Buying Second-Hand Whitegoods and Appliances: A Buyer's Guide

5 min read

A second-hand fridge, washer or dryer can be a genuine bargain, or it can be someone else's problem that you've just paid to inherit. Whitegoods fail in ways that aren't always obvious from a photo or a five-minute look in a driveway. Here's what to actually check before you pay.

Check the energy rating label and think about running cost, not just price

Most whitegoods sold in Australia carry an Energy Rating Label, showing a star rating and an estimated annual energy use. Older appliances, particularly fridges and freezers more than ten to fifteen years old, are often far less efficient than current models, even when they still run perfectly well. A cheap old fridge that costs an extra few hundred dollars a year in electricity isn't actually cheap.

If the label is missing (common on older units), search the make and model online. It's worth comparing the running cost of the second-hand unit against a new entry-level model with a strong star rating. Sometimes the second-hand bargain still wins. Sometimes it doesn't once you account for years of higher power bills.

Test it before you pay, not after you get it home

Never take a seller's word that an appliance "works fine". Ask to see it running before money changes hands, and don't be embarrassed about it, this is completely normal buyer behaviour.

Fridges and freezers: ask for it to be plugged in and running when you arrive, or ask the seller to plug it in an hour or two before you get there so it has time to reach temperature. Feel for even cooling, listen for the compressor cycling on and off normally, and check for ice build-up that shouldn't be there or water pooling underneath.
Washing machines: ask to see a short cycle run, even just fill and spin. Listen for grinding, banging or heavy vibration. Check the drum spins freely by hand when off, and look for rust around the drum opening.
Dryers: ask for it to run a cycle and check it actually heats up and the drum turns smoothly without scraping.
Dishwashers: ask for a rinse or short cycle and check for leaks underneath during and after.

If a seller won't plug it in or run it, or has excuses for why it "can't be tested right now", that's reason enough to walk away.

Seals, drums and compressors are where the real cost hides

The visible parts of an appliance (the exterior, the shelves, the control panel) are the easy bit. The expensive failures are usually in parts you can't fully assess without testing:

Door seals and gaskets on fridges and washers perish and crack with age. A damaged seal on a fridge means it works harder and costs more to run; on a front-loader it means leaks. Check the full length of the seal, not just the visible front edge.
Drums and bearings on washing machines wear out and start making noise well before the machine stops working altogether. A grinding or growling noise during spin usually means bearing wear, which is often not worth repairing on an older machine.
Compressors on fridges and freezers are the single most expensive component to replace, often costing more than the appliance is worth second-hand. A compressor that's noisy, struggles to reach temperature, or cycles on and off constantly is a warning sign.

None of these are things you can judge from a listing photo. They're exactly why testing before you pay matters more for appliances than almost anything else on a classifieds site.

A fridge that's unusually cheap is often a dying one

Fridges and freezers don't usually get sold cheap because someone's simply upgrading. Often it's because the compressor is starting to struggle, the seal has gone, or the unit is running constantly to hold temperature. If a fridge is priced well below what similar age and size units go for, ask directly why it's being sold, and don't accept "just don't need it anymore" without following up. Ask how old it is, whether it's ever needed repair, and whether it holds temperature reliably in summer as well as winter.

Check for open recalls before you buy

Some appliance models, particularly certain dryers and dishwashers, have been subject to safety recalls over the years, generally relating to fire risk. Before buying an older dryer or dishwasher especially, it's worth a quick search of the model and brand together with the word "recall", and checking the ACCC's Product Safety website, which lists current and past product recalls in Australia. If a unit has an open recall that hasn't been actioned, either avoid it or make sure any required rework has actually been done, not just promised.

Gas appliances need a licensed installer, full stop

If you're buying a second-hand gas cooktop, oven, heater or hot water unit, understand that installation and reconnection of any gas appliance must be done by a licensed gas fitter in every state and territory. This isn't optional or a formality: incorrectly installed gas appliances are a genuine safety risk, including carbon monoxide and fire risk. Factor the cost of licensed installation into your budget, and don't let anyone (including a seller offering to "just hook it up quickly") connect a gas appliance without the right licence.

Understand what has no resale warranty

Almost all second-hand appliances bought privately come with no warranty at all, and consumer guarantee protections under Australian Consumer Law generally apply to purchases from a business, not a casual private sale between individuals. If a fault shows up a week after you get it home, in most private sales you have no automatic right to a refund or repair. That's exactly why testing thoroughly before you pay matters so much: once it's in your car, it's very likely yours to deal with either way.

Buying smart

A tested, well-priced second-hand appliance is genuinely good value. The difference between a bargain and a costly mistake usually comes down to whether you tested it running, asked about its age and history, and thought about running costs rather than just the sticker price. Browse current appliance listings on /listings, and see /safety for more on buying safely from local sellers.