at LG told me that the machine’s relative newness qualified it for repair at a low flat rate, which after some investigation I found to be a very good deal for a major problem like that. When I called them back, a different CSR told me no, the machine was too old to qualify, even if it was just a month or so too old, sorry, sucks to be you. So I junked it and bought a top-loading high-efficiency Maytag that I’m very happy with. The LG dryer still works, though. I also have an LG refrigerator (not my choice, came with the house). Seems to work OK though I briefly had a problem similar to yours. Water was dripping into the fridge section from the freezer. I figured it was water accumulation during the defrost cycle due to a frozen drain hole. I put a plastic tray in the fridge to collect the drips and rearranged the items in the freezer, and eventually the frozen drain thawed out and it’s been fine for years now. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/15 "2023-09-29T20:51:10Z")
I think the fact we turned it off(unplugged) as we were cleaning it probably fixed the whole dang thing. I may be just thinking rainbows and sunshine. But I hope it carries on a few more years. 🤞 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/16 "2023-09-29T21:13:59Z")
I’m confused. Are you suggesting your fridge is bad, bad, bad? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/17 "2023-09-29T22:06:19Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > It’s now a cabinet. They do make nice cabinets. Mine is so full I can’t get rid of it. I don’t know where all that stuff used to be. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/18 "2023-09-30T00:30:04Z")
@Beckdawrek Did you ever buy the magnetic refrigerator skin the I showed you a couple years ago? You wanted a spiffy red refrigerator, as I recall. StG ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/19 "2023-09-30T00:42:23Z")
No, I didn’t. I bought a smallish red refrigerator. Bigger than a dormitory size. It has a freezer and 2 doors and is tall and narrow. By a company called Galanz. I got it in the scratch and dent at Home Depot at a deep discount. It has a scratch on the left side along the bottom about a foot up. I put it in my bathroom. Don’t ask why. But it’s been real handy. I’ve read many bad reviews on it since then. But this one seems ok. For now. It may be a cabinet yet.😊 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874/20 "2023-09-30T18:55:59Z")
Yay! All my fridges are cleaned I love clean. Now the garage. 🤔 wonder who I can coerce into that? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-ersatz-elemental-refrigerator/990874.md?page=2)