Refrigerator recommendations?

[Bryan Brenneman]

Well it seems as though I'll be in the market for a new refrigerator this weekend. It seems as though mine is about ready to retire. The freezer is only getting to 22°F. No big deal I guess. I think it is the original to the house, so it is 30 years old. Does anyone have any suggestions on brands. Are there any to specifically avoid? I'll be looking for water and ice in the door. Anyone have experience with some of the ones I seen advertised on TV with "water by Culligan"? What's the deal with them. Lets hear some thoughts.

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[illflem]

Bryan, you will be hard pressed to find a refer as good as your 30 year old one. The new ones don't seem to last as long. If you like it have it repaired. Something you can do on your own is make sure the coils underneath and/or on the back aren't all clogged up with dust. Most things that go wrong with refers are very simple, is it icing up?

If you really want a new one it's hard to go wrong with Sub-Zero brand, but it will cost you.

 

[Todd G]

Sub-Zeros are nice but start at 3K. Ouch! I was in the appliance business for the last 7 years. My favorite is the GE Profile line. Also like the KichenAid(Whirlpool) fridges. The Culligan water filters are kind of a rip-off to me. They are nothing more than a charcoal filter inside the fridge. Replacement cost - $30+. Every 6 months as recommended can get expensive. I'd get a fridge without the filter and put a 10 dollar charcoal filter in the water supply line. These filters are twice as big and last longer but are not as convienient to change. Expect to pay around $1400 for a decent fridge.

 

[Bryan Brenneman]

Bill,
I am not attached to this fridge, I even considered replacing it before it started acting up. I grew up with water and ice in the door and for the last 8 years, I missed it. The coils are not impeccably clean, but buildup is minimal. No icing outside and at the rate it's going, there won't be any ice left on the inside. Ice that is, it never made frost, it was one of those new fan dangled no frost models of 1971. #ad


Todd,
Isn't the Kenmore line actually Whirlpool also? Is Kenmore a lower grade of Whirlpool? I have a Rain-Soft reverse osmosis filter under the sink now. It was here when I bought the place (I wouldn't have paid the over inflated Rain-Soft price). It claims a 10 gallon per day production rate. Do you think that is enough volume, or could that starve the fridge and cause problems?

P. S. I don't predict there will be any Sub-Zero's in my future. At 3K, I won't have any money left to put food in it. #ad

 

[Todd G]

You are correct- Whirlpool makes most of the Kenmore line. Sears rebadges everyone elses stuff with their name. I've seen GE stuff with the Kenmore name also. Most of the Kenmore appliances I've seen just seem tacky. Like mirrored panels on a fridge. What a cleaning nightmare. Also beware of black. It looks great but shows every fingerprint so keep the Windex around. Measure carefully your refridge opening before shopping. You wouldn't believe how many we deliver and have to bring back because everyone thinks every fridge out there will fit in their house. The larger ones built today also are very deep. Some stick out a foot or more past the surrounding cabinets. In the showrooms, all the fridges are lined up so the fronts are even. It gives the illusion they are all the same depth. Beware! Good Luck.

Todd

 

[Skydiver]

I have been happy with our 25 cu. ft. whirlpool ice and H20 in the door.
I have been told that Roper is the lower line of Whirlpool. Anyone care to reply in that would be appreciated.
I have recently heard that the compressors are made in china on some models.
Remember that the principle of refridgeration is they don't cool they remove the heat: must keep the outside coils clean so the heat can excape. Refering to my old trade school instructor.
Tim

 

[Todd G]

Whirlpool products go in this order:
Roper
Estate
Whirlpool
KichenAid

 

[RonaldLarson]

Definitely Fridgidare. Last longer, work more efficiently, nicer interior.
If you buy a Whirlpool, get the extended warranty, know what I mean?
Ron

 

[C Schomer]

When I started in the mid 70's, I did a lot of residential work. I didn't like the hot running GE rotary compressors. I put more compressors in them than enything else - but there were more GE's around than anything else because of their 'builder' discounts. Frigidare had a rotary but they were tough as nails. Almost everything else was Tecumseh recips at that time. Now, every Jap and their brother builds compressors and I haven't kept up with what's-what! I have an 84 Amana and it cools like the day it was new! The shortest run time of any fridge I've ever had! It has a big case, high speed recip in it - don't know what brand. I oil the condenser and evap. motors occasionally and clean out the bottom often. It's all original! I think if you stay with a major brand and take care of it, you'll be fine! Craig

 

[Sled Puller]

We have had good luck with Whirlpool, but I just bought a Fridgidare. On sale,the size,color,and features were right. The salesman told us GE's suck.
I noticed they are a lot like cars, the more tacky "top of the line" features, the more $$$.
BTW, My Uncle worked for GE. He bought all Whirlpool stuff.
Gene

 

[bigkid59]

I bought a new refrigerator about 3 years ago. I checked around and finally just bought a Kenmore out of a Sunday newspaper ad. I had to fight with Sears (not that that is anything new, what with their problems in getting their ads correct). They advertised a side by side model with ice, crushed ice, and water in the door. After buying it I was informed that the ad was wrong and I would not be getting the crushed ice feature. I called in the manager and finally got what was advertised. Be careful that you get what you expect.

