We bought a GE Bottom freezer top french doors in Slate. It has been flawless. Keeps temp at 37 and freezer at zero. The only issue we have is the freezer drawer is a little small. We have to keep it in mind when shopping.
Need a New Frig
- Thread starter Boomer
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According to Consumer Reports, the reliability of different brands of refrigerators varies a lot by type. Some brands are fairly reliable in one configuration and not in another.
No French Door models (which is what you mentioned you were looking for) earned a better than good rating for reliability or owner satisfaction. That's quite a poor showing. With a bottom freezer configuration you can get a combination of excellent reliability and very good owner satisfaction.
I hate getting stuck with junk so we're going with a bottom freezer model for our next refrigerator. In the past, the ice and cold water dispensers have been a trouble area so I intend to buy our next refrigerator without one. In my humble opinion a trouble free, good working product is the biggest luxury of all.
No French Door models (which is what you mentioned you were looking for) earned a better than good rating for reliability or owner satisfaction. That's quite a poor showing. With a bottom freezer configuration you can get a combination of excellent reliability and very good owner satisfaction.
I hate getting stuck with junk so we're going with a bottom freezer model for our next refrigerator. In the past, the ice and cold water dispensers have been a trouble area so I intend to buy our next refrigerator without one. In my humble opinion a trouble free, good working product is the biggest luxury of all.
basic samung here, they only do french doors i believe, after a 15 yo whirlpool its doing well + coldest freezer section ever. one thing i believe almost ALL appliances are not as good as many parts are outsourced + i believe simpler is better, like vehicles more trinkets more problems. one thing is the design of interior is NOT as good as my smaller whirlpool stored more! bought from a family run business known for better service + only paid a little more than the big box stores!
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Originally Posted by PowerSurge
Originally Posted by Danno
I've had the Samsung 4 door fridge for 4 years.
Never had a problem sourcing parts - and we have needed parts....
Previous LG fridge was great. French door, bottom freezer, water on the door.
Repair parts? A friend owns an appliance repair service and he is always having trouble sourcing factory LG and Samsung repair parts. Not to mention, in 4 years you shouldn't need any parts.
Shouldn't is the key word.
Remodeled kitchen in 2016 so went with matching Samsung black stainless appliances.
Had bought extended Sears warranties, but we all know what happened to Sears .....
Samsung 4 door fridge, needed a new icemaker - $600, no problem with parts.
Samsung stove needed , new top recirc fan (it has 2) and a new main burner, no problem with parts - changed these myself.
These failed at year 2 to 3.
Samsung wall oven needed a new circuit board. Parts ok again. This was the only one that was covered under warranty. Failed in the 1st year.
Samsung dishwasher and microwave - so far so good, knock on wood.
Originally Posted by Danno
I've had the Samsung 4 door fridge for 4 years.
Never had a problem sourcing parts - and we have needed parts....
Previous LG fridge was great. French door, bottom freezer, water on the door.
Repair parts? A friend owns an appliance repair service and he is always having trouble sourcing factory LG and Samsung repair parts. Not to mention, in 4 years you shouldn't need any parts.
Shouldn't is the key word.
Remodeled kitchen in 2016 so went with matching Samsung black stainless appliances.
Had bought extended Sears warranties, but we all know what happened to Sears .....
Samsung 4 door fridge, needed a new icemaker - $600, no problem with parts.
Samsung stove needed , new top recirc fan (it has 2) and a new main burner, no problem with parts - changed these myself.
These failed at year 2 to 3.
Samsung wall oven needed a new circuit board. Parts ok again. This was the only one that was covered under warranty. Failed in the 1st year.
Samsung dishwasher and microwave - so far so good, knock on wood.
We had Samsung and Frigidare french door fridges before.
Both had troubles with circuit boards going out and lights not working, and ice grinder never worked right, and jamming ice.
New house came with Black Stove and Range, we bought black Frigidare basic fridge with in freezer ice maker.
Very simple and have had no problems with it.
It was 20 percent off at Lowes with free delivery and setup. Guy banged up the top of the fridge during delivery and credited us an additional 20 percent if we agreed to take it.
No problem I put a whiskey bottle over the ding, and nobody can see it anyways.
