In the market for a new fridge. Likely a French door model with ice and water out the door. What makes to avoid? I’ve heard bad things about LG and Samsung, but I also know no manufacturer is above a defective.
What does anyone have, and why do you like/hate it? Not enough ice? Not enough cold water? Door doesn’t close tight? Shelves not adjustable?
Thanks-
Is this going to be a normal kitchen fridge or beer fridge in the basement or garage? Adjustability is always a great feature. When I needed one a couple of years ago the main feature I needed was in stock. LOL hope that is not a problem anymore.
For the love of God, as you said, avoid Samsung and LG at all costs. The house we bought three years ago had been furnished with all newer Samsung appliances as a package deal by the sellers they picked up before they put it on the market. Three years later we’ve replaced 4 of the 7 appliances. Just had to have the refrigerator fixed last week. Would have replaced it but still financially recovering from the other appliances we’ve had to deal with. I’d highly recommend Whirlpool as they’re parts are much easier to get when repairs inevitably come up.
Looking to replace main fridge in kitchen. After reading reviews, I’m trying to talk the wife into just fixing the current one. Water is leaking in the freezer. Probable cause is solenoid valve getting tired/losing its seal.
But since the seed has been planted to go shopping, well… that horse has left the barn…
To clarify – the water line that fills the ice tray keeps dripping – not a leaky line or anything disastrous…
Any chance you have a frigidaire gallery? If you do the ice maker is more than problematic. Mine is 6 years old and has failed 3 times. I ask because the last time it failed it was leaking water. I replaced the ice maker for the 2nd time. It was $110 for the part and takes about 10 minutes to do. If that is what you have feel free to message me, and I will let you know how to replace it. If it goes again I will bite the bullet, and buy a new one. It sure seems new appliances are junk for the most part.
Stick with proven winners Whirlpool or Maytag.
My Mother Inlaw just had to replace her GE fridge after less than 3 years. Continued problems with ice/water dispensers cost her almost the purchase price again trying to repair before she pulled the pin on a new one. It was an expensive fridge that is now my garage/beer fridge.
Current fridge is a Whirlpool. One model we looked at was a Frigidaire Gallery.
Found the solenoid for $25 – going to try that first. Hopefully takes care of the issue.
Second issue is to convince the FW this is the way to handle this…
We got a new Whirlpool last year, and I had some serious sticker shock while shopping. Thankfully, we went to Warners Stellian and found last years floor model that had everything we wanted for $2k-5k less than the latest and greatest which were $10k+!
Second issue is to convince the FW this is the way to handle this…
Are you sure you want to do that? You could have just obtained a nice garage beer fridge. 
I’d pass on Whirlpool. This isn’t the whirlpool of old.
We had them in the previous house up until 2020 and all had issues within the first 4 years. The ice maker in the refrigerator was junk. It functioned probably 50% of the time as intended. The filter in the refrigerator for water needed to be changed every 60 days to the tune of $50 a pop. Our stove had the light burn out and the hinge break completely making the door extremely heavy all within the first ~18 months. It took 6 weeks for that replacement part to ship and I had to install it. We were on our second Whirlpool microwave as well when the first one had a circuit board go. This was replaced relatively easily without issue but I had to uninstall it and take it back myself. These were all high end models purchased in 2017.
We went with the highest end Samsung appliances in the new build (2021) except for the island cook top. So far, I would give the dishwasher a 10/10. It far surpasses the Whirlpool one we had or the LG my parents and in-laws have. The double wall oven is great too with no issues – another 10/10.
The refrigerator has been “ok”. I’m not a fan of the ice maker speed or quality of ice it makes for it being the high end model. The microwave had a bulb go out within a year, but Samsung sent that via Speedy and I had it in 3 days I’d give each of these a 7 or 8/10.
Our island cook top is a GE induction. The wife was all over what she “needed” for this. I didn’t have much to do with it but she likes it and it has had no issues. I’d give it a 10/10 so far as well.
We’ve been pleased for the most part but realize it is still early. I’d probably give Bosch and GE a harder look if we did it again solely due to the Samsung refrigerator feeling mediocre. I’d not even slow down to look at a Whirlpool or Frigidaire though.
***Keep in mind that Haier, Whirlpool, and Electrolux make a variety of the different “brands” of appliances. To my knowledge LG, Samsung, and Bosch stand on their own?
We just trashed our LG. 8 years old and broke 4 times. Also no one will work on them, not even the major appliance place we bought it from. I finally had it listening to the wife complain and me having to work on it.
Just bought a Whirlpool at a fantastic sale price from a small local appliance place that also services what they sell and paid them $15 to haul ours away.
I will never buy a LG anything the rest of my life.
My Mother Inlaw just had to replace her GE fridge after less than 3 years. Continued problems with ice/water dispensers cost her almost the purchase price again trying to repair before she pulled the pin on a new one. It was an expensive fridge that is now my garage/beer fridge.
