Thread Number: 68578
/ Tag: Refrigerators
Who has the best refrigerator these days? |
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Post# 913338 , Reply# 1   12/31/2016 at 16:13 (2,644 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )   |   | |
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NO ONE has ANY good appliances these days! |
Post# 913344 , Reply# 2   12/31/2016 at 16:42 (2,644 days old) by jkbff (Happy Rock, ND)   |   | |
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Whirlpool makes a side by side with no dispensers.
The more and more produce I keep, the more I'm liking the idea of dual evaporators, separate cooling systems. I'll probably end up getting an all fridge unit and an all freezer unit.. Ge seems to be pretty reliable, Whirlpool is getting better, LG is good as well. Samsung... is our most repaired fridge. |
Post# 913351 , Reply# 3   12/31/2016 at 17:39 (2,644 days old) by abcomatic (Bradford, Illinois)   |   | |
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I have a bottom freezer Whirlpool and love it. |
Post# 913381 , Reply# 5   12/31/2016 at 21:50 (2,644 days old) by PassatDoc (Orange County, California)   |   | |
This post has been removed by the member who posted it. |
Post# 913605 , Reply# 6   1/2/2017 at 11:05 (2,642 days old) by Xraytech (Rural southwest Pennsylvania )   |   | |
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Post# 913618 , Reply# 7   1/2/2017 at 12:14 (2,642 days old) by Sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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My circa 2000 KitchenAid (made by Whirlpool) side by side with dispenser is going on 17 years with no reliability problems. The only issue I've seen is that if one stacks stuff on the top fridge shelf so that it blocks the cold air inlet from the top of the freezer compartment, it may cause icing in the water tube to the ice maker, which in turn can cause leakage into the bottom of the freezer compartment.
It experienced that about 15 years ago, and was "repaired" under warranty, that is, a new ice maker control board installed. It didn't change anything, and when I accidentally blocked the air flow again, the ice blockage returned. That time I just used a hair dryer to thaw out the frozen water tube and have since been more careful not to block the air flow. The only other issue is that the ice cubes tend to clump a bit in the bin, and periodically I have pull a large clump out and toss it. The ice maker must heat the cubes (crescents, really) to facilitate their ejection from the freeze molds, and I think the small amount of water that introduces is the cause of the clumping. Even so, it's a minor gripe. If I were to buy new to day, I'd get one of the bottom freezer French door models with ice/water dispenser. Last month both Costco and Home Depot had a model on sale for about $1200. This month the price has bumped back up to $1900. I'm a big fan of in door ice/water dispensers, and don't really understand why anybody would be against them, if the price is right. They help one drink more water and stay hydrated, without having to open the fridge doors to get out a water jug and the freezer door to get ice. Plus, they always come with a water filtration setup, which removes off-tastes from otherwise kind of gross tap water. I even use the filtered water from the fridge to make coffee each morning. |
Post# 913635 , Reply# 8   1/2/2017 at 13:23 (2,642 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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I'm old school when it comes to refrigerators. We bought a new one in August, a 15.5 cf. top freezer GE. No frills, wire shelves. I did purchase an extra shelf though and this gives us the same amount os shelf storage space as the 18 cf we had before. Since we don't have the plumbing connection for an icemaker that wasn't an issue. We don't use much ice anyway, so making it in trays is no problem at all. As for filtered water, we have a Brita filter on the kitchen faucet and it gives great tasting water and we drink alot of it. I don't care for side by side fridges as the shelves are narrow and if I need to refrigerate a wide item there is not enough room. This new GE really holds the temp at a constant 35 and 0 F degrees in the fridge and freezer respectively. Plus, since we have a small kitchen it fits in the space allocated for it well, instead of overtaking the kitchen with all refrigerator.
