Who has the best refrigerator these days?

[fan-of-fans]

My parents bought a new fridge several weeks ago. They wanted something that was basically the same as what they had before which was a Kenmore made by GE. They ended up getting a Kenmore made by Haier and got the extended warranty on it.

I felt like a basic Whirlpool side by side or any of its Kenmore Amana, etc clones would be a good choice, because it still uses the same dial controls since the 80s. I thought it would be tried and true. None of the other fridges on the market seem to have changed as little. The GE made now looked very little like their old one.

They were not interested in the side by side idea as they didn't want the dispensers. My mom was sliglty interested in a basic side by side with no dispensers. Ultimately the one they bought was the closest they could find to shelving arrangement as the old one, top freezer ice maker.

I saw very fancy models out. Ones with touch screens, drawers, even speakers. But I couldn't imagine paying that much. The salespeople at Sears and the independent dealer said the new ones will last 7 years at most, not 20+ like the old one.

 

[norgeway]

The Truth...

NO ONE has ANY good appliances these days!

 

[jkbff]

Whirlpool makes a side by side with no dispensers.

The more and more produce I keep, the more I'm liking the idea of dual evaporators, separate cooling systems.

I'll probably end up getting an all fridge unit and an all freezer unit..

Ge seems to be pretty reliable, Whirlpool is getting better, LG is good as well. Samsung... is our most repaired fridge.

 

[abcomatic]

I have a bottom freezer Whirlpool and love it.

 

[passatdoc]

I own a 2004 Frigidaire counter depth side by side (yes, with icemaker/dispenser). It has had only one repair issue in 12 years: the intake solenoid valve that fills the icemaker broke and needed replacement ($65 from RepairClinic.com). Otherwise operation has been flawless. Very pleased with it, and would buy another like it if it died. If I get more than ten years from it, it's icing on the cake. Twenty years would be nice.

 

[passatdoc]

I own a 2004 Frigidaire counter depth side by side (yes, with icemaker/dispenser). It has had only one repair issue in 12 years: the intake solenoid valve that fills the icemaker broke and needed replacement ($65 from RepairClinic.com). Otherwise operation has been flawless. Very pleased with it, and would buy another like it if it died. If I get more than ten years from it, it's icing on the cake. Twenty years would be nice.

 

[xraytech]

I have a 2013 GE bottom freezer, I specifically wanted a bottom freezer with NO dispensers and NO ice maker. I just wish I bought one a bit bigger than the 29 cu ft one I did.

 

[sudsmaster]

My circa 2000 KitchenAid (made by Whirlpool) side by side with dispenser is going on 17 years with no reliability problems. The only issue I've seen is that if one stacks stuff on the top fridge shelf so that it blocks the cold air inlet from the top of the freezer compartment, it may cause icing in the water tube to the ice maker, which in turn can cause leakage into the bottom of the freezer compartment.

It experienced that about 15 years ago, and was "repaired" under warranty, that is, a new ice maker control board installed. It didn't change anything, and when I accidentally blocked the air flow again, the ice blockage returned. That time I just used a hair dryer to thaw out the frozen water tube and have since been more careful not to block the air flow.

The only other issue is that the ice cubes tend to clump a bit in the bin, and periodically I have pull a large clump out and toss it. The ice maker must heat the cubes (crescents, really) to facilitate their ejection from the freeze molds, and I think the small amount of water that introduces is the cause of the clumping. Even so, it's a minor gripe.

If I were to buy new to day, I'd get one of the bottom freezer French door models with ice/water dispenser. Last month both Costco and Home Depot had a model on sale for about $1200. This month the price has bumped back up to $1900.

I'm a big fan of in door ice/water dispensers, and don't really understand why anybody would be against them, if the price is right. They help one drink more water and stay hydrated, without having to open the fridge doors to get out a water jug and the freezer door to get ice. Plus, they always come with a water filtration setup, which removes off-tastes from otherwise kind of gross tap water. I even use the filtered water from the fridge to make coffee each morning.

 

[ea56]

I'm old school when it comes to refrigerators. We bought a new one in August, a 15.5 cf. top freezer GE. No frills, wire shelves. I did purchase an extra shelf though and this gives us the same amount os shelf storage space as the 18 cf we had before. Since we don't have the plumbing connection for an icemaker that wasn't an issue. We don't use much ice anyway, so making it in trays is no problem at all. As for filtered water, we have a Brita filter on the kitchen faucet and it gives great tasting water and we drink alot of it. I don't care for side by side fridges as the shelves are narrow and if I need to refrigerate a wide item there is not enough room. This new GE really holds the temp at a constant 35 and 0 F degrees in the fridge and freezer respectively. Plus, since we have a small kitchen it fits in the space allocated for it well, instead of overtaking the kitchen with all refrigerator.
Eddie

 

[goatfarmer]

We have a Whirlpool SxS, at least 12 years old. I replaced the ice maker today, otherwise, it's been flawless.

 

[dustin92]

We have a lower end GE that's about to celebrate it's 17th birthday, not a single repair at all. Top freezer with ice maker (took the ice maker out when we moved into this house almost 6 years ago) and aside from a good vacuuming of the coils and fan every year or so, it hasn't had a screw turned. Extremely pleased with it.

 

[dermacie]

refrigerator

I have a Samsung 27 cubic inch side-by-side refrigerator that I spent a good chunk of change on that is garbage and I hate it. I went against my better judgement and listened to my brother when I bought it. I wanted a GE.

It has one cracked drawer already that needs replaced and the ice maker is not that great. Every once in a while it needs defrosted because it wont keep cool and ice must get stuck somewhere and needs unplugged.

I have nothing good to say about it.

 

[polkanut]

Our Magic Chef fridge will be 20 years old this June.  No ice maker in it.  Still runs like a champ! 

 

[brucelucenta]

It would be interesting to find out exactly what NEW refrigerator is best. I have an LG made one that has been a constant problem. Thing is huge and cost over 3 grand. I wonder just how long it will last and what to get when it does finally bite the bullet. I fortunately have a service contract on it for now.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Mixed metaphors anyone? Anyone?

 

[joeypete]

I've been trying to decide on this myself. My Frigidaire 18 cu ft one is now 12 years old. I've been using it for just over 2 years without any problems. I've always liked GE's fridges so I'll probably end up with one of theirs if I need a new one.

 

[jkbff]

I have a 30" counter depth 19 cu ft Samsung french door that was a year old when I got it. A customer was fed up with it and bought a GE. I took it. Knowing what I was getting in to, the fridge evaporator freezes up every 2 months like clockwork. I have to pull everything out, take the back panel out, run my dyson heater in it so it will all thaw.

I've put an extension on the heating element so heat gets down in the drain tube better, I've just recently replaced a temp sensor and a thermal fuse.

It was originally used for veggies etc, but has since been pulled into every day service because I didn't want a big fridge jutting out in the new kitchen..

It is going to be replaced when I find the one I want.

 

[dermacie]

sub zero

anyone have any thoughts on subzero I am going to have a kitchen remodel soon and might be interested in one.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I should add, my parents bought a Kenmore freezer made by Frigidaire for their pantry in 2013. It has electronic controls and hasn't had any issues. Keeps everything hard frozen.

Interestingly none of Kenmore's top freezer fridges are made by GE or Whirlpool to my knowledge. They all seem to be LG, Haier, or Frigidaire.

The side by sides are Whirlpools with some of the fancier ones by LG, same with their french door models. Not sure who makes their freezers or mini fridges, although I know some all freezers are Frigidaire like my parents'.