Refrigerator Recommendations

[eurekastar]

My Samsung French Door refrigerator suddenly stopped working three days ago, after being in service for only two years and two months.  A service technician came to my home yesterday and told me that a refrigerant line in the ice maker somehow sprung a leak and is not repairable.  Quite frankly, the refrigerator has been nothing but problems since the warranty expired.  I am therefore in the market for a new fridge.  Any recommendations.  I like the convenience of a French Door model; however, the through-the-door ice makers are nothing but trouble.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I hear top freezers are most reliable. French doors with ice and water through door are probably least so due to the complication needed to get ice in refrigerator door.

If you want both water and ice through the door, best to go with a side by side. Less issues than with french door setup since ice dispenser is on freezer door.

Or if getting a french door, go with either no dispensers at all or only water in door with ice maker bin in freezer only.

Have heard good things about Whirlpool units made in the Amana IA plant.

I'd avoid Samsung, hear lots of issues with these.

 

[jamiel]

Check out your purchase protection if you used a credit card---you might have a warranty extension from that.

 

[appnut]

My sister had the same brand French door fridge that lasted about 5 years and she said the best bech in town wouldn't touch them.  Recommended Whirlpool, Maytag, or KitchenAid as a replacement.  

 

[goatfarmer]

Always had good luck with Whirlpool built refrigerators.

 

[chachp]

LG

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">We have the LG French Door with Ice and Water in the door.  It's been about 1 1/2 years since we got it.  At the risk of jinxing it I'll say no issues.  I'm personally not a fan of the bottom freezer and wish we would have done the side by side but we have this now so we'll stick with it until such time we need to make a decision.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Here is what Consumer Reports says if it helps.  We chose LG based on Consumer Reports.</span>

 

[rp2813]

There was a French door Samsung in our house when we bought it last year.  I hated it even before we moved in.  The shelving was such that a carton of milk had to be stored in the door -- the warmest part of the cabinet -- and the ice bin was a PITA to access without spilling a bunch of it.  I also didn't trust it, as Samsung doesn't have the best reputation for reliability, and repairs are notoriously difficult to facilitate.

 

I had a carpenter remove some trim from the refrigerator pocket so our 2009 KitchenAid SxS would fit in the opening, and couldn't be happier.  I'm not a French door fan.

 

Get a Whirlpool-sourced refrigerator and consider MOL or higher models.

 

[philcobendixduo]

Top Freezer is Best

If you want the most trouble-free and efficient design, buy a top freezer model with NO ice and NO water.
I purchased the largest top freezer model Whirlpool made in 2011 and, so far, it's been trouble-free.
I have a temperature monitor on it 24/7 and (except for defrost cycle) freezer is always at 0f and refrigerator at 38-40.
LG? Samsung? I wouldn't touch them!

 

[eurekastar]

Thank you for all the thoughts.  We're definitely not going to get another thru-the-door model.  AND we're staying away from Samsung.  We have a perfectly good Whirlpool built Kenmore sitting in the garage that we've had since 1991.  Never had an issue with it.  However, it is white and the kitchen is now black! 

 

[firedome]

Whirlpool...

we bought a black 20 cu ft top-freezer in 2008 and off-white 20 cu ft top freezer in 2013, both have had zero problems. We intentionally sought out US-made models and these have both been great, and cost only around $500. ... Whirlpool is highly recommended by us!

 

[lordkenmore]

However, it is white and the kitchen is now black!


 

A couple of cans of spray paint would fix that in a hurry! LOL

 

[philcobendixduo]

Or.....

.....you can send it out to be professionally painted.
My parents did that back in the 1960's with our "FIRESTONE" refrigerator.
Changed the color from white to coppertone.
It looked great. I think an auto body paint shop did it.

 

[toploader55]

Buy a Rebuilt Monitor Top from David. (Turbokinetic).

Then, buy a Upright or Chest Freezer for your frozen.

You'll never need another refrigerator in your life.[this post was last edited: 12/22/2019-21:39]

 

[eurekastar]

Well, I bit the bullet and purchased a new Whirlpool French Door model WITHOUT the thru-the-door ice/water dispenser.  It will be delivered on Friday.  Merry Christmas to me!  LOL!

 

[askolover]

Yeah I concur with the WP models.  My parents and I have the smallest SxS fridges...my first was a white Estate made by WP and sold at Sam's...no probs except for a relay that was replaced under warranty...sold it to MIL when I went back to black appliances and bought a Maytag branded but WP built black SxS.  Parents have a Roper version identical to mine, and it also had the relay problem that was replaced by warranty.  No issues with the ice maker or water dispenser...mine has the filter in the bottom grill.  I just wish it was larger but that's a kitchen issue that I plan to resolve with the next fridge whenever that time comes.