New Fridge Suggestions

[roscoe62]

I have a 6 year old Amana fridge, freezer on the bottom, came home to find it dead nothing running on it yesterday. Shortly within the first year I had it the control board went on it, I had extended warranty, luckily that kicked in with it when the same thing happened another year and half later, any suggestions?
Thank you in advance.

 

[whitewhiskers]

Sorry about your Amana (purchased by Maytag, then Maytag is purchased by Whirlpool). I had one for over 20 years, my truly first refrigerator. When the repairs become more frequent or impossible, that's when I bought a GE (possibly made by Chinese company Haier in Mexico). Love it. The French Door thing in hindsight isn't that great, but it's what people buy these days. My width requirements played a big role in what I bought. If your space can fit a 36" or even wider, the options are greater and more luxurious. I saw a KitchenAid (made by Whirlpool) refrigerator at Lowes a few years ago that was beautiful. Costco has a lot of high end refrigerators on display at the warehouses. Is there a Best Buy in your area? I've bought a lot of appliances from them, they have a nice display area.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Here's a good video to watch if you're interested. He goes into the ins and outs of modern fridges... what to avoid... It doesn't seem to be down to brand more than it is certain models to avoid... I think he likes certain GE models best and maybe a couple of Whirlpool.

Possibly you're not restricted to a bottom freezer ONLY?

 

[combo52]

First thing is to find out what's wrong with it now

If you like the refrigerator, consider repair, the control board is simple to replace, and there are options for getting a better deal on it if it needs that.

In general, the most reliable refrigerators are top freezer models, next best or bottom freezer models without dispensers or French doors, side-by-side are not bad if you want ice and water through the door the worst thing you can get is a bottom freezer refrigerator with the icemaker in the refrigerator section and through the door dispensing.

Probably the best top freezers are GE models, the best bottom freezer refrigerators are the ones made in the old Amana plant and the only ones that are made in the US currently.

I would avoid anything Samsung or LG or any of the other weird brands like Fisher and Paycal Bosch Bloomberg, etc. etc. you'll never get service for them and none are that good, LG still having compressor problems.

 

[DADoES]

 
A French door Whirlpool WRX375SDHZ is in the kitchen at mom's house as part of an extensive remodel, replacing the 1995 KA topfreezer which moved to 2nd-fridge duty (displacing a 1998 RCA/GE topfreezer which is to be sold).

The RCA had no repairs for the duration.

I replaced all the defrost components (timer, thermostat, element) on the KA a couple months ago to a whopping cost of $91.35 (not incl shipping & tax).  The thermostat likely was the fault but I replaced everything defrost-related because I could at reasonable cost.  That's the only operational repair it has had other than one replacement of the ice maker some years ago, which it needs another due to mold deterioration (hard water).

The French door unit is physically large.  The target space in the kitchen had to be widened a bit.  The doors and drawer fronts had to come off to get it through doorways.  There also was a factory assembly glitch that prevented the refrigerated drawer from opening properly and fully ... an anchor screw for the left-side rail not fully seated.

I have a Whirlpool SxS WRS325SDHZ now 4 months (replaced a failed 20yo GE Arctica which I liked very much).  My primary decision factor was the ice maker had to be directly in the freezer section, not door-mounted or an ice room in the fresh food section.  I don't much like the ice/water dispenser design but it is what it is.

 

[thomasortega]

Darryl and I recently bought an LG French door fridge whatever "Max" thing that has even super cute mini ice cubes and craft ice balls, along.with the regular cubes/crushed ice on the door dispenser, plus that glass door that you knock and it lights the door shelf, plus a smart.app that does a zillion things that I still didn't discover, but it also helps saving even more.electricity (not that it's that important in a fridge) but it also buzz me on the phone all the time being a real PITA to force me to drink more water (so yes, as far as I hate that, the fridge is forcing me to be a little bit healthier).

All I can say, the only thing that sucks in my fridge is that it's a counter depth model, so it's tiny inside and it was way more expensive, but that's not the fridge's fault, but my kitchen that is too small. I absolutely LOVE my fridge and I probably kiss it more than I kiss Darryl.

Oh, there's one thing I HATE. the "fingerprint proof" stainless steel. You LOOK at it and suddenly hundreds of fingerprints appear. If you TOUCH it, every single fingerprint automatically transforms into zillions. If a bee lands on it, you'll have a dozen of elephant footprints. People with OCD should stay away from it. Instead of a water dispenser, it should have a steel polish dispenser on the door.

 

[sudsmaster]

 

I have purchased fridges at Costco and never been disappointed. Currently I have two: one in the main kitchen, and one in the adjacent kitchen (it's in the unheated area). Both function perfectly, for about 10 years or more.

 

 

[kalanikaau1]

New fridge

I just ordered a new GE GNE27JGMWW after doing much research for french door models, any and all of the Korean brands were out of the question.

Because my requirements were specific, GE was the only manufacturer who had what I wanted.

My requirements were:
White, painted finish
In unit water and ice service
Max. width of 36 inches
Standard depth cabinet

This GE will replace my 7 year, 10 month old "lemon" Whirlpool which died on me last week, it has been beset with so many issues that the underwriter for the extended warranty I wisely purchased when it was new wrote the unit off 2 years ago.
I am convinced that Whirlpool uses the lowest (cheapest) grade of stainless steel on the planet for their appliances, no doubt other manufacturers do the same.
The finish on the Whirlpool developed surface rust after a year in service, despite maintaining it as Whirlpool suggested, this is why I spec'd a white, painted finish for the new unit.

