Trying to find a refrigerator that Fits!

[imperial70]

I really want a refrigerator on top / freezer on the bottom model to replace my 17 year old Amana (that has run great for 17 years without any problems to date).
The refrigerator is under a cabinet. The bottom of the cabinet clearance is 69".

I really like the Tri-door (french door) models. However, most of them are 68.something or more inches tall, not including hinges (this is top of cabinet to floor).

I did find a GE 22 CU ft. That is 67.5" but I am skeptical that the dimensions are correct. Should I be worried?

Also I don't have any experience with GE refrigerator? Can I expect it to last 17 years?

Reason for getting rid of something that works: I'm getting old and stooping into the refrigerator is no fun. Freezers aren't so bad because you're not doing it so often.

 

[goatfarmer]

A friend at the parts store tells me GE are the last two letters in garbage. FWIW....

 

[imperial70]

Goatfarmer,
That is worth a lot. Thanks for the info.

 

[lordkenmore]

I have heard rumblings of discontent with GE refrigerators here more than once, although "GE" is the last two letters of "Garbage" is new to me. I will have to remember that.

Freezer on the bottom models are nice--I grew up with one (a Kelvinator). It is a lot more convenient having the refrigerator higher than the freezer. Even to this day, years and years later, freezer on top models feel unnatural. If I were to buy a refrigerator, I'd take a long, hard look at a bottom freezer model. It's about the only feature that would prompt me to open my wallet wider than rock bottom budget.

In your case, you might consider a side by side, too. I don't know if any are within your size requirements, but by broadening the search, you increase the chances of finding something. Some don't like the limited shelf width in a side by side. But I, myself, would prefer living with that overall VS bending all the time to get inside a top freezer model.

Another piece of advice I've heard here that's worth keeping in mind is to consider buying a replacement gasket for the doors on a French door model. That way, you're sure to have it if you ever need it at a time when it's a NLA part.

Finally, I'm not sure 17 years is a realistic hope any more for appliance life. That's one reason if I were buying new, I'd buy the cheapest model I could live with. One might save only a few hundred dollars, but--after a few refrigerator replacements--the savings will mount.

 

[xraytech]

I have a bottom freezer Kenmore, I do believe it is the same as the Amana bottom freezer that Sears carried. Mine is about 4 years old now and is not a french door model I have a 21.2 cu ft one and it is about 68.5" tall.

When we got this fridge we had the same problem as you are, we had 70" clearance, but nearly all the french door and side by side models were taller than that.

Here is a link to the description and specs of the model I have from Sears

Shop: Appliances, Tools, Clothing, Mattresses & More

Shop Sears for appliances, tools, clothing, mattresses & more. Great name brands like Kenmore, Craftsman Tools, Serta, Diehard and many others.

www.sears.com

 

[imperial70]

Lord Kenmore, I have thought of broadening my search. That's good advise to get the extra gasket. Especially these days. I'm sure parts are NLA within a few years.

Xray Tech, I am also considering the single door on top for the fridge like you have. Actually they seem very reliable. My brother has an Amana that is about 10 years old without a service call.

 

[ironrite]

Knock on Wood

The current GE fridge here, model TFH24PR, is a side by side and it appears to be from 1994. Have lived here about 10 years and so far just had a couple of ice maker issues that were fixed. Not fond of the ice maker as it will occasionally jam. But so far so good. We're also in the same boat space wise. Not too much of a problem for width, but if needed I can remove an upper cabinet over the fridge if it's replacement is taller.

The stove dates from the same time, it's a glass top electric slide in unit and it is still working fine. The former GE dishwasher, also from that time, did bite the dust in 2004. It was replaced with a Bosch.

We are thinking of a kitchen update down the road and may look at new appliances at that time.

 

[brisnat81]

Have you thought about FisherPaykel?

They're usually good for 10 to 15 years.

Ours is coming up to seven years old without maintenance.

PLus they're only 66 1/2" tall

http://www.fisherpaykel.com/product/refrigeration/refrigerators/

 

[appnut]

I did a search on Sears. For right under 69" (which is the problem I had), there's only the GE, LG, and Kenmore (which is made by LG). Personally, I didn't want the french door design. I could just see myself ending up having to open both doors because I could not remember which side I put something on. I find it much simpler to just open one big door. I've been pleased with mine, but I've only had it for 3 years.

 

[mattl]

Unless you have some very unusual cabinets the hinges may have no impact on the placement. Most fridges stick out 4"-6" from the cabinets, and many modern cabinets unless they are full overlay have an inch of frame showing, making the doors clear that extra half inch. And if need be in some cases you can adjust the doors up just a shade.

Depending on your situation you can get creative. When I replaced my fridge several times I had to modify the cabinets. When I redid the kitchen in the late 80's I put wood panels and doors that matched the cabinets on my early 70's vintage coppertone Kenmore fridge. For the look I wanted I used as large of a cabinet above the fridge as I could. I was ordered extra depth and came out just to the hinges. I have wood side panels on the sides.

When it died in the late 90's I put in an Amana side by side in bisque. It was a tad taller so I modified the upper cabinet, cut out part of the top, and raised it up a couple of inches. That fridge had a very short life, dead in 5 years.

I replaced it with a Whirlpool with cathedral doors, the top of the doors gently flow up about 1" in the middle and it has a slightly rounded front. Again I had to raise the cabinet. This time I went all out. Raised it as much as I need added a band of OG baseboard upside down topped with dental work crown molding. Made a very prominent statement in the kitchen, love the finished look.

In most cases you won't have to go to the extent I did, but there are options...

 

[rp2813]

Measure the depth of the fridge only as far as the top hinges. I agree with the comment above. The hinges may not even matter, as in most cases they will protrude further than the depth of the cabinet above the fridge.

Yours is an instance where a counter-depth fridge is probably not the type to be considering.

 

[veg-o-matic]

I got an LG LBC22520SW from Sears when they had 30% off all Energy Star appliances. According to LG, the height to the top of the hinges (tallest measurement) is 68.5.

Got the fridge in May and it's been great so far. It replaced a loved but dying 1964 GE and boy, did my electricity bill go down!

veg

 

[imperial70]

I got the GE GFSF2KEYWW model that is 67.5 from cabinet to floor. The saleman told me to stay away from LG. He said that he would go with a GE anytime. I'll give it a try. I really wouldn't get a new refrigerator except we're having trouble stooping into the refrigerator section to find things.
I know the freezer is in the bottom, but I don't go in there much anyway. The reason I went with the french doors is that it solves another problem in having a door that opens on table side as well as towards stove side.

It arrives on Friday the 17th.

I hope I have good luck with the unit. Time will tell.

Thanks for all the advise.

 

[kqkenmore]

I have had G.E.fridges before and they have lasted a long time so I think that you will do well with it.Lets see pictures. One of these days I am going to get rid of my Kenmore side by side.I hate it small jumbled up space.

 

[imperial70]

kqkenmore: Thanks for the reasureance.
I will post pictures, when it arrives on Friday September 17.
However in the mean time, you can look up the model# GFSF2KEYWW
on GE's website.

 

[rp2813]

So did it arrive yet?

Sometimes you have to compromise with space limitations, and it can actually make your decision easier. Most appliances fail due to neglect, so I think your GE will last a while under your care.

We had to deal with footprint limitations in our laundry room which steered us towards Frigidaire Affinities, machines that were not our first choice in a full size FL pair, but they are still better than the junk GE TL that was there before it, and mismatched Signature-by-Norge dryer.

Best of luck and enjoy your new refrigerator!