What fridge do you recommend?

L

lana-in-fl

Well-known member
My fridge conked out on December 23rd - great timing, just after I had bought a whole lot of food. It could be fixed (it's the little blower motor), but last year we paid a lot of money to have the water dispenser repaired ( a futile exercise, we found) , so because it's over 12 years old, we thought we should buy a new one.

This was a KitchenAid. We weren't particularly happy with it, so we don't want another. We hear that we shouldn't buy Samsung. I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

 
My FIL has a Kitchen Aid and it is the worst fridge I've ever seen! I'm not surprised yours...

...was bad too. His water dispenser leaked all over the floor and there were so many hot spots/cold spots in the fresh food section that it was impossible to store food properly. Half of it was too warm, and the other half, frozen. Oy!

I don't have a recommendation for another brand, but I concur about KA. What a mess!

Michael

 
my advice

Before I make a large purchase I always look at reviews on several sites. The link below is a site I find particularly helpful.

When I remodeled my kitchen about 5 years ago I got all Maytag appliances to take advantage of a promotion for buying 3 at the same time. The dishwasher was a huge disappointment and was replaced a year ago after the motherboard failed. The double wall oven is fine. The refrigerator is great. I got a bottom freezer style and really like it. The capacity of the refrigerator is generous and I like the way the shelves can be adjusted and how easy they are to keep clean. There can be a couple cold spots when it is full but I know where they are now so can adjust accordingly. No thru-the-door ice or water, just a plain old ice-maker in the bottom freezer. I would feel comfortable recommending this model, if it is still available.

http://www.consumersearch.com

 
I bought one 3 years ago and with the height limitations imposed by my cabinets, the choices

were also limited. I had fears of KA and went about finding out who really made all the branded models. I ended up with a Kenmore Elite. Elite important. I loved it.

I had done all the preliminary consumer research but sometimes, I think you can just get a lemon, no matter who makes it.

The glass shelves were substantial, the through-the-door ice, crushed ice and water always worked, the lighting was intelligently positioned, the drawers were well-built and fit into spaces that were designed for them rather than a hit-and-miss construction. The doors included well-designed movable shelves that allowed for me to buy an additional one. It was a great idea. The access that these deep shelves on doors allow was important for me. I had 3 pullout shelves, also well-constructed but I rarely pulled them out. The inside was so strongly built that it could easily allow split shelves without compromising stability.

Everything disassembled easily and intelligently without requiring risky contorting. The glass was thick and printed, the brackets were all metal, the drawers were metal.

And of course, there is that commonly-known fact that Sears is one of the best places to buy appliances.

It had the other bells and whistles, such as quick freeze and auto sensing of new groceries.

I miss that frig and would love to get it back.

I do not remember now, what company actually made it but did I mention that I really miss it?

Here I have a piece of Jennair crap. Junky plastic where Kenmore Elite used metal, thin plain glass that fits poorly into brackets making a mess to clean. Cheap door shelves that make me fear that they'll crumble if I look at them the wrong way. And this idiotic pullout bottom freezer drawer that I really hate. I can't find anything in it, have to unload it every time I want to find something I know is in there, no crushed ice, have to open the frig to get at the water instead of through the door.

I would definitely choose a side-by-side again as the freezer area is so much easier to manage. One would say that it is not as economical on power but with the time that is lost searching for food in the bottom drawer, I think it would be a saw-off.

If this were not a rental that I'm living in, I'd get that frig again.

I miss that frig (fridge). Good luck.

 
My only issue with Sears now is their delivery charge, which is substantial

I always was very happy with Kenmore appliances, but when I bought a $500 washer or stove I balked at paying $50 or $75 for delivery and then having to make myself available for THEIR scheduling, so have bought at Home Depot the last two times. Real shame, because all my Kenmore appliances have lasted with no problems for 15 - 20 years.

 
Thanks very much for all the advice.

DH wants to buy from a store recommended by his colleagues. The reviews on-line seem to show that nothing is a good fridge smileys/frown.gif. We'll see what we can find.

 
Haven't been happy since

I haven't been happy since I left my Sub Zeros in the old house. In eight years, I first had a Whirlpool side by side that was in the house when we bought it. Couldn't whip a cat in it. Then I bought a Whirlpool French door with the freezer on the bottom. More room, but never liked either one. When I next buy one, I plan to see if I can get another Sub Zero in this space.

 
Absolutely LOVE my SubZeros! (rave below)

I am lucky to have room for two monster cooling units. I have a large refrigerator-only Sub and another freezer-only Sub. Every inch of interior space is usable. Every moment they freeze and cool they keep food at exactly the right temps. Easy to access, easy to store stuff. No fancy molded units, just usable, well-built space.

I LOVE my SubZeros. I wouldn't get anything else again unless they sell out and get cheaply made. They are expensive but well worth the cost.

 
No brand recommendation, but whichever you choose, be sure it has a lock for the ice/water dispenser

Ours does not and we have a dog that thinks it his personal watering hole. My kitchen floor has never been so clean as I am constantly mopping up his mess. He pushes on the water and it just pours into his mouth. He pushes on the ice and cubes go everywhere, fun to chase. Everything we block it with it is easy peasy for him to get past. I can only imagine if he were a human child and had opposable thumbs....

 
My SIL has been through 5 refrigerators in 2 years, and swears by the Electrolux. I have to say

it is a gorgeous interior and looks really well made. She likes it a lot! (Not sure how she gets the appliance store to take them back!

 
Oh well, we looked, and the only one that we liked

was a GE, so I hope that Meryl got lemons, and not standard issue.

The KitchenAid lasted 12 years, even though it wasn't great, so with luck this one should last us at least as long.

Unfortunately, we can't afford Sub-Zero. We found a very nice Sharp convection microwave that reminded us of the one we had in South Africa 25 years ago, but we can't afford that either, so we are saving for next year. If my daughter graduates in June, and gets a PhD position with a TA-ship (so she's supporting herself) I can buy it next year. I'm hoping!

Thanks for all the advice!

 
Oh, that's so funny! (for me, anyway)

At least my cats aren't tall enough to reach it. One has just become dissatisfied with her fountain and water bowl, and is constantly in the bathroom begging me to turn a faucet on for her.

 
I have a 40 year old Hot Point that's still going strong!

Every time a repair man comes through for a minor repair, he says to keep repairing this one, because "they don't make them like they used to." In other words I'm still using my first fridge.

 
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