Refrigerator recommendations

[sellersm]

Our many-years-old fridge is about done, apparently. Looking for recommendations. We do have a fairly small space to put it, so it probably can't be a french door style, top/bottom or smaller side-by-side should fit. Budget's not much, max of $500-600...

Models to avoid?

Thanks.

[Wulf202]

Avoid Kenmore in general. LG has not been impressive. I've been picking up fridgidaire top freezers from Lowe's or best buy adding coupons or open box or scratch and dent for 300-400

[Bailey Guns]

We just went thru this headache a few months ago. We have a built-in space in the kitchen that's very wide...like 69"...but short...63". Replaced two Woods appliances...fridge and freezer. What a PITA to find something. Finally decided on two Amana bottom drawer fridge/freezers. They work perfectly but it was a real hassle finding something that would fit. Refrigerators seem to be getting very large these days.

[BladesNBarrels]

The refrigerator that ate the house!

[ben4372]

I think if you go in prepared for a short lived appliance you'll be fine. I bought all Whirlpool stuff last go round. In ten years every single one of them needed a major part replaces. I'm handy so labor was cheap. Fridge seams the worst. 2 ice makers and a water valve. Most the parts are around 100 bucks because everything comes in modules. Seems they want us to replace them every 5 years

Heard a few of the LG complaints too. Seem the warranty is a PITA. The Maytag/Whirlpool/Amana and a bunch of other brands are the General Motors of appliances. Lots of parts availability and easy to fix by an average technician. And a wide range of prices with lots of common design. Even with my history I'd buy something from the Whirlpool lineup.

On the other hand I bought a Ward's deep freeze used. Minimum 25 years old, works like a champ, Kil-a-watt says it uses a reasonable amount of energy.

[Ramsker]

Avoid Kenmore in general. LG has not been impressive. I've been picking up fridgidaire top freezers from Lowe's or best buy adding coupons or open box or scratch and dent for 300-400

Kenmore must have slipped over the last several years? We have a 22 year old Kenmore in the garage that was our primary fridge in our old house and it's never had a single issue (knock on wood). Runs like a champ in the cold and heat out there. The Kenmore in the kitchen is going on 12 years old and the only hiccup there was the ice maker went goofy a few years ago. I ordered a replacement unit and it was an easy fix. If either of those died tomorrow . . . I'd feel like I got pretty good life from them.

Only thing I can offer is that I have had several friends tell me to avoid Samsung, so take that for what it's worth, OP.

[Wulf202]

Kenmore has been on par with the rest however they've been doing stuff like specific non standard patented threads that you can only get from Kenmore so they charge what they want for parts and are generally disposable because of parts cost being more than 50% of a new unit. Whirlpool parts tend to be about 10% higher than ge. I used to have a fleet of rentals 150ish ge and 150ish whirlpool appliances to maintain. Though I've dealt with almost every brand including the off brand stuff.

If you want cheapest parts cost get a ge product. Otherwise they're generally all made at the same factory. Or within blocks of each other . Nobody makes bulletproof appliances that are homeowner grade or builder grade (which are far more servicable). Over the life of major projects things without digital controls and intigrated circuit boards are cheaper to service. Once you get into full sensor suits on the 1k+ appliances boards typically cost $250 plus labor. Where as a timer might cost $60.

[Wulf202]

If you want a fridge that is servicable for your lifetime. Get a subzero brand. Otherwise keep in mind an appliance in a rental that goes over 10 years is a money maker. It's actually more like 7 but the bean counters even agree after 10 years it's value has been received