I recently bought a house, and the previous owner left behind a broken refrigerator that doesn't keep things cold. Before we closed on the house, there was also a leak from the fridge's water line, causing significant damage. Although the seller has repaired the water line and its associated damage, they left the fridge plugged in and connected. I've already bought a replacement fridge, which is set to be delivered in a few weeks, but I need advice on what to do with the old fridge in the meantime. My main concern is preventing another leak from the busted fridge. Should I leave it as is until the professionals come to take it away, unplug it while leaving the water line connected, or completely disconnect everything? I'm a bit nervous about handling the plumbing myself after having bad luck with DIY projects before. Thanks for any tips!
2 Answers
I suggest checking if there are any local utility programs that might give you credit for recycling that old fridge. Also, if you just bought the house, reach out to your real estate lawyer since the previous owner might be responsible for removing junk appliances. Just make sure you turn off the water and keep things from getting moldy! These fridges can get nasty fast.
Definitely unplug the fridge since it's not working anyway—no point in wasting electricity! You should also find the shut-off valve for the water supply and turn that off. Once that's done, you could safely disconnect the water line if you feel comfortable doing it. If you're super nervous about DIY plumbing, just leave the water line shut off as long as you unplug it.
That’s good advice! I had a bad experience with plumbing too, but turning the shut-off valve should be easy enough. Just be cautious!