Eddie |
Post# 913672 , Reply# 9   1/2/2017 at 17:27 (2,642 days old) by goatfarmer (South Bend, home of Champions)   |   | |
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Post# 913755 , Reply# 11   1/3/2017 at 09:20 (2,641 days old) by dermacie (my forever home (Glenshaw, PA))   |   | |
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I have a Samsung 27 cubic inch side-by-side refrigerator that I spent a good chunk of change on that is garbage and I hate it. I went against my better judgement and listened to my brother when I bought it. I wanted a GE.
It has one cracked drawer already that needs replaced and the ice maker is not that great. Every once in a while it needs defrosted because it wont keep cool and ice must get stuck somewhere and needs unplugged. I have nothing good to say about it. |
Post# 913890 , Reply# 12   1/4/2017 at 06:12 (2,640 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )   |   | |
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Post# 913896 , Reply# 14   1/4/2017 at 06:53 (2,640 days old) by iheartmaytag (Wichita, Kansas)   |   | |
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Post# 913897 , Reply# 15   1/4/2017 at 07:02 (2,640 days old) by joeypete (Concord, NH)   |   | |
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Post# 913917 , Reply# 16   1/4/2017 at 11:31 (2,640 days old) by jkbff (Happy Rock, ND)   |   | |
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I have a 30" counter depth 19 cu ft Samsung french door that was a year old when I got it. A customer was fed up with it and bought a GE. I took it. Knowing what I was getting in to, the fridge evaporator freezes up every 2 months like clockwork. I have to pull everything out, take the back panel out, run my dyson heater in it so it will all thaw.
I've put an extension on the heating element so heat gets down in the drain tube better, I've just recently replaced a temp sensor and a thermal fuse. It was originally used for veggies etc, but has since been pulled into every day service because I didn't want a big fridge jutting out in the new kitchen.. It is going to be replaced when I find the one I want. |
Post# 913940 , Reply# 17   1/4/2017 at 14:22 (2,640 days old) by dermacie (my forever home (Glenshaw, PA))   |   | |
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Post# 914014 , Reply# 19   1/4/2017 at 20:08 (2,640 days old) by Sudsmaster (SF Bay Area, California)   |   | |
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When I was looking around 2000, I came to the conclusion that Whirlpool/KA had best lineup going. GE had blown their fridge division by coming out with self-destructing compressors in the 90's. I simply didn't trust them. Whirlpool was also sporting some of the best energy ratings at the time
Ice makers always seem to be the weak link. Mine hasn't failed, but I expect one day it will. I also have a KA top freezer fridge in the second kitchen, and it's OK. I disabled the ice maker in that one because there was no need for it there. My one gripe about the top freezer is that it was one of the newer (at the time) models with "curved doors". Well, they are curved all right, but after a couple of years the internal insulation (polyurethane foam?) shrunk and caved in the doors so they no longer have a smooth curve. I can tell the sides of the fridge have the same problem. I don't think it affects efficiency much. I contacted Whirlpool and sent them photos but they insisted on having someone come in person and then charging me for a service visit if he decided it wasn't a mfg. defect. I got annoyed at that and never did get it fixed. The fridge sits in an out of the way spot so I don't have to look at it very often :-). Eventually I'll probably replace it with a bottom freezer unit. Or maybe with the '48 GE I have sitting idle in the garage ;-). It has one of those tiny freezers that can hold maybe 1/2 gallon of ice cream, but there's a chest freezer right next to it. |
Post# 914073 , Reply# 20   1/5/2017 at 07:43 (2,639 days old) by joeypete (Concord, NH)   |   | |
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I just helped my friend pick out appliances and from what I discovered all Kenmore fridges are either Whirlpool or LG sourced. The Kenmore Elite's were all LG's...everything else was Whirlpool. I don't know though about the smaller capacity ones...these were full size I was looking at. You can tell by looking at the user manual. It has the actual model number with manufacturer code on it.