Something that is easy to overlook is the actual size of the shelves. I mention this because while the freezer area of mine is fairly large in cubic size, the vertical arrangement leads to rather narrow shelves. I did not notice this until I tried to put large frozen pizzas in it. They will not fit in except on edge. This is not a major problem for me but just shows how it is easy to overlook some detail.


------------------
92 D250 Auto Trans-Currently stock except for TCI special torque convertor. Now adding 16cm turbo housing, complete 4" exhaust, tachometer, pyrometer, and transmission temperature gauge. Injectors in the near future.
Also have 1984 Volvo D260 with inline 6 diesel made by Volkswagen.

 

[BigDaddy]

Bryan,

For this type of purchase I like to use Consumers Reports. Some say, that they can be too subjective or unrealistic in their evaluations. All I can say is, I have never been burned by any of their findings.

Since you want water and ice in the door I have focused on side-by-sides however, the guide does not give this information. The following is from the 2001 Buying Guide. If you want more info e-mail me and I will try to find the back issue.

From Overall Ratings:
#1: Kenmore Elite #5059[2] MSRP: $1,700
#2: Maytag #MSD2758DR[W] MSRP: $1,900
#3: Kenmore #5959[2] MSRP: $1,600
#4: KitchenAid Superba #KSRE25FH[WH] MSRP: $1,550
#5: Whirlpool #ED25PEXH[W]
#6: GE Profile Performance #TFB26PPD[WW] MSRP: $1,650
#7: Frigidaire FRS26NH[W] MSRP: $1,000
Last Place: Amana #ARS2667A[W] MSRP: $1,500
From Repair History
Listed from fewest to most with Icemaker and Dispenser.
Least: Whirlpool
Kenmore
KitchenAid
GE
Amana
Most: Maytag

CR printed, "Based on more than 330,000 responses on side-by-side refrigerators bought in 1994 to 1999. Data have been standardized to eliminate differences between brands due to age".

Hope this helps.

Joe

------------------
<font color=forestgreen>2000</font> DODGE <font color=forestgreen>RAM</font>, <font color=forestgreen>2500 HD</font>, 4x4 SLT, Reg. Cab, <font color=forestgreen>Forest Green</font>, Agate interior, Cummins ISB, Auto, Shift-on-the-Fly (241HD), 4. 10 LS, ABS, Trailer Tow Group, Camper Group, Michelin; DC: Fog Lights Kit, Tow Rings, Under Rail Bedliner, VentVisors, Splash Guards, Cold Weather Cover, & Mats.
<font color=forestgreen>After-market</font>: JRE 4" Exhaust, Van Aaken, High Idler, Heavy Duty Idler Pulley, Gatorback Belt, Painless Wiring, K40, Viper w/AutoStart, Clarion 6 Disk CD w/remote, UnidenCB w/Francis antenna, Draw-Tite Activator II, Alpex 255TC2C Air Horns, Continental BedRails, Delo 400, HOWES, Liquid Glass.
BigDaddy's Ram #ad
New England RamRiggers

 

[JB @ C and L Machine]

Dont buy the fridge I just bought in January from Sears. We bought a new model side by side with the ice maker on the door. It worked great for 2 months and then the ice maker quit makin ice. We call for service last week and he came out yesterday(sat 7) to take a peak. My fiancee described that the ice maker stopped making ice and the tech told her that it new model as of Jan 01 and it has a design faw that freezes the water before it gets to the ice tray. He told her they would hopefully come up with a fix and to call him back for service every month to see if he has a fix... what a pain in the @$$... JB *edit... my proof reading stinks*

[This message has been edited by QuadDoorRam25004x4diesel (edited 04-08-2001). ]

 

[Bryan Brenneman]