Both had troubles with circuit boards going out and lights not working, and ice grinder never worked right, and jamming ice.
New house came with Black Stove and Range, we bought black Frigidare basic fridge with in freezer ice maker.
Very simple and have had no problems with it.
It was 20 percent off at Lowes with free delivery and setup. Guy banged up the top of the fridge during delivery and credited us an additional 20 percent if we agreed to take it.
No problem I put a whiskey bottle over the ding, and nobody can see it anyways.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they are all junk.
I was told this by three different repair people who had to come out and repair the brand new appliances that I bought in 2016 (Whirlpool/Bosch.)
The Bosch dishwasher went almost a whole month before it needed a new control panel. Bosch got gnarly and wasn't going to cover it under warranty until I got ugly back at them. Apparently, the LED panel is for appearance (according to them.) Even though they covered it, I had to wait a month for parts. Fortunately, no more issues.
Bought a new Whirlpool freezer. That took a new control panel, door switch and a new door to fix. Found out warped doors are very common because they had to change materials per the EPA, and the new materials don't work well with being stacked after manufacture (according to the repairman.) Fortunately, no more issues.
The 1.3K Stainless Steel Whirlpool fridge has been fine, however (even though it has the slowest ice maker I have ever seen.)
I asked all three repair people what the best brand to buy was. All three agreed (Even the Bosch specialist): Whirlpool brands. They all said fewer problems and ease of obtaining parts.
I was told this by three different repair people who had to come out and repair the brand new appliances that I bought in 2016 (Whirlpool/Bosch.)
The Bosch dishwasher went almost a whole month before it needed a new control panel. Bosch got gnarly and wasn't going to cover it under warranty until I got ugly back at them. Apparently, the LED panel is for appearance (according to them.) Even though they covered it, I had to wait a month for parts. Fortunately, no more issues.
Bought a new Whirlpool freezer. That took a new control panel, door switch and a new door to fix. Found out warped doors are very common because they had to change materials per the EPA, and the new materials don't work well with being stacked after manufacture (according to the repairman.) Fortunately, no more issues.
The 1.3K Stainless Steel Whirlpool fridge has been fine, however (even though it has the slowest ice maker I have ever seen.)
I asked all three repair people what the best brand to buy was. All three agreed (Even the Bosch specialist): Whirlpool brands. They all said fewer problems and ease of obtaining parts.
We bought a Whirlpool with a bottom freezer at Lowe's three years ago. A little noisy, but otherwise flawless.
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Yes, mine has been noisy for 12 years … hope it's not quiet for another 5 years !
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My 23 year old GE keeps on trucking. Just a week ago, I purchased a UNsweetened Ice Tea at a FF place. Put in the fridge on the top main shelf. 3 days later there were still ice cubes in the tea. I don't think I have ever adjusted the temp after the first setting. I fear it going done because I hear so many refrigerator issues on $2-3K units. Neighbors new fridge is so light i can almost pick it up with a bear hug. Her icemaker was leaking 2 months into ownership. My 23 yr old unit was $499. Yes, it was a closeout of a $699 unit at Best Buy.
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We have a basic 25-year-old Whirlpool with top freezer that just keeps going. The wife keeps thinking we need a new one, but it's reliable, quiet, and keeps everything nice and cold. I keep telling her the new stuff is junk that will start falling apart after just a few years. Also I prefer to keep things simple and avoid any appliance or device that has "smart" as part of its name or description.
We stick with older appliances as long as possible. A couple of years ago our washing machine finally gave out after more than 30 years. Replaced it with a Speed Queen commercial toploader that has traditional-style controls. That washer should outlast us. I don't know of anything similar in household refrigerators.
We stick with older appliances as long as possible. A couple of years ago our washing machine finally gave out after more than 30 years. Replaced it with a Speed Queen commercial toploader that has traditional-style controls. That washer should outlast us. I don't know of anything similar in household refrigerators.
We have an older GE fridge. Few times a year for the past 4 or 5 years been thinking of replacing it with something new.
Have never had an issue with it and it runs great. Nothing fancy, just works. No weird noises.
I think we'll keep it until it breaks down.
