Hi all, we are currently embroiled in a fairly serious home reno and are looking to replace the appliances in the kitchen. We've been browsing the box stores and found (too) many options. I know refrigerators aren't what they used to be as they simply don't last like our current almost 30 year old unit.. I don't want touch screens, wifi and all that jazz - just a reliable unit that keeps things cold. We have a few ideas on configurations, but what brands work well long term anymore? The kid at Lowes was saying that LG has been the best, but I don't value his opinion as high as others.. That and I have a bit of a dislike for LG as I HATE our LG TV (yeah, yeah, grumpy old man stuff lol) As for configuration, do the french door styles stay sealed up well?
Input on "best" refrigerators on the market wanted
- Thread starter The_Eric
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And his job is to sell appliances! My two sons swore off LG and Samsung appliances after major repairs in their first five years of ownership. Our 3 door GE profile is still going strong after 12 years.
Our family (on various properties) has one Maytag french door (7 yrs old); one Kitchenaid french door (2 yrs old) and one Whirlpool top freezer (2 yrs old). All have ice makers of some sort and all have been flawless. I suspect any replacements will be from the same or similar brand families.
In the early 2000's, we also had a GE fridge that required two repairs under warranty and failed before 40 months. Consequently, I marked GE off my fridge list.
In the early 2000's, we also had a GE fridge that required two repairs under warranty and failed before 40 months. Consequently, I marked GE off my fridge list.
My scratch n dent French door Whirlpool I got 6-7 years ago now is still going strong. It’s survived the move from the outlet store to my first house, from my 1st house to the apartment, and then from there to its current resting place in my kitchen. Still seals up great.
You will find many differing opinions on BITOG, but nearly everyone will advise you to avoid Samsung and LG refrigerators and upscale features that add to complexity. My opinion (and it is just that, an opinion), is to go with a Kitchenaid or Whirlpool traditional refrigerator. While the french door models look oh-so-stylish, I couldn't wait to replace the one that came with our house. Leaning over to get items out of the freezer drawer was a pain in the rear and I came to despise that configuration in a matter of days! I also believe that it adds to the complexity of balancing the chilled airflow path of conventional refrigeration design from an engineering standpoint, although it did not fail during our ownership. I used to like GE refrigerators when they were U.S made, but they mostly appear to be Haier products produced in the PRC now. While the ancient Frigidaire refrigerators had a good reliability record, I find the newer ones to be cheaply made and noisy since the brand was acquired by Electrolux a few decades ago.
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Here is my opinion (and it has been formulated by the advice given by the last four repairmen that were at my home.)
They are all junk (and the Bosch repairman stated that as well.)
All four gave me the same recommendation on make: Whirlpool brands.
Not because they are any better but they have the best parts network and parts are easy to get.
They are all junk (and the Bosch repairman stated that as well.)
All four gave me the same recommendation on make: Whirlpool brands.
Not because they are any better but they have the best parts network and parts are easy to get.
Hard to disagree with this. I think the LG is pretty cool if you want different size ice cubes. We have a GE French door with freezer on bottom. It's a couple years old. The ice maker jams up about once a month and I need to open the door and give it a Fonzie kaboop. Wife wanted the French door. I wanted a water dispenser that could fill my larger water bottles without any fuss.
Frigidaire, GE, or Hotpoint.
Just my experience - Built our home in 2014 and went with all Fridgedaire Gallery appliances in the kitchen and top line front load washer and dryer. ..... JUNK! The fridge never worked right stayed in defrost mode at random times and melted our food - got sick of it and replaced it after 2 yrs and several service calls. The microwave caught fire and was done in 3 yrs. The dishwasher made it to at 4yrs. The washer lasted 3yrs. The only original 2014 appliance still going is the dryer. I replaced the fridge with a Samsung and so far love it. The microwave replaced by a GE - love it, the dishwasher replaced by Media and surprised at the quality of that unit. The washer is not a regular top load Whirlpool.
Not true about GE. While Haier is a Chinese company, many GE appliances are made in America.