The indoor ice/water dispensing system failed many, many times, ice production itself was OK, the dispensing components were woeful, at best.

Another model I was considering was a GE Cafe french 4 door design, however I could not justify it's cost of $2K more than the basic GE.

Fridges all do the same thing, I don't need all the frills which will prove to be problematic as the appliance ages.
[this post was last edited: 11/26/2024-09:53]

 

[kalanikaau1]

Reply# 4

I absolutely abhor any so-called "Stainless Steel" finished appliances for the reason you cited.

You may want to inquire with LG about their finger proof S/S finish and how they achieve this claim, I suspect that they apply a clear finish to the surface, just as other manufacturers do, this includes the so-called 'black stainless' look as well.

My sister owns a 3 year old Samsung french door unit in the black stainless look, the coating is peeling off in sheets, the appliance resembles a zebra...lol

I had warned her prior to buying it...

 

[mark_wpduet]

I've noticed a trend with Whirlpool where if you want their appliance option in white, it's like the MOST EXPENSIVE where as white used to be the cheapest color... so far it seems like the other manufacturers still have white as their cheapest color option...Why only Whirlpool does this I have no clue... Whirlpool is the only manufacturer so far that has opted for cheaper plastic instead of glass on their front load washers...where the other manufacturers haven't done this (YET) Whirlpool was the first.. that says something about the corners they are possibly cutting... Not that the others don't do the same thing it's just that Whirlpool seems to do it on another level now....I don't know what's changed at Whirlpool in the past several years...but I'm honestly not sure about them anymore...even though I have had REALLLY GOOD luck with them... I still have my original 2004 electric range and over the range microwave. My maytag dishwasher is now over 10 yrs old... the side x side whirlpool fridge is approaching 7 yrs old (no problems) YET... But look how much has changed with the company since they made those appliances

 

[petek]

Have had an LG bottom freezer model for about two years now, so far so good. I like that it keeps stuff on the door shelves cold by blowing the cold air down the front. Plus this fridge is dead silent. Absolutely no compressor noise ever.

 

[nmassman44]

I have this 26 cuft LG fridge that has been flawless since we bought it 4 years ago. It’s very quiet perhaps the quietest fridge I have ever had the pleasure of owning. It has two ice makers , one in the door of the fridge and one in the freezer. I would definitely get another one if I had to. We had a craptastic Whirlpool fridge back in Mass that I did not shed a tear when we left it behind at our old house.

 

[appnut]

Well, I had a top freezer Kenmore for 27 year from 1980 to 2006 or 2007. I erplaced it with an LG-produced Kenmore Elite Bottom Mount. My other half has specified a SxS. The fridge space can be max of 36 to 38" width with usual kitchen cabinet on the right and the left if a wall that butts up aginst the pantry in the laundry room. I've found a 32.75" wide GE. And that's the width I have now and it won't work with SxS. I would have to go 28-30" wide.

 

[kalanikaau1]

Reply# 8

Yes, I remember way back when appliances were primarily sold in white, then so-called "designer" colors such as Avocado, Coppertone and finally stainless steel.

All major appliance manufacturers seem to think that consumers are enamored with the stainless steel look, I, for one am not because of the constant maintenance involved in keeping the material looking decent.

Furthermore, the pseudo stainless steel is only used on doors, the rest of the cabinet is painted grey. Buyers of so-called counter depth fridges won't have to worry about the grey being exposed, rather they'll have to contend with the serious lack of useable space within the unit.

The GE I ordered in white was actually $500 cheaper that a stainless steel model, I routinely apply a coat of automotive wax to my painted appliances and will do the same with the new GE.

My 22 year old Maytag is visual proof of my maintenance.

 

[appnut]

Well, being visually impaired, it's not easy to see all the smudges and stuff on my stainless look applikances. Ignorance is bliss!! Out of sight, out of mind!!

 

[fan-of-fans]

I’ve too noticed that the white models tend to be higher in price than stainless steel, it used to be the other way around! The sales seem to be promoting the stainless model only.

Many times the higher end models also only come in stainless or some variant thereof. It’s rather rare to see a kitchen with white appliances that aren’t the bottom of the line models nowadays. All the new construction seems to use stainless steel and sometimes mixing brands for whatever is cheapest even! A non branded microwave, a Frigidaire range, a Hisense refrigerator…

Seems lately certain parts such as the ice/water dispenser buttons or on ranges the oven control/timer keypad are only in black, even on the white versions, whereas they used to match the color. I guess they’re just using the same facings on everything so they don’t need different part numbers.

 

[kalanikaau1]

Reply# 14

About the only fridge I was pricing that was more expensive then the stainless steel variant was the GE Cafe CGE29DP4TW2 french door full size unit in which GE touts as a "Matte White" finish, it is $500 more.

My search for a white finished fridge with the features I wanted revealed that GE was the sole manufacturer, not even Whirlpool produced anything similar, any and all Korean brands was a no-go.

As I posted elsewhere, stainless steel in any variation was out of the question.

I almost ordered the Cafe fridge, however I cannot justify the additional cost of almost $3K for a 4th. "convertible" drawer, full interior LED lighting, etc.

The GE model I did order (GNE27JGMWW) for $2K is essentially the same appliance as the Cafe with the same cubic/foot capacity.

When you come down to it, they are both steel boxes with doors and refrigeration equipment to store food within and do the exact same thing as each other.