I was thinking also replacing the roof mount package HVAC unit. No repair work since I've lived here about 20 years. It's an old Payne and it too just keeps on working like a work horse in these triple digit summers, keeps the home toasty warm in the winter. All I do is hose the coil once in awhile and replace the return air filter.
A couple friends are HVAC tech's and a buddy is an appliance repair tech. They tell me to keep what I have until I really need to replace. I got schooled some about freon's and such, SEER, VFD etc. Well I still have old stuff and.......... they work.
Have never had an issue with it and it runs great. Nothing fancy, just works. No weird noises.
I think we'll keep it until it breaks down.
I was thinking also replacing the roof mount package HVAC unit. No repair work since I've lived here about 20 years. It's an old Payne and it too just keeps on working like a work horse in these triple digit summers, keeps the home toasty warm in the winter. All I do is hose the coil once in awhile and replace the return air filter.
A couple friends are HVAC tech's and a buddy is an appliance repair tech. They tell me to keep what I have until I really need to replace. I got schooled some about freon's and such, SEER, VFD etc. Well I still have old stuff and.......... they work.
I've read a lot of posts on the Speed Queen washers and dryers here. I like the "industrial" nature of them, and the lack of complexity.
While wandering around stores looking at the aisles and aisles of "Smart" refrigerators with a bunch of bells and whistles and more stuff to break, that cost $2500, $3500, and up, I found myself wondering about that - if there was a basic, "industrial-style" refrigerator/freezer that eschews the fancy and aesthetic features in favor of toughness and longevity and just doing what the basic function of a fridge-freezer combo is supposed to do, which is to keep your food cold and your frozen stuff frozen solid, and do it for a very long time.
A "BITOG" version, if you will.
But, maybe there's a limited market for that?
I went to 4 different stores just to wander around and get an idea of what I wanted (Best Buy, a local place called Electronic Express, Home Depot, and Lowe's), and none had a good selection of basic fridge-freezer combos. But they had row after row of the fancy-schmancy "French door" models with every conceivable bell and whistle.
I would prefer those types of appliances, too, john_pifer. I do not consider myself a Luddite by any means, but I do not see any need whatsoever for "Smart" appliances. Who uses anything but the default settings on them anyway?
My folks had the same washer/dryer combo, the same refrigerator, the same range, and dishwasher for the 30 years they owned their previous house. None of them had any issues that my handy dad couldn't fix himself. That certainly hasn't been the case with our "fancy" appliances.
My folks had the same washer/dryer combo, the same refrigerator, the same range, and dishwasher for the 30 years they owned their previous house. None of them had any issues that my handy dad couldn't fix himself. That certainly hasn't been the case with our "fancy" appliances.
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Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag.
Stay away from Samsungs and LG's
I used to work in quality control around these daily so I know what's going on out there.
Stay away from Samsungs and LG's
I used to work in quality control around these daily so I know what's going on out there.
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Have had good luck with Whirlpool/Kitchen Aid. Have had nothing but problems with Samsung and LG. Took a different route with gas range though. Bought a top of the line GE Cafe range. Got rid of it after 5 years. It was garbage. Replaced it with a Fisher and Paykel... and they threw in a free dishwasher which I installed in our beach house. Both have been flawless.
That'd be interesting to know. I've been trying to convince the wife we could use another fridge, for the basement. Not just to keep my beer cold... this pandemic has us buying in larger qty than before (not hording, just buying a bit extra when it's available, 'cuz too often it's not!). A no-frills fridge would be fine for the basement.
Several years ago at my last house I replaced a 25 yr old fridge with about the most basic fridge I could find. It kept freezing over. After weighing my options I looked up the problem, took a guess, replaced the part for $20 or whatever, worked perfectly fine after that. That kind of simplicity is nice...
We bought this GE fridge 7 years ago. It will take after market water filters which are reasonably priced. No problems with the fridge. My only complaint is the ice capacity is small. If we have large gatherings, forget about having enough ice, but there are work-arounds for that.
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Sorry if I missed it above, but if you've got kids or are in/out of the fridge a lot, I'd personally avoid the bottom freezer doors that pull/slide out on rails. The rail system hogs up freezer space, as does the basket system that comes with it. The other issue is things must be stored carefully in that design or they jamb up the works every time you pull out the freezer door. It's a daily battle in my house. LOL
