They are riding their reputation from many years ago when they had a very good product. Now, they are not very good and people are discovering their new refridgerators are conking out in five years.
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Quality replacement refrigerator?
- Thread starter borgward
- Start date
Forgot to mention Bosch is good too.
I spoke of it before, I had a home built in 2022 and had to wait months on my Sub-Zero fridge during the pandemic so I got a GE garage ready fridge at Lowes. The GE temp adjuster was mechanical, had no ice maker and it was rated garage ready, so I assume it might be reliable long term. I could have bought a box truck full of the GE fridges for what my Sub-Zero cost.
I sold the GE no longer needing it and I wasn't keeping it around just in case. Not that it matters to most guys, but virtually all 30" top freezer models have a cheap interior and what you'd see in an apartment.
I sold the GE no longer needing it and I wasn't keeping it around just in case. Not that it matters to most guys, but virtually all 30" top freezer models have a cheap interior and what you'd see in an apartment.
Skip the LG as their horizontal compressors used in Fridges had almost a 100% failure rate. It wasn't if but when. I picked up a whirlpool Fridge on special from lowes. Lowes had a really great combo deal with a fridge, dishwasher and microwave together.
Neither will a Whirlpool
Nothing is made to last like the days when we were kids. Back then customer surveys said #1 request was lasting 20 yrs. Now its useless features like can my phone look inside the fridge, etc. Customer surveys and energy ratings drive the industry.
Only Whirlpool built stuff in my house.
Box store stuff is the same as a Indy may carry, they may add a small feature or do nothing other than run a build for a bulk order for them with a one digit change in the model # so it can be claimed as exclusive.
I've bought my latest appliances from Lowes. I used to go into Lowes to check customer returns for resale and I've seen stuff they have taken back with nothing wrong more often than not. Very customer centric IMO.
About 12 yrs ago they dented the side of a 26 cu. ft. fridge when they delivered it to my old house to replace a 1987 Whirlpool that was in the house when I bought it. Dent was in a spot out of site behind the cabinets. My wife went in with a picture and they refunded $400.
I'm not a Lowes fanboy but they are good with some things.
Only Whirlpool built stuff in my house.
Box store stuff is the same as a Indy may carry, they may add a small feature or do nothing other than run a build for a bulk order for them with a one digit change in the model # so it can be claimed as exclusive.
I've bought my latest appliances from Lowes. I used to go into Lowes to check customer returns for resale and I've seen stuff they have taken back with nothing wrong more often than not. Very customer centric IMO.
About 12 yrs ago they dented the side of a 26 cu. ft. fridge when they delivered it to my old house to replace a 1987 Whirlpool that was in the house when I bought it. Dent was in a spot out of site behind the cabinets. My wife went in with a picture and they refunded $400.
I'm not a Lowes fanboy but they are good with some things.
If it's model # starts with 106 it is a Whirlpool built one.
Avoid Samsung!!!!!!!!! And strongly consider avoiding LG.
My very expensive 2018 Samsung was subject to the class action icemaker/crumbling interior plastic lawsuit where customers were made whole. The class action was dismissed by a bribed NJ judge. . Samsung = terrible company, terrible product. The repairs cost more than a new Whirlpool from Costco.
Just an FYI, my Samsung's internal shelves collapsed 3 years ago due to material failure where they attach. They are now being held up by 20 ounce coke bottles full of water. The fridge is still cold, and the freezer still works. But the materials have deteriorated, cracked and crumbled into uselessness. Zero warranty consideration from Samsung. They told me to pound sand.
Whirlpool or GE from COSTCO would be my suggestions (Costco doubles the 1yr warranty and offers a great deal on extended protection). My other suggestion would be to purchase as simple a fridge as is possible.
Just be advised that GE uses a proprietary water filter with an RFID chip. The water stops flowing at the 6 month mark and only a $60 GE filter will work.
The ice augur motor. This is #3, an OEM Samsung part which I just removed. Cracked in half and crumbling in my hands. It fell apart. The upper part is supposed to be one piece!!! The entire fridge is made of this plastic.
My very expensive 2018 Samsung was subject to the class action icemaker/crumbling interior plastic lawsuit where customers were made whole. The class action was dismissed by a bribed NJ judge. . Samsung = terrible company, terrible product. The repairs cost more than a new Whirlpool from Costco.
