New Refrigerators

[pulltostart]

Yesterday I realized that my ice maker was no longer working.  I walked into the kitchen and smelled something getting hot, checked the stove and smelled all around; opened the freezer and saw that the bucket was almost empty and that the arm on the maker was somewhat frozen in its upper position.  I pushed the arm up and turned it off.  Judging by the quantity of ice in the bucket, the ice maker had been trying to make ice (fill) for several days.

 

The unit is a Kenmore (Whirlpool) SXS and the serial number indicates that it was made in 2007.  Last year I had to have the water valve replaced and I decided at that time that I didn't want to spend for anymore repairs.  Other than the ice maker, the unit works fine; freezes on the freezer side and keeps the refrigerator side cold.  For now, I went to Walmart and bought ice trays and an ice bin.  I know how to make ice.

 

So I started looking at what is available to replace it.  I want a simple top-mount in white, with no ice maker (ice maker capability is fine).  Only considering GE and Whirlpool products; probably in the 14-16 cu. ft. size range.

 

I looked at a GE at HD this morning and the label still says "Appliance Park".  I thought GE sold all of its appliance division to a Chinese firm?  It was the perfect size and was affordable.  Lowe's has a similar WP model.

 

All of that is to ask - is there anything about either brand that makes it indisputably superior to the other?  Is either brand a hands-down choice over the other?

 

Opinions?

 

lawrence

 

[DADoES]

 
You're not needing/wanting an ice maker in a new refrigerator so why replace what you have if it's working other than the ice maker problem?  Leave the non-functioning ice maker turned off and carry on. 

 

[ea56]

Lawrence, we have a 15.5 cf top freezer GE BOL with wire shelves. It’s now 7 years old as of last month and its the best refrigerator we’ve ever owned. Its consistently 38F in the food compartment and 0F or less in the freezer. We didn’t buy it just because it was inexpensive, we could have afforded any fridge that we wanted. We bought it because it was just what we wanted! No frills and no nonsense to break down. I wanted wire shelves because I believe that the cold air circulates better and cools off hot food faster, I personally don’t like glass shelves or ice-makers.

Personally, after looking at some of the huge french door fridges in stores I see lots of wasted space and plastic crap just waiting to break. I think that the 15.5 cf space in our BOL GE is all useable space. It has recessed handles and has a small footprint that doesn’t dominate the kitchen. I’d buy another in a hot second.

The worst refrigerator and the most expensive fridge we ever owned was a 19 cf Amana bottom freezer model that we bought in 2001. The lettuce was always frozen and the milk spoiled in 4-5 days.

Eddie[this post was last edited: 9/26/2023-13:12]

 

[kenwashesmonday]

The Chinese firm Haier now owns GE major appliances, but still operates US factories including the historic GE Appliance Park in Louisville Kentucky.

 

[pulltostart]

Thanks

Glenn,  you are correct.  I do not expect to buy a new ice box this week, but expect that sooner or later, it will happen.  I don't like this one, so I know I'm just looking for an excuse to get rid of it.  However, I'm not looking for an excuse to spend money.

 

Eddie, that's exactly what I'm anticipating replacing this one with.  It's totally adequate for my needs and would take up a helluva lot less room in the kitchen.  I've purchased a SXS in the past, and learned to hate it.  I've also bought a bottom mount in the past and , well, ditto.

 

lawrence

 

[rp2813]

Lawrence, one of the things I don't like about top freezer models is opening the fridge door only to have it get stuck on the top of my shoe.  This is common on the lower end models, but maybe you'll get used to it.  I don't know if there any top freezer models with a forced-draft condenser system that would increase clearance between door and floor, but without that extra room, it would be a no-sale for me.

 

[ea56]

Ralph,
We don’t wear our shoes in the house so this has never been a problem for either of us.

Eddie

 

[rp2813]

Yeah Eddie, I rarely wear shoes in the house either, but I've run into this issue at friends' homes and many vacation rentals.  I consider it a design flaw that could be easily rectified. 

 

We're probably in the minority when it comes to socks or bare feet indoors.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Fridge

The Samsung that came with our house has given us issues since the start. Thankfully, insurance is going to 'assist' us with buying a new one. We ended up buying a new KA because of our success with our old Whirlpool SxS from 2009. We never had an issue with it. For the reasons you listed, and others, we are sticking to Whirlpool products. Justification for buying a KA because of the metal reinforced plastic trays in the door. 

 

[mark_wpduet]

OMG I agree with this 100% ... when/if my current side x side with ice maker/water in the door dies... I'm getting a top freezer BOL basic GE or Whirlpool and if I need ice I'll make it...The giant fridges that look so nice and shiny really freak me out...You can almost be certain something is gonna go wrong...unless you're really lucky. Unfortunately speed queen doesn't make refrigerators.

 

[ea56]

When we got our current 15.5 cf GE Top Freezer fridge I ordered an extra shelf and I kept the meat drawer from the 18 cf model that it replaced. This gives us LOTS of fresh food storage space. And making ice cubes is really not that onerous at all. The simplicity of this BOL GE is so worth the loss of an ice maker and a bunch of plastic crap that takes up valuable storage space.

When we have family holiday dinners there is plenty of room for all the food. And I only shop once weekly for groceries and can easily fit it all in the fresh food compartment and the freezer.

I went shopping this afternoon and this is what the fridge looks like with a weeks worth of groceries.

Eddie

 

[mattl]

I know some of you guys like the wire shelves, but I can't think of anything worse.  Small condiment bottles tip easily on those and I find them harder to clean.  My glass shelves in my SxS go in the DW every couple of months, 4 or 5 quick loads and everything is clean and tidy. For me glass is the only way to go.

 

I've got a 20+ y/o WP SxS in my kitchen that is solid, only one issue where the lighting board went, other than that all is well, including ice maker. I picked up a nice Samsung SxS in stainless 4 years ago, it too is running well in my garage. I bought the Samsung to replace the bisque WP, but I prefer the Wps interior to the Sammy's.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I personally wouldn’t want anything but a side by side, but I don’t own a house, so that decision may never be mine. I wouldn’t want a French door though, too many potential issues. Top freezers are just fine, but I’ve always wanted ice and water through the door.

We’ve got a Whirlpool/Kenmore SXS at work from 2001 that still works fine.

 

[launderess]

" I don't know if there any top freezer models with a forced-draft condenser system.."

IIRC Whirlpool and some others offer forced draft condenser freezer top fridges.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/whirlp...matic-stainless-steel/9536227.p?skuId=9536227

https://www.partselect.com/Models/W...F&Position=7&mfg=Whirlpool&Type=Washer&Mark=7

Throw in Maytag MRT118FFFZ:

https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/MRT118FFFZ.html

Granted these are on larger side (about 3.0 cuFt) of fridges with top freezers, but that you are.

Going with smaller capacity one can still find good number of top freezer fridges with passive condenser coils (usually rear mounted). Main concession today seems to be those coils are behind a metal plate instead of being exposed.

There is a market for fridges with top freezers but good number of those consumers want greater capacity which as to be coupled with energy efficiency. Households wanting built in look require something with forced draft condenser systems.

 

[combo52]

Best current top freezer refrigerators

I would probably go with GE, whirlpool, and Frigidaire have both had a lot more than their share of problems in the last decade since they’ve been re-designed for the new R 600 refrigerant.

Most larger models have a forced condenser design however the door still can be within 2 inches of the floor. It just depends on the Refrigerator.

Smaller models have the condenser inside the walls of the sides and top of the refrigerator to displace the heat nowadays it’s cheaper to make them that way.

It’s actually more efficient to have a fan underneath but more costly to build.

John.