Freezer portion isn't cooling well, it's a solid 20 years old, and I want one with a bottom freezer.
Are they all built in the same factory? Is there any use in shopping, or do I just buy the first one that has good looking pockets in the door?
Freezer portion isn't cooling well, it's a solid 20 years old, and I want one with a bottom freezer.
Are they all built in the same factory? Is there any use in shopping, or do I just buy the first one that has good looking pockets in the door?
Check CNET ratings. They seem to be the least in the pockets of advertisers.
I can only really add one tidbit. I needed a used fridge (couldn't afford new) in a weird 32" size, but I wanted the in-door water dispenser and auto ice maker. I ended up with a bottom freezer, french door. I love everything about it, but I don't like the french doors. It may be less of an issue with a 36", but I find that opening one door is completely useless. I can't get a plate through the door, and even getting a half-gallon of milk out is rough. You have to open both doors to open the drawers or get anything in or out.
My suggestion is to really compare french vs single door. If you need french, check them out a bunch before committing.
Standard caveats, but pretty much all the brands make good fridges these days. Samsung is pricey, but lots of bells and whistles. I ended up with a Whirlpool because it was almost top rated. The model year I ended up with shared manufacturing with Kenmore I think.
The one thing you need to know. Bells and whistles + modern Chinese mass production = ain't what they used to be. A modern fridge will almost surely not give you the same 20 years you got out of your fridge. I only mention that to maybe temper how much you want to spend. Its hard for me to imagine spending $4000 on a see-through door with bluetooth and android if it's only going to last 7 years. Hence why I bought a 3-year-old fridge for $300.
Does one really need to talk to their frig with their phone? Maybe I'm just to damn old. 
Avoid a lot of the bells and whistles. YMMV
Your current unit may just need some attention. Is the freezer too packed with 10 year old unidentifables? Too much stuff packed in the freezer can cut down on the required circulation.
No whistles required. I presume I could fix it, but it's about a decade past its design life. I had a bit too much stuff in it, but no worse than I have had in the past.
Time for a new one.
Just ordered a Bosch. Was told yesterday they are having problems delivering
Don't buy a Samsung, worst fridge I have ever owned. Probably needs repair 3 to 4 times a year.
We have that French door model. I hate it but wife is happy. Also the bottom freezer fills up and we forget about bottom stuff.
I have a Samsung, but would not buy another one. It works for the most part and doesn't make me take it apart and fix it every month like the Samsung dishwasher used to before I replaced it.
I did have to recently take the fridge apart because it stopped freezing things. It was frozen and not defrosting itself. I relocated one of the temperature sensors per some random guy on You Tube and it seems to have done the trick. That has been all that has happened to it in 6+ years. It does make funny noises sometimes though.
LG French door bottom freezer here.
Came with the house, at least 10 years old.
Runs great.
Had an issue with cooling down a few years ago. Heat exchanger was full of cat hair. Cleaned it out, been fine ever since. Probably needs cleaning again.
If there is a fancy neighborhood near you, look for a used Sub Zero. I got a 42" wide counter depth with ice/water in the door for $1200 in excellent condition from someone remodeling. We now have it built in as part of our remodel. It is such a night and day quality difference from every "normal" fridge it is amazing. Designed to last and be repaired, everything about it feels quality, and it does an excellent job of keeping things evenly cold. I'm more impressed with it than I thought I would be.
I went fridge shopping a few years ago. It sucked.
First requirement was ABSOLUTELY NO SAMSUNG. the sales guys didnt think anything of me saying no samsung, they know of the issues.
The new fancy fridges have "high efficiency" compressors. These seem to also die pretty quick. Its a linear compressor if i remember right? Supposed to be quieter and all that. Ive heard way too many tales of newer fridges having major issues on the reg. I had bought one from hhgregg, way too expensive, was like 2700$ With the extended warranty because i was expecting it to break. Fortunately they took a while to deliver and that gave me time to reconsider. I killed the sale like 10 days after purchase before they ever set up delivery. That was great cause hh gregg went all "circuit city" shortly after that and my warranty would have been dead.
then i went to the local big box hardware store and bought a "cheap" standard old school fridge, with warranty, total was like 500$, awesome. Fridge bottom, freezer top and since it was the not fancy cheapo model, it has the OLD stile compressor, the kind that still works for 30 years, long after the fridge is ugly, beat and gets offered up for free.
Heard Samsungs are terrible. Bought a Frigidaire a few years ago, works as it is supposed to. Door shelves and the dowels that support the shelves are a little weak though.
Hello. Is your refrigerator running?......
Well, so far it's been painless. Walked into the appliance place I've bought most things from for 30 years or so, turn the corner to face a 30 inch, bottom freezer, glass shelf, stainless, right hand hinge, Amana with no water or ice or smart screen, and a sale tag on the front dropping it to $999cdn, which is about $300 less than the internet suggested, for almost exactly the unit I wanted.
It's being delivered late this morning.
DO NOT BUY an LG fridge with a linear compressor.
DO NOT BUY an LG-made fridge (Fridgedaire) with a linear compressor.
DO NOT!
DO NOT!
DO NOT!
Well Best Buy called
bosch is delayed delivering my fridge due to parts issues with coronavirus stuff
they are willing to send me any fridge for $3500 and under. I use it as long as I need. When bosch comes in, they tske the other fridge back and I use the bosch
weird if you ask me. But who am I to complain
I'm curious now, whether I accidentally made a good choice. Energy label on this fridge shows it as a high consumer, so does that mean I bought an old design with a compressor that will last a long time, or did I buy one with no insulation?
Too late now.
So very glad to have a bottom freezer again. My brother and sister in law bought one in the 70's, then it took me til 2008 to convince my wife it was a good idea, and then she took it with her when we split. I'm cheap, so I moved the old one back upstairs and lived with it til it quit. Shoulda bought one sooner...
Streetwiseguy said:Well, so far it's been painless. Walked into the appliance place I've bought most things from for 30 years or so, turn the corner to face a 30 inch, bottom freezer, glass shelf, stainless, right hand hinge, Amana with no water or ice or smart screen, and a sale tag on the front dropping it to $999cdn, which is about $300 less than the internet suggested, for almost exactly the unit I wanted.
It's being delivered late this morning.
Such a fridg still exists! I likely will be in the market for this in the near future do you have a model # you can share?
mr2s, good to hear sounds like they are trying to work with you until you get what you want.
We bought a Whirlpool to replace our ancient fridge about a year or two ago. We wanted the freezer on the bottom and French doors, but most wouldn't fit in the space we had, dictated by our 1950's kitchen layout. Whirlpool was our only option, but we have been pretty happy with it so far. It's the first we've had with a water dispenser, and we were a little surprised to find that it doesn't chill the water, but it makes ice in the freezer so not a big deal. Other than that, it works, keeps things cold and frozen, has some nice options, and it was affordable.
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