Just an FYI, my Samsung's internal shelves collapsed 3 years ago due to material failure where they attach. They are now being held up by 20 ounce coke bottles full of water. The fridge is still cold, and the freezer still works. But the materials have deteriorated, cracked and crumbled into uselessness. Zero warranty consideration from Samsung. They told me to pound sand.
Whirlpool or GE from COSTCO would be my suggestions (Costco doubles the 1yr warranty and offers a great deal on extended protection). My other suggestion would be to purchase as simple a fridge as is possible.
Just be advised that GE uses a proprietary water filter with an RFID chip. The water stops flowing at the 6 month mark and only a $60 GE filter will work.
The ice augur motor. This is #3, an OEM Samsung part which I just removed. Cracked in half and crumbling in my hands. It fell apart. The upper part is supposed to be one piece!!! The entire fridge is made of this plastic.
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skip korean brands. for a fridge.
I'd buy a hisense, midea, or haier before LG or samsung.
Best option is to Buy whirlpool, maytag etc..
models with less fancy features = more reliable..
In-laws got TORCHED on a 2700$ samsung that lasted less than 3 years and was unrepairable.
(4 repair visits)
a friend had similar issues on a fancy LG.. yes just anecdotes but internet seems to mostly agree.
Inlaws now have a fridgidair its been 100% reliable for 8+ years minus the jamming ice maker.
Which I fixed 3x and now they just use trays.
Of course anything can be reliable or unreliable.. research specific models. besides the brand.
I'd buy a hisense, midea, or haier before LG or samsung.
Best option is to Buy whirlpool, maytag etc..
models with less fancy features = more reliable..
In-laws got TORCHED on a 2700$ samsung that lasted less than 3 years and was unrepairable.
(4 repair visits)
a friend had similar issues on a fancy LG.. yes just anecdotes but internet seems to mostly agree.
Inlaws now have a fridgidair its been 100% reliable for 8+ years minus the jamming ice maker.
Which I fixed 3x and now they just use trays.
Of course anything can be reliable or unreliable.. research specific models. besides the brand.
It seems to me, that the more energy efficient they are, the shorter the lifespan.
I am aligned with most of the posters above about staying within the Whirlpool Corporation family. If you want their highest quality line, look at their premium KitchenAid offerings. You can improve your chance of reliability by avoiding fancy features such as digital displays, touchscreens, WiFi controls, through door ice/water dispensers and trendy designer styles such as French doors with bottom drawer freezer (although the spouse will likely demand it).
As with washing machines and dryers, simple = reliable.
As with washing machines and dryers, simple = reliable.
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We had to replace a fridge last summer. Based on advice from that appliance dude on YT, we ended up going with a made in the US, very simple design GE fridge (which we purchased online from Costco*). The only more complicated thing about it is that it has separate controls (and compressors?) for the fridge and freezer. But no ice maker, water dispenser, no "smart" features, etc. It's been great so far, though it does run a bit louder than some.
On a side note, for younger folks/newbies out there, to keep your fridge going longer, you should annually clean the coils, have enough space around the back of the fridge for air flow, and never block vents inside the unit. Doing all of these will help to extend the life of the fridge.
(* Normally I like Costco and their service, but for some reason, it took us a couple weeks + to receive the fridge, well after the initial estimate.)
Btw, on a side note, most fridges use spray foam for the insulation. I wish more companies would start to use vacuum insulation panels as the primary insulation instead, as it would really up the efficiency quite a bit. (I'm going to be making a portable car cooler/fridge, and because I'm using TEC's/peltiers which are notoriously inefficient [but very convenient, and you don't have to worry about tipping them over etc], I'm making vacuum insulation panels for it and using heat pipe type tech as the thermal exchanger on the hot side).
On a side note, for younger folks/newbies out there, to keep your fridge going longer, you should annually clean the coils, have enough space around the back of the fridge for air flow, and never block vents inside the unit. Doing all of these will help to extend the life of the fridge.
(* Normally I like Costco and their service, but for some reason, it took us a couple weeks + to receive the fridge, well after the initial estimate.)