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Post# 915840 , Reply# 22   1/15/2017 at 19:56 (2,629 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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I have Frigidaires from 1994 (at work), 2002 (in kitchen) and 2006 (2nd fridge on lower level). All are top freezer; none have the ice maker installed. None have required service. I have friends with a Samsung 3-door who curse the day it was purchased. Also have a trouble-free self-defrosting upright 2011 Frigidaire (in heated tuck-under garage).
Given my experiences, I'll cast a vote for Frigidaire. |
Post# 915844 , Reply# 23   1/15/2017 at 20:27 (2,629 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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Thus the name Frigilux!
Hi Frig! |
Post# 915881 , Reply# 25   1/16/2017 at 06:24 (2,628 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)   |   | |
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Hi, Ben!
All three of my Frigidaires (the 1994 is actually branded as a Gibson) have glass shelves. I wouldn't like wire shelves, either. The Frigidaires are not without their flaws--especially the astounding selection of otherworldly noises they emit---but I've never had a single problem with them, so I'm happy. Oh, and the 2011 upright in the garage is a freezer, not a refrigerator. Forgot to add the word 'freezer' to that sentence two posts up. |
Post# 915939 , Reply# 26   1/16/2017 at 15:32 (2,628 days old) by brucelucenta ()   |   | |
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Sub Zero refrigerators have always been very reliable and seem to last for many many years with no problems. That is probably why they cost so much. |
Post# 915979 , Reply# 27   1/16/2017 at 21:43 (2,628 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)   |   | |
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WOW, I have never heard of anyone that called SZs reliable, you are smoking some good stuff Bruce.
That said SZs are nicely designed and usually good performers, but they are Very expensive to buy and service and will need a lot more service and repair in their frist 30 years of use than just about any other good domestic refrigerator.
If I were doing a kitchen now and wanted a nice built-in ref I would look first at Kitchenaid, KA is still expensive and not always the most reliable but usually better than SZ.
Diffidently avoid GE Monogram and Viking BI refs at all costs, but of these manufactures have been nothing trouble in the BI ref arena.
When you are spending $5000-10,000 on a ref keep in mind that this is not the last money you will spend, and as always skip the service contracts, if you can't afford to have it fixed you should not be buying this appliance.
John L. |
Post# 915985 , Reply# 29   1/16/2017 at 23:22 (2,627 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )   |   | |
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Just get a good fridge....Round corners, a latch on the door,NOT frost free,all poecelain interiors and crispers, metal ice trays with a lever to release the ice, no fans, no heaters....Now THAT is a good fridge...and they haven't been made in 50 years! |
Post# 915987 , Reply# 30   1/16/2017 at 23:34 (2,627 days old) by jkbff (Happy Rock, ND)   |   | |
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I should add that I have a sxs frigidaire that was built in 09. He keeps running, no matter where he is at.
I would have no problem buying a non-dispenser frigidaire french door, or another sxs. They are very reliable and serviceable. The dispener french door electroluxes/french doors on the otherhand, I'd stay very very far away from. |
Post# 916096 , Reply# 31   1/17/2017 at 17:19 (2,627 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area)   |   | |
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One of my neighbors got a SZ refrigerator when they built the house around '85. It was still there the last time I was in the kitchen, which was about a year ago. I remember Ann telling my mom she wished she had got something else, as it had to be worked on numerous times. |
Post# 916141 , Reply# 32   1/18/2017 at 00:17 (2,626 days old) by jkbff (Happy Rock, ND)   |   | |
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My thoughts on SubZero and other high-end built in fridges...
People think that because they are spending 6k+ on a fridge, it is supposed to just work and not cause a problem.. I get it. The reality, its not like that. People spend 6K+ on a car and take it in yearly (at minimum) for routine maintenance etc. Appliances need to be taken care of. They need to be cleaned and serviced.. We have a ton of built-in fridges around the area.. The people that take care of them, clean them and maintain them have the oldest ones and they keep working. The people that neglect them are always calling for service.... |
Post# 916214 , Reply# 34   1/18/2017 at 12:11 (2,626 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)   |   | |
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