New Refrigerator GE GTS17GTNKRWW

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frigilux

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While it comes down to personal preference, I’ve spent 6-1/2 years wishing I had a fridge with glass shelves and a meat/cheese drawer. So I bought one!

This 8-plex apartment building was built in 1978, before refrigerators of mammoth proportions became the norm. As you can see in photo #1, a 28” wide fridge barely squeaks in to the allotted space. Maximum height space is 66”, so that definitely limits one when it comes to choice of models. I still prefer a top freezer fridge and the only one I could find with glass shelves and a meat/cheese drawer that met the size restrictions and was available locally was a GE GTS17GTNKRWW.

It’s a bit quieter than the 12-year old Frigidaire it replaced and has a shelf in the freezer, which is also appreciated. I chose not to add the ice maker, as I’d rather have the space for food. The crispers are larger than those in the previous fridge and the meat/cheese drawer is on a sliding rail, so you can move it to the left, middle, or center, which is handy if you have something tall on the shelf below it.

The thermostat, set at the recommended setting of 3 on the dial, hits target temp perfectly and it keeps food consistently cool between run times and during the defrost cycle.

We’ll see how long it lasts. I keep reading that refrigerators of nearly every mainstream brand have a shorter lifespan than their ancestors. I’ve had an LG-made GE self-defrosting upright freezer in the 2nd bedroom that I use as an office for 6.5 years with no issues. Not sure if this fridge is made by LG or not.[this post was last edited: 3/17/2024-22:28]

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Hi Eugene. That model is going to be a simple design, not too much different from similar appearing models of the past.  The newer models known for such high failure rates typically are the high-end designs. The more "bells and whistles" the more problems it will have. Yours should last a respectable amount of time assuming nothing untoward happens. Be watchful for condensation around the lines at the back because these newer models often use very thin-wall tubing which is susceptible to rusting out much more easily than older models. Without an icemaker, it won't have that potential source of moisture, as well. 

 

Also, if this has a condenser fan, be sure to observe that it works. If you notice the fridge change in sound, or the cabinet around the freezer door is suddenly much hotter than normal, the fan could have stopped. Loss of the condenser fan will drastically shorten the compressor life.  The fans on these newer fridges are very quiet and it is sometimes hard to notice the sound difference when the fan stops working.

 

Sincerely,

David
 
Eugene,
I think that you made a very wise choice purchasing this GE Top Freezer fridge. We bought our 16.6 cu ft GE Top Freezer fridge in Aug ‘16 and it has been completely trouble free. Unlike you, I actually prefer wire shelves so our fridge is a BOL model with no snack/meat drawer. I just kept the drawer from our previous GE fridge and placed it on top of the middle shelve. I order to get maximum storage space I ordered an extra shelf and this 16.6 cf model has just as much storage space as the 18 cf model it replaced.

Our GE fridge holds a constant 38-38 F in the fresh food compartment and a constant 0 F in the freezer. We have never had an issue with either milk spoiling early or lettuce freezing like we’ve had in the past with higher end models.

I know that you will have many years of trouble free service from this fridge. IMO it’s always best to stay away from all the bells and whistles as far as fridges go, just more unnecessary carp to fail and make you feel bad about your purchase.

Eddie
 
Hi Eugene - that is very similar to the fridge I purchased in July 2020 - when freezers and refrigerators were almost impossible to get because of demand created by COVID. I needed a fridge and had to take whatever I could find, and I opted for:

 

Garage Ready 19.1-cu ft Top-Freezer Refrigerator (White)

Model #: GTS19KGNRWW

It said it was "Garage Ready" meaning that it would not be impacted by temperatures between -10F and 110F. I had it in the kitchen of one of my homes, and it worked perfectly. I've since sold that house and it's now in my garage, where it has endured the Michigan winters and summers the past couple of years without any issues. 

Hopefully, you will have good service with yours!

 
This is EXACTLY the type of refrigerator I'm going to get when my side x side dies...Just a basic model... Not because it's cheap... but less to go wrong. I think refrigerators are the most likely modern appliance to have issues.

We have a mini-fridge from china that's more reliable than the big ones. The last mini-fridge we had lasted 18 years

Question: I notice it's white... was the white color more $ than had you chosen another color?
 
New basic top freezer refrigerators

Yes, I would expect these new GE’s and other variants to be quite reliable. Hopefully they’ll turn in the 30 year lifespan that we were used to with refrigerators if you keep them simple.

I think GE is probably the best of them then it’s a tossup with the whirlpool, top freezers and the Frigidaire models, after that, they seem to have more problems.

Reply number one hi Tim, even though your Frigidaire looks very similar to the GE it’s a completely different refrigerator. Hopefully it’ll be good, does your Frigidaire have R600 in it yet for the refrigerant?

The simple top freezer models are also very economical to operate. You could easily operate four of these for the price of one 1970s or early 80s refrigerators.

US refrigerator have become so economical operate that I’ve noticed that all large motorhomes now just use a regular refrigerator because these will operate off the battery systems in the motorhomes for many many days or even weeks so they’re not fooling with the silly propane powered gas refrigerators anymore, which were such a fire, hazard in motorhomes.

John
 
Thanks for the comments, everyone! Personally, I rank refrigerators—at least one as simple as mine—fairly low on the “appliance excitement” scale, but I’m enjoying the modest upgrade in features compared to the previous fridge.

I know it’s odd to purchase appliances when one is renting an apartment, but my landlord is cool, knows I like appliances and knows he has a good tenant who’s here for the long haul. I purchased a double-oven range, a range hood and a portable dishwasher when I arrived 6.5 years ago. Tenants in each unit of this 8-plex supply their own laundry equipment if they choose to do so. I’m on the upper level and all four of the units have a washer & dryer. Of the four downstairs units, only one tenant currently has a washer & dryer.

Original post: It looks like there’s a gouge at the top of the freezer handle, but it’s just a weird reflection of light. Also: David Bowie did not come with the fridge. LOL

Mark: Here’s a link to the GE appliances site. The fridge is available in white or stainless steel, the stainless steel option is $100 more. The info tag inside the fridge says it is model GTS17GTNKRWW. However, when you search that model at the GE website, it comes up GTS17GTNRWW—the K is missing. From what I see of the photos and features, it’s the same refrigerator with a slightly different model number.

https://www.geappliances.com/appliance/GE-16-6-Cu-Ft-Top-Freezer-Refrigerator-GTS17GTNRWW

Eddie- Great idea to order an extra shelf! A good way to get more usable space in a fridge that will fit in the space allotted.
 
After looking around, I think the white being more expensive than other colors must be a Whirlpool thing... the LG's and GE's don't charge more for white but for whatever reason, Whirlpool does...which is a bummer since everything I have is white. I really do like white appliances more because it brightens up the kitchen... but I'm not totally opposed to stainless.

Eugene..I second the appliance excitement when it comes to fridges... The only exciting appliances for me are dishwashers, washers, and my rainbow vacuum.

Combo - I would have assumed any brand with a simple top freezer would be more reliable than their complicated models...I guess that's not the case?
 
Hi Tim, FD switched about 3 years ago, what is the manufacture date on your ref, its right on the serial tag on the inside.

 

As far as I can tell everybody switched for refs and freezers.

 

Extra charge for White appliances ?, it depends on the appliance, I am sure that WP charges less on basic refs as well, some higher end appliances they charge more for where white is less common.

 

John

 

 
 

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