Who has the best refrigerator these days?

[sudsmaster]

When I was looking around 2000, I came to the conclusion that Whirlpool/KA had best lineup going. GE had blown their fridge division by coming out with self-destructing compressors in the 90's. I simply didn't trust them. Whirlpool was also sporting some of the best energy ratings at the time

Ice makers always seem to be the weak link. Mine hasn't failed, but I expect one day it will. I also have a KA top freezer fridge in the second kitchen, and it's OK. I disabled the ice maker in that one because there was no need for it there. My one gripe about the top freezer is that it was one of the newer (at the time) models with "curved doors". Well, they are curved all right, but after a couple of years the internal insulation (polyurethane foam?) shrunk and caved in the doors so they no longer have a smooth curve. I can tell the sides of the fridge have the same problem. I don't think it affects efficiency much. I contacted Whirlpool and sent them photos but they insisted on having someone come in person and then charging me for a service visit if he decided it wasn't a mfg. defect. I got annoyed at that and never did get it fixed. The fridge sits in an out of the way spot so I don't have to look at it very often . Eventually I'll probably replace it with a bottom freezer unit. Or maybe with the '48 GE I have sitting idle in the garage ;-). It has one of those tiny freezers that can hold maybe 1/2 gallon of ice cream, but there's a chest freezer right next to it.

 

[joeypete]

I just helped my friend pick out appliances and from what I discovered all Kenmore fridges are either Whirlpool or LG sourced. The Kenmore Elite's were all LG's...everything else was Whirlpool. I don't know though about the smaller capacity ones...these were full size I was looking at. You can tell by looking at the user manual. It has the actual model number with manufacturer code on it.

 

[fan-of-fans]

The mid sized one my parents have is definitely Haier made, although I just saw a GE that looked just like it so in a way I guess you could say it is GE sourced also, interesting, as their old one was a GE badged Kenmore, in a way the new one is too I guess.

My grandparents have the TOL Kenmore top freezer with water dispenser inside and it's an LG, looks very similar to my parent's though at first glance

Some of the other Kenmore top freezers are Frigidaire made judging by the controls and freezer vents.

 

[frigilux]

I have Frigidaires from 1994 (at work), 2002 (in kitchen) and 2006 (2nd fridge on lower level). All are top freezer; none have the ice maker installed. None have required service. I have friends with a Samsung 3-door who curse the day it was purchased. Also have a trouble-free self-defrosting upright 2011 Frigidaire (in heated tuck-under garage).

Given my experiences, I'll cast a vote for Frigidaire.

 

[washman]

<blockquote>
Given my experiences, I'll cast a vote for Frigidaire

</blockquote>
 

Thus the name Frigilux!

 

 

Hi Frig!

 

[washman]

FWIW, I have the frig FFTR1821QM Lowes "exclusive" that was installed by the bloke who build my home.

 

Does it keep the food cold? Yes. Is it convenient? Not really. I don't care for the wire shelves. I cannot get a good temp balance of 0 in the freezer and 37 in the fresh food compartment.  In the defrost cycle the temp goes almost to 30 deg in the freezer compartment.

 

And to top it all off, it is one noisy mother. Makes all kinds of grunts, groans, and assorted noises more at home in a Warner Bros. cartoon than my home.

 

It can be equipped with an icemaker but mine does not have it.

 

If I had it to replace it, I don't know if I would get another unit like this. Regardless of brand, I'd go for glass shelves. And assem. in USA would be a priority. Union made if I can help it!

 

[frigilux]

Hi, Ben!

All three of my Frigidaires (the 1994 is actually branded as a Gibson) have glass shelves. I wouldn't like wire shelves, either. The Frigidaires are not without their flaws--especially the astounding selection of otherworldly noises they emit---but I've never had a single problem with them, so I'm happy.

Oh, and the 2011 upright in the garage is a freezer, not a refrigerator. Forgot to add the word 'freezer' to that sentence two posts up.

 

[brucelucenta]

dermacie

Sub Zero refrigerators have always been very reliable and seem to last for many many years with no problems. That is probably why they cost so much.

 

[combo52]

Sub Zeros Have always been very reliable

WOW, I have never heard of anyone that called SZs reliable, you are smoking some good stuff Bruce.

 

That said SZs are nicely designed and usually good performers, but they are Very expensive to buy and service and will need a lot more service and repair in their frist 30 years of use than just about any other good domestic refrigerator.

 

If I were doing a kitchen now and wanted a nice built-in ref I would look first at Kitchenaid, KA is still expensive and not always the most reliable but usually better than SZ.

 

Diffidently avoid GE Monogram and Viking BI refs at all costs, but of these manufactures have been nothing trouble in the BI ref arena.

 

When you are spending $5000-10,000 on a ref keep in mind that this is not the last money you will spend, and as always skip the service contracts, if you can't afford to have it fixed you should not be buying this appliance.

 

John L.

 

[lorainfurniture]

Sub zero is ok, but I agree with John, they need service every 5-10 years just like every other fridge. Only difference is the sub zero will be 3x the cost. As a servicer, I charge more to work on sub zero basically just because it's a sub zero. There aren't that many people willing to work on them so I can charge whatever I want.

As far as "regular" fridges, I really like LG. Other than a little spat that they had last year with a bad batch of linear compressors, their sealed systems will typically outlast any other brand. They are very easy to diagnose, and parts are relatively cheap.

 

[norgeway]

Why not

Just get a good fridge....Round corners, a latch on the door,NOT frost free,all poecelain interiors and crispers, metal ice trays with a lever to release the ice, no fans, no heaters....Now THAT is a good fridge...and they haven't been made in 50 years!

 

[jkbff]

I should add that I have a sxs frigidaire that was built in 09. He keeps running, no matter where he is at.

I would have no problem buying a non-dispenser frigidaire french door, or another sxs. They are very reliable and serviceable. The dispener french door electroluxes/french doors on the otherhand, I'd stay very very far away from.

 

[circlew]

One of my neighbors got a SZ refrigerator when they built the house around '85. It was still there the last time I was in the kitchen, which was about a year ago. I remember Ann telling my mom she wished she had got something else, as it had to be worked on numerous times.

 

[jkbff]

My thoughts on SubZero and other high-end built in fridges...

People think that because they are spending 6k+ on a fridge, it is supposed to just work and not cause a problem.. I get it. The reality, its not like that.

People spend 6K+ on a car and take it in yearly (at minimum) for routine maintenance etc.

Appliances need to be taken care of. They need to be cleaned and serviced.. We have a ton of built-in fridges around the area.. The people that take care of them, clean them and maintain them have the oldest ones and they keep working.

The people that neglect them are always calling for service....

 

[concettaparsons]

My husband recently bought me a new refrigerator as a surprise gift for our wedding anniversary. Our's is Bosch 800 series 24" glass door counter-depth bottom freezer refrigerator ( http://www.bestbrandappliance.ca/en/catalog/product/268697-Bosch-B10CB80NVB ). I just love it because the black tempered glass provides durability and it enhances the design style of our kitchen. It also has an additional wine rack to store our favorite wine bottles. It has a lot of space and it is supercool. It has met all my expectations and this is the best refrigerator that I've ever used.

 

[firedome]

iirc...

a few years back CU rated SZ fridges among the most trouble-prone of all makes. People I know who have had them have had numerous expensive problems. Kind of like owning an expensive German car!