Ditto, our 7 year old GE just died, due to GE no longer making a $ 60.00 part that would have fixed it. Ended up with another GE we got used, but as many folks have noted, nothing is made to last any longer, just like my 7 year old furnace / AC which BOTH needed to be fixed this year to work … just sad, and yes, finding anyone to work on them is not easy.
Paulski
Any thoughts on the menards brand “Criterion”
With research you will find there a few manufacturers, and a lot of rebranding. The average appliance now averages about 4 to 7 years. We had a $1000+ upright freezer with big icemaker. At about 5 years it started making noise. $150 service call later we had an estimate of at least $500 to $600 at a minimum. Besides all this info, the service tech told me he needed a new freezer himself. With all his access to discounts for new. He went to a used appliance store and bought a 10-year-old one. He was confident it would outlast a new one. My niece is a realtor, she said most houses she goes in have appliances under 5 years old or over 10 or 15! She has replaced over half the ones in her 4-year-old home.
The average appliance now averages about 4 to 7 years.
I work in a manufacturing environment – we refer to this phenomenon of nothing lasting anymore as “engineered obsolescence ”
Gotta buy a new one!
Had problems with a Samsung fridge when new about 6 years ago. Biggest issue was that no one in the area would service it under warranty. The only thing Samsung would do is refund my purchase price if I junked the fridge. Bought it from a big box vs appliance dealer which may have played into not being able to get it serviced. Whichever brand you go with, or where you buy it, make sure you can get someone to actually service the thing.
Don’t buy new until you have to. And when you do buy new buy the most popular models rather than the “highest-end” (as bucky puts it) so parts new or used will actually be available when the need arises. The high end aren’t made better just more features or bigger/more powerful.
Dealing with fixing our 11 year old “highest-end” appliances and parts (and youtube videos) are a lot more sparse than the popular models from that vintage. The high-end models also have more complicated control boards that are in turn more prone to failure. Just cost us a range because the 11 year old control board is no longer available and I couldn’t find a used one for my “high-end” model anywhere.
Talking with my favorite repair tech (NOT A SALESMAN) from our local appliance store and he claims LG is actually pretty good for reliability and they unfairly get lumped in with Samsung just because they’re Korean. He was very adamant that Samsung is absolute trash for reliability.
Our Amana is close to 20yrs old now. Replaced the control board about 7yrs ago and the repairman said we shouldn’t even bother if it were many other brands.
If you want a fridge that lasts do not get one with water or ice in the door. You could go further and just buy a bag of ice at the store and get a Brita filter pitcher and forgo any water lines. Oh and don’t get a cabinet depth fridge. My wife and I did exactly what I said not to do and I regret it every day. At least the drawers aren’t breaking and the door handles falling off like our last fridge.
FWIW we bought the cheapest whirlpool appliances 15 years ago and they all still work for the most part. our microwave dish stopped turning but thats minor. our dishwasher leaks but replaced the gasket and it seems to be ok now. our fridge needs to be defrosted yearly but that is minor too. i would buy them again.
5 1/2 years on our KitchenAides and so far so good. Knock on wood. I’ll second the water/ice dispenser in the door. No good.
For all it is worth. We have an Amana Distinctions refrigerator. 21 years old …no problems and going strong.
Avoid Samsung and LG at all costs – we had both and neither lasted 2 years. Horrible service and support as well. My wife got the run around and they were never able to fix them. We lost thousands in spoiled food as well – no compensation.
We now have a GE and “knock on wood” it has lasted 3 years w/o issues so far.
Most of the last few appliances we have bought have been pure crap. But the extra few bucks we paid at an established appliance store did get us access to repair. As opposed to a big box or internet site. Although the mom-and-pop store we used for years. Pop retired that did service work himself. Most now are sublet.
Any thoughts on the menards brand “Criterion”
We bought one for our Cabin, this summer was year #3. No issues so far.
I see no mention of Bosch for appliances other than a Dishwasher. I wonder why that is? Everyone that has a Bosch dishwasher says they’re the best dishwasher they’ve ever owned. Never head anything regarding other appliances.
Whirlpool, Amana, Kitchenaid and Maytag are all owned by Emerson Electric, so basically the same quality in each give or take.
Here is the new Whirlpool we just got put in today. 27+ cu ft. Wife loves it. Also the small appliance place we bought it from services them to.
On sale $1790 delivered.
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Just repeating what’s already been said. Run like he’ll from Samsung and LG. They suck donkey balls. So bad that I specifically spell out in contracts that if you purchase either brand, I extend no builder support. Won’t receive them, my installers don’t touch them, and if I have to go on a service call involving them, labor rate doubles.
I have whirlpool similar to what musky Ed has above at my home, farm, and rentals. Flawless!!!
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