Your experience mirrors mine pretty closely. When we upgraded our fridge a couple years back, I was expecting a noticeable drop in our electricity bill, but honestly, it was pretty subtle. Like you said, the age and condition of the appliance you're replacing makes a huge difference. If you're swapping out something from the 90s, sure, you'll probably see some decent savings. But if your appliance is relatively recent, the efficiency gains are often minimal.
I've also found gently used appliances to be a smart move financially. We bought a two-year-old washer and dryer set from someone moving out of state, and they've been running perfectly for over five years now. The initial savings were significant enough that any minor differences in energy efficiency didn't really matter much.
Anyway, it's reassuring to hear someone else has had similar experiences—sometimes the marketing hype around energy savings can set unrealistic expectations.
Had a similar experience when I replaced my dishwasher. Thought I'd see a big drop in water bills, but nope—barely noticeable. On the flip side, I snagged a gently used oven from a neighbor who remodeled their kitchen, and it's been a champ for years now. Sometimes the shiny new stuff just doesn't justify the price tag... glad I'm not alone in feeling that way.
"Sometimes the shiny new stuff just doesn't justify the price tag..."
I get what you're saying, but I wonder if it depends on the appliance? Like, I bought a used fridge thinking I'd save some cash, and within a year, it started acting up—ended up paying almost as much in repairs as I would've for a new one. Maybe dishwashers and ovens hold up better used, but fridges... not so sure. Anyone else had different luck with specific appliances?
Yeah, fridges seem to be especially tricky used—probably because they're running 24/7. I've noticed washers and dryers can be hit or miss too; older models sometimes last forever, but newer used ones... not always worth the gamble. Guess it depends on brand and luck.
Yeah, totally get what you're saying about fridges—had a couple used ones conk out on me way sooner than expected. But honestly, I've had decent luck with washers and dryers, especially older brands. Picked up a used dryer from the '90s for one of my properties, and it's still going strong years later. Guess sometimes it's just about knowing what to look for and a bit of luck thrown in... but yeah, newer appliances seem more disposable these days, sadly.
