Time for a new fridge

[motion]

Samsung/LG vs Kenmore, Frigidaire? The new South Korean models sure seem pretty sexy to me. Ice and water in the door is mandatory. I think we're leaning towards the side by side models, as opposed to the new trend of freezer in the bottom drawer. Seems like everything would be stacked and hard to access down there. Lots of them have a funky little middle drawer. Not sure what to use that for.

Any recent experience from anyone?

[MBAtarga]

Friends I know with LG (you remember GoldStar - the Korean company? - yea, that one that manufactured cheap electronics) here in metro Atlanta can't even find anyone to service their fridges for under warranty repair.

[red-beard]

If they have an internal filter, get one that has a reasonably priced replacement filter. GE is now installing RFID chips to tell the computer it is replaced. And the filters are $55 each.

Better yet, get one WITHOUT a filter an install an inline filter from Home Despot for $25.

[GWN7]

There are only about 3 manufactures of fridges. Here's a list of who makes who: Appliance411 The Purchase: Who Makes What?

[KFC911]

I'd bet you have to go for a real commercial grade unit before you see a huge difference but a friend in the appliance repair biz gave Samsung a thumbs up over most. I've never hooked up the ice maker though...

[IROC]

We bought a nice Samsung a couple of years ago. Great refrigerator, but we started having a problem with the refrigerator side not staying cold (freezer was fine). It would be intermittent - and very annoying. The temp would be 38F one day and 55F the next and then a couple of days later it would start cooling again and go back down to 38F or so.

Got on the interwebs and there is a lot of info on the problem (which is basically the defrost element freezing up). Evidently it is a design error on Samsung's part and there are multiple reasons for the problem so you've got to simply start taking things apart and troubleshooting. I was able to fix it, but it was a PITA.

Edit: In the vein of "they don't make things like they used to", we bought the Samsung to replace a ~12 year-old Maytag refrigerator. We moved the Maytag out to the garage. The Maytag continues to work flawlessly since the day we bought it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I love my GE Monogram side by side. It can somehow keep veggies fresher, much longer. The modern, minimalist styling is perfect.

[Jim Richards]

We went with a KitchenAid refrigerator in our newly remodeled (by look 171) kitchen. You might want to make sure you get his opinion to add into the mix.

[Bugsinrugs]

Refrigerators are like a--holes. Everyone has one and some stink more than others.

[Nickshu]

I bought a $3600 Kenmore Elite French door fridge 4 years ago (along with a full compliment of Kenmore Elite appliances). Note that Kenmore fridges are rebadged LGs. Our fridge has been a piece of junk and the repair guy (who has been out for it several times, as well as our crappy Kenmore Elite dishwasher) has basically said they suck now.
I will never buy Kenmore again.
Steer clear of LG too since they are the same thing.

Maybe Samsung or Bosch. Or go higher end like Viking.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

My GE is a 2004 unit. Never been serviced.

Are the GEs of today the same quality as 11 years ago? No idea.

[wswartzwel]

Bought a $3K whirlpool for my wife several months ago… Bottom drawer freezer doesn't seal well, and develops frost. Continually having to remove and reinstall the seal to get it to make contact with the fridge. Everything else works great so far…like all the storage compartments that have their own temp adjustment, to keep beer cold. Also came with a blue tooth sound system, that she uses to listen to music off her iPad while making sammiches. Water filter light hasn't come on yet, but we bought the extended warranty, which gives discount on the price of filters.

[javadog]

I've found that the more I cooked, the less I needed a freezer. Outside of ice and ice cream, I don't freeze much of anything. So, I wouldn't need a big freezer compartment and having it in a drawer would mean I wouldn't lose all the cold air every time I opened it.

I do keep a lot of stuff in the fridge section. I always could use more space there, especially for leftovers and whatnot. Having a larger, wider fridge section would be a bonus.

I'd look into commercial (restaurant) offerings, to see if I could find something made in the US that had a good service network and reputation.

I'd prefer a separate clear ice maker and I use a separate faucet for purified water for drinking.

JR

PS: You need to be updating the MotoGP thread with your recent trip details, not wasting time with appliances.

[GH85Carrera]

Mt parents bought a refrigerator in about 1960 when we lived in Hawaii. It moved with us as a military family over a dozen times. They finally cave it away to a friend for helping them install a new fridge to match the remodeled kitchen. It likely is still working but using twice the electricity of a modern fridge.

I sold my parents washing machine at the estate sale that I bet was 30 years old.

So yea, the old phrase "they don't make em like they used to" is 100% accurate. Now all the appliances have insane electronic do-dads and use far less energy but they have designed in obsolesce and short life span.

I am a computer geek and love gadgets but I can't fathom any possible reason to have my fridge connected to the internet.

[1990C4S]

I saw a Samsung side by side with two compressors at Home Depot, one compressor for the fridge, one for the freezer. That seems like a good idea.

When I look at fridges I always think they spent a lot more time on the appearance than the longevity and reliability.

Interesting fact: My father has a fridge from the 50's with no motor, it uses a heater element to expand the gas. Silent and it still works perfectly. I doubt it's very efficient though...

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

?...

I am a computer geek and love gadgets but I can't fathom any possible reason to have my fridge connected to the internet.

It's designed that way to automatically order the $55 water filter every six months....can't imagine doing without mine

I don't do green font either...

[creaturecat]

bosch here.
overheight (7ft?). 36 in. wide counter depth. french doors. we really like it. lots.
quiet and well-built.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Mt parents bought a refrigerator in about 1960 when we lived in Hawaii. It moved with us as a military family over a dozen times. They finally cave it away to a friend for helping them install a new fridge to match the remodeled kitchen. It likely is still working but using twice the electricity of a modern fridge.

I sold my parents washing machine at the estate sale that I bet was 30 years old.

So yea, the old phrase "they don't make em like they used to" is 100% accurate. Now all the appliances have insane electronic do-dads and use far less energy but they have designed in obsolesce and short life span.

I am a computer geek and love gadgets but I can't fathom any possible reason to have my fridge connected to the internet.

how about to get an alert on your phone that someone left the door open?

how about having the manufacturer's service department access the fridge and download all the operating stats prior to making a service call so that they brought all the right replacement parts on the 1st trip?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Grimm

how about to get an alert on your phone that someone left the door open?

Never happened to me... but then I don't live with a house full of unemployed hipsters... and my dogs know that the easiest-to-fetch food is in the pantry, not the fridge. What's in the fridge is cold, and they are all too short to reach the microwave.

Originally Posted by Grimm

how about having the manufacturer's service department access the fridge and download all the operating stats prior to making a service call so that they brought all the right replacement parts on the 1st trip?

Never gonna happen...

I'm with that other Okie on this... my fridge doesn't need a Facebook page or a twitter account.

JR

[aigel]

French doors + freezer in the bottom + ice in the door is a complete waste of space. I agree you want side by side if ice / water in door are mandatory.

I find that fridges are easily bought used on CL for a very significant discount. My latest is a $300 unit that was $1500 new. My garage fridge was $50 for a 3 year old unit with a dent - about $700 new.

I cannot get myself to spend $2500 on a fridge. As I said in the other fridge thread - my beer is just as cold out of my $50 unit ...

G