Appliances Made or Assembled in America | GE Appliances
By investing over $1 billion dollars in new plants, equipment and technology, insourcing the manufacture of many of our new products and upgrading employee training, we have recommitted ourselves to making great American-made appliances.
www.geappliances.com
This article indicates that 49% of current GE refrigerator models are "Made in the USA". It appears the Profile line and most top-freezer models are made in America.Not true about GE. While Haier is a Chinese company, many GE appliances are made in America.
Appliances Made or Assembled in America | GE Appliances
By investing over $1 billion dollars in new plants, equipment and technology, insourcing the manufacture of many of our new products and upgrading employee training, we have recommitted ourselves to making great American-made appliances.
Where Are GE Appliances Made
For me the "Best" is
Find a super clean and unabused 35 year old fridge of any old brand.
Problem is getting the wife to agree.
Find a super clean and unabused 35 year old fridge of any old brand.
Problem is getting the wife to agree.
I currently "consumer home test" units for Whirlpool (who also owns Kitchenaid, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, and Consul). Whatever models you look at, be sure to closely inspect the icemaker functionality. I'm on my third unit this year because the icemakers keep breaking.
Also, many newer units have "electronic" ice and water dispensers. You push it and several seconds later the ice or water dispenses. They continue to dispense for up to a full second after you release the button. Very annoying. You have to plan to stop before you normally would. Give me the old pressure switches any day.
Also, many newer units have "electronic" ice and water dispensers. You push it and several seconds later the ice or water dispenses. They continue to dispense for up to a full second after you release the button. Very annoying. You have to plan to stop before you normally would. Give me the old pressure switches any day.
LG has the HIGHEST failure rate of any appliance brand right now. Three year ago they switched to a horizon compressor and have 90 plus percent failure rates. I purchased a fridge from Lowe's back in December 2023 and did alot of digging on this. GE and Maytag from what the Lowes appliance department manager said have the least issues. I'm in the keep it simple camp. My GE has a water dispenser, cubed and crushed ice. Thats it no touch panel etc. I also went with the three year additional warranty. The second lady told me it will cover one water filter per year and if you don't use the warranty you get it back.
I have had really good luck with whirlpool on two kitchen renovations no failures. First kitchen 15 years all appliances worked did another renovation last year whirlpool again. The original fridge is in the laundry room in the basement still going. Going 20 years on whirlpool gas dryer replaced the washing machine with a speed queen
I have a smaller Whirlpool in the basement as a beer fridge. It was bought in 2016 and eventually wound up at a campsite down at the river. River flooded and the darn thing was floating around. Still works great to this day. Did need a new condenser fan, but it went through a pretty rough move. Bought a Whirlpool side by side last year and I like it despite the size, but that's more of a kitchen size thing.
We bought brand new home in 2014 with brand new GE appliances.
Washer died after 6yrs. Washed bad anyway. Bought Samsung, died after a year. Now we have LG, works great. Simple, white one, doesn’t even have a display.
GE dishwasher gave up last fall. Started to wash iffy. Replaced it with BOSCH, which is a freaking monster of dishwasher.
So, GE fridge was really good. Never had a hiccup, going strong 10yrs.
Washer died after 6yrs. Washed bad anyway. Bought Samsung, died after a year. Now we have LG, works great. Simple, white one, doesn’t even have a display.
GE dishwasher gave up last fall. Started to wash iffy. Replaced it with BOSCH, which is a freaking monster of dishwasher.
So, GE fridge was really good. Never had a hiccup, going strong 10yrs.
From the people who repair fridges, I've heard GE is the most reliable, as long as you stick with the simple models without in-door ice makers, screens, etc.
As an independent appliance parts distributer. Represent all the major brands. I buy Whirlpool or their brands Kitchenaid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana. They have nationwide service network and parts distributors throughout the country. When I have warranty repair and tech says can’t be fixed. Whirlpool has delivered new unit, no hazzle. Out of warranty most all repairmen work on Whirlpool.
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