I would like to extend a thank you to all who have replied. I have made my purchase, a Maytag MSD2756GEW. I realize no one actually suggested a Maytag, but no one said no to it either. I learned a few things in this buying experience. One is that side by side refrigerators are not intended for a 30 year old kitchen. The bottom of the cabinet that was over my refrigerator was 67. 25 inches. I didn't find any side by side models that would actually fit that. I ended up removing that cabinet, maybe I'll rework it and put it back up, maybe I won't. I decided to go with the Maytag because of a few things. One is that it was the only model that could easily accept a big cup in the dispenser. I like to use the big cups. The Whirlpool had the smallest cup opening, GE was next, and Maytag was biggest. Another thing I liked about the Maytag was the quality of the switches that selects water, cubes, or crushed ice. The switches on the Maytag were like the buttons on Mazak machines which hold up very well. These are the same style that are on the GE that my parents have, which have held up very well over the past 20 years. All of the other brands I'd seen seemed to have cheesy selector switches. I ended buying a larger unit than I wanted due to the narrow freezer that seemed inevitable in all models I'd seen. I wonder why they make the freezers so narrow?
&nbsp;Now after reading BigDaddy's post, I wonder about Maytag. But as usual, Consumer Reports confuses me. How can a Maytag be rated number 2, yet it ranks worst in repairs. If something is a maintenance problem, how can it rate well in overall ratings? Time will tell. I hope I don't get to know that new Maytag man on a first name basis.

Thank you

------------------
<font color=#1E90FF>'94</font>, <font color=#00CDCD>2500</font>, <font color=#8B2323>5 speed</font>, <font color=#000080>4X4</font>, <A HREF="http://www.line-x.com" TARGET=_blank><font color=#FF3030> Line-X liner OTR</A></font>, <A HREF="http://dallnd6.dal.mobil.com/GIS/MobilPDS.nsf/26b7c4b33367a4a086256665004e4266/60d8a76e857b7e71852567b60072913a?OpenDocument" TARGET=_blank><font color=#FF1493>Mobil Delvac 1</A></font>, <A HREF="http://www.knfilters.com/" TARGET=_blank><font color=#8B6508>K&N air filter</A></font>, <A HREF="http://www.spatechnique.com/instruments.html" TARGET=_blank><font color=#9932CC>SPA DG-111</A></font> in <A HREF="http://www.zing.com/picture/pb6099d006b16dccf00d94d1c90034033/ff6e60cd.jpg" TARGET=_blank><font color=#E066FF>cubby hole</A></font>, <A HREF="http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/CarProducts/CarProductDetails/0,1429,517,00.html" TARGET=_blank><font color=green>Pioneer DEHP47-DH</A></font>
Maytag MSD2756GEW in the kitchen

 

[Sled Puller]

Go dump that fridge in their parking lot!!!!!!

What a load of CRAPOLA.


BTW,mine was a top freezer, only $600. So I guess it is a piece of crap, seeing the prices on the above list!
Hope itlasts past warranty.
Gene

 

[Andy Perreault]

As long as we're talking about appliances... anybody have a clothes dryer running on propane? My friends whom I'm living with are in the market for a new dryer, and with the cost of electricity these days, they're thinking about going with a gas dryer converted to propane. While browsing the appliance aisle at Home Depot tonight, a man told us that converting a gas dryer to propane is a simple matter of putting in a different orrifice at the burner, no big deal.
SO... anybody have any recommendations on dryers? Big Daddy, can you look up gas dryers in your Consumer Reports Buying Guide?
Thanks in advance, Andy (& John & Nancy, too)

 

[Skydiver]

Andy
I have a 92 whirlpool gas dryer. Gas dryer is the cheapest way to dry clothes other than a clothes line.
5000 watts of electricity being thrown outside is very expensive. It is about four times more costly to run electricity over gas.
P. S. mine is propane,very simple to convert.
Tim

 

[BigDaddy]

Andy,
My brother-in-law has a gas dryer and is using propane. Just make sure they have the propane orifice in stock. He had the dryer home for two weeks before the orifice showed up.

Dryers tested in Aug. 00. Here ya go,

From Overall Ratings:
#1: Kenmore Elite #7009[2] MSRP: $780
#2: Maytag #MDG6000AW[W] MSRP: $540
#3: Maytag #MDG8500BW[W] MSRP: $580
#4: GE Profile Performance #DPSR513GA[WW] MSRP: $470
#5: Kenmore #7080[2] MSRP: 460
#6: Kenmore #9004[2] MSRP: $530

Repair History unavailable.

Joe

 

[Todd G]

I have no faith in Consumer Reports. They always put Kenmore at the top of every category. Kenmore and Whirlpool are identical internally, yet Whirlpool is way down there on the list. Based on personal experience, Maytag and Whirlpool make the best dryers. Maytag's are quieter - except for the KitchenAid line - and have a baked-on enamel finish as opposed to the just painted Whirlpool's.

 

[illflem]

Wonder if you could convert a dryer to run on waste oil? #ad