Btw, on a side note, most fridges use spray foam for the insulation. I wish more companies would start to use vacuum insulation panels as the primary insulation instead, as it would really up the efficiency quite a bit. (I'm going to be making a portable car cooler/fridge, and because I'm using TEC's/peltiers which are notoriously inefficient [but very convenient, and you don't have to worry about tipping them over etc], I'm making vacuum insulation panels for it and using heat pipe type tech as the thermal exchanger on the hot side).
2x on bottom freezer. I warned my wife in the old house but she wanted it. They turn into the bottomless pit, have to unload it to retrieve stuff just like a chest freezer and a PITA to retrieve stuff that escapes the drawer. New house now has a side by side.
I do have a LG dehumidifier that has been surprisingly good for 8+ yrs. now, knock on wood. Was limited on buying choices at the time for one that would work down to 45f in a cold basement.
Freezer and reef side separate controls are because cold air is ducted into the reef side from the freezer side. That's how most work except some now are trying to move refrigerant to multiple evap. coils for some of the multiple drawer styles. LG and Samsung are noted for that so more complexity and problems.
I do have a LG dehumidifier that has been surprisingly good for 8+ yrs. now, knock on wood. Was limited on buying choices at the time for one that would work down to 45f in a cold basement.
Freezer and reef side separate controls are because cold air is ducted into the reef side from the freezer side. That's how most work except some now are trying to move refrigerant to multiple evap. coils for some of the multiple drawer styles. LG and Samsung are noted for that so more complexity and problems.
Samsung has a factory tech center in Fairfield NJ. I used to have to go their occasionally to get ''reprogrammed" when I was still working for S.
The problem lies in getting prompt service. I went through two defective units from Lowes. Getting them out here was not easy. When the second one went bad we wound up spending about 8 hours on the phone waiting and getting shuffled around. After much frustration we eventually got a 3rd one.
If you buy from a reputable independent dealer they will take care of you. You won't get lost in the big box national maze.
BTW they said the first two could not be repaired.
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Yes, that is a "was" situation. Not true in recent years as LG is trying to recover from the mud on their faces. Many LG refrigerators have a 5 year warranty on the compressor, others (the inverter driven compressors?) have a 10 year warranty.
Whirlpool sidexsides have been reliable for us. The most inexpensive one they sell at Lowe's or Costco. My understanding is that through the door icemakers are problematic when they occupy refrigerator side space as in French door style...not when they sit on the freezer side as in a sidexsides style.
Have had the same Whirlpool in our beach house 6-7 years now. No problems. Bought the more current model for our primary home 3 years ago. The ice maker was a problem. Replaced under warranty. The Whirlpool ice makers they used in dozens of refrigerators were rock solid but they changed the design. The newer ones are hit or miss.
Only real complaint is where the water filter is... basically floor level.
Have had the same Whirlpool in our beach house 6-7 years now. No problems. Bought the more current model for our primary home 3 years ago. The ice maker was a problem. Replaced under warranty. The Whirlpool ice makers they used in dozens of refrigerators were rock solid but they changed the design. The newer ones are hit or miss.
Only real complaint is where the water filter is... basically floor level.
Absolutely correct. None of the appliance brands that we used to be able to depend upon, like Maytag, Whirlpool and GE, any longer make appliances to last for decades. Except for the more expensive brands, none of them are built to be serviceable any longer. LG did have their problems with compressors, and did settle a class action suit because of it. But right now, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and Maytag are your best bets.
When I bought my current refrigerator, I asked the salesman what brands tend to get the fewest returns and complaints. He said any more, Whirlpool is just as problematic as any of the others.
You have already made the most important decision by going with a simple freezer over refrigerator design. Bottom freezer refrigerators are equally reliable, and may be more plentiful, depending upon the current trend. That single decision is more important than the brand. By far, ice makers are the leading problem with refrigerators, particularly those that are in the door of the refrigerator. Then all the other gadgets, that require complex circuit boards to run. Then water dispensers.
Just because Whirlpool has bought up many of their competitors over the years, does not make their products any more reliable. Whirlpool does have the advantage of still having manufacturing in the USA, but I believe they only manufacture their most expensive lines domestically. They manufacture everything else in Mexico and China.
Quality and longevity have been engineered out of modern products! The technology and better materials exist but they aren't being used due to marketing.
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