Home Improvements

[Larry.Jenkins]

We have a 14 year old Amana side-by-side refrigerator that has two plastic clad door handles that are an off-white color that matches the cabinet color.

The paint on one of the handles is worn to the point where the light tan colored plastic substrate is showing through.

I think Rustoleum makes a spray paint for plastic parts.  I found Rustoleum 211339?  It's white, but would it match?

Any ideas?

Larry

[amateur60]

Just replace the refridgerator, the energy savings of new fridges versus a 14 year old one will pay for the new one in a few years. 

[MSWOODcraft]

*grin* Sure... easy to say when it's somebody else's cash!

Try mixing your own spray colors.   Get a somewhat big piece of cardboard, two or three close tones of paint and a small artist's brush.  

Squirt enough spray paint onto the cardboard to puddle and then use it like an oil painter uses his pallette board.    A dab here, a dab there, mix it up in its own little puddle and then apply with the brush.     I've done things this way and as strange as it sounds it really does work.

[Larry.Jenkins]

Amateur60..  You sound like the War Department.  I'm old, retired and little cash like you young guys..

Matt..  Really would like to spray the handles.  I got on Appliance Zone's site and talked to their Whirlpool (Amana) rep and they offer their Whirlpool 4392901 "Biscuit" spray paint that they claim will match the color of our fridge.  Don't know how they know without the Model Number, but for about seven bucks plus shipping, it might be worth a try. 

Sure beats Am60's  2 grand.

.

Stay tuned.  Any other knowledgeable info greatly appreciated.

When can we expect pictures of your boondoggle?

Larry

[grandpabear]

   spray both handles. they may not match the fridge, but the handles will match so the one that needed painting will not stick out.

[amateur60]

Well, I'm in the N.E. and have a $0.19 kw/hour electric rate.  Unless I had one of the most efficient refridgerators on the market 14 years ago, I'd save close to $1,000 in the next five years by switching to an Energy Star refridgerator.  Odds would be pretty good that I would have to buy in the next 5 years anyway since the average life of refrigerators is about 14 years.  So, in effect, by replacing the fridge earlier I would be contributing hundreds of dollars toward that new refrigerator that I'm going to have to buy anyway before too long.  The pay back period would be longer if your energy rate is lower.  That's not to say you would want to borrow money at 18% to finance the transaction.  But, it's not a totally crazy idea to consider replacement of energy inefficient appliances.  If your fridge were a few years older it would be a slam dunk to replace it now. 

[71166]

 I do not think you are going to get much better than the $7.00 spray can.   An auto paint company can match and put in a spray can for you but it will be more like $30.00.  As far as them not needing the model number, remember that all the kitchen appliances come in matching colors so one off white is the same as the other.    I also think  $7 is a lot better than $1000 plus.   Our winter rates are 0.04 cents a kwh so it would take a lot longer to payback a new ice box (shows my age) .       Roly

[GeorgeK-NJ]

---

amateur60 wrote:

Well, I'm in the N.E. and have a $0.19 kw/hour electric rate.  Unless I had one of the most efficient refridgerators on the market 14 years ago, I'd save close to $1,000 in the next five years by switching to an Energy Star refridgerator.  Odds would be pretty good that I would have to buy in the next 5 years anyway since the average life of refrigerators is about 14 years.  So, in effect, by replacing the fridge earlier I would be contributing hundreds of dollars toward that new refrigerator that I'm going to have to buy anyway before too long.  The pay back period would be longer if your energy rate is lower.  That's not to say you would want to borrow money at 18% to finance the transaction.  But, it's not a totally crazy idea to consider replacement of energy inefficient appliances.  If your fridge were a few years older it would be a slam dunk to replace it now. 

---

When our old Side by Side that was in the garage died, we moved the 10 year old Kitchen Refrigerator to the Garage and got a new one for the Kitchen.  The Electric bill went down about $80 / month.  So, I agree, the older appliances must go. 

[Larry.Jenkins]

I agree that it pays to replace major appliances because of the much better operating cost, but it's just coming up with the money that is our problem.

So "fixing until dead" is our only option now.  But makes you wonder, when it does die, where is the money coming from then?

Oh, and we are pretty "house poor."  Great home, mucho equity, no money.

Thanks for all the tips and advice.  And Am60, our rate here is .011kwh.

Larry

[monfre]

Well you have to hope that it dies within the next 2 yrs so you can atleast take advantage of the $1500 Tax Credit for appliances and or HVAC equipment.