Refrigerator Recommendation

We had our original fridge, an Amana, for almost 20 years and it finally went out (was freezing things in some areas and spoiling things in other parts of the fridge). Our new fridge is a Samsung French Door model with the freezer on the bottom. I have had it about 9 months and I LOVE, love, love it! It has so much more space and the freezer is very roomy too. It has dividers in the freezer that make organizing easier. I love that I can open it up and see easily what we have in the refrigerator b/c there is backlighting in it as well so things don't get lost as easily in the back of the fridge.

We got a really good deal on it when it was on sale over a holiday weekend so no matter what model you choose, if you can wait until the Labor Day holiday weekend you might be able to catch a sale as well.

We also have a Samsung side by side French door with freezer on the bottom. Overall, I really like the fridge. However, we have only had it for 2.5 years and it has broken twice in the past two months - same problem both times. After doing some research, we found out that is a highly common problem and there is a class action lawsuit against Samsung as a result. Basically, water accumulates in the back of the fridge, freezes, and causes the fridge temp to rise so all your food spoils. Our repair guy was here today. he is ordering us a new part, but said we can expect the same thing to happen again in 2-3 more years.

I asked him which model he would recommend. He said Samsung is by far the leader in fridge sales right now and that most models are now trying their hardest to copy them. GE has an almost identical model that, because they copied Samsung so closely, has the exact same problem. So he really didn't have one to recommend at all!

Anyway, I know that doesn't help you too much in choosing which fridge you should buy, but it is definitely something to look into extensively before you purchase. Do some google searches and hopefully you can find out if any other models/brands have similar recurring problems.

Does it have to be a side by side? I had one for almost 16 years and ended up hating it. I replaced it with an LG French door model. I love it. The freezer isn't huge, but that's fine because we don't need a huge freezer. I was told that the key to a refrigerator is the condenser (spelling?) and that there are only 2-3 manufacturers of them so a variety of brands have parts manufactured by only two or three different manufacturers. A lot of brands are also related. I think Maytag bought out Whirlpool. Amana was purchased by someone too. So ask a lot of questions. I've found that Consumer Reports are very helpful.

Consumer Reports reported on refrigerators this past July. Side-by-side units which had the fewest repairs were Whirlpool and Kenmore. GE was rated as a "Best Buy" followed by Samsung and Whirlpool.
The worst were from Frigidaire, Whirlpool and Electrolux.
For more details & model numbers, check out the issue at your library.

I am not sure if you already have a side by side or not. We have a side by side, a GE Profile, and we HATE it! We bought it new 4-5 years ago and have regretted it ever since. There is absolutely no room in the refrigerator for anything. Don't even think about trying to fit a turkey in it. We can save very few leftovers. I cannot make meals ahead and save them in the freezer because I can't fit anything extra in the freezer. Not much room for extras like ice cream or frozen pops.
The milk takes up most of the room on one shelf in the refrerator. the condiments, eggs, butter and all the staples take up most of the room leaving very little room for left overs or extras.

As you can tell I am very disappointed with our refrigerator.

I really want the french door style refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom.

Good luck

I had a GE and it lasted for 27 years before we sold it to another family. It now has another 10 years on it. Then we bought another GE and it lasted from '88 to '06 and we gave it to a SIL's parents because they were having a real hard time economically. They still have it.

Both of those frigs were over and under. The one we have now we bought used in '06 and it is a side by side. Its 22 cu ft (GE). We have enough room for the turkey (23 lb) or just about anything else we want. The feature we like the best is that it has a door in the frig door where it will hold 2 gallons of milk and a 6-pack of soda. You simply open the little door so you don't have to open the big door. I love it. It also has ice and water in the door.

I think a side by side with less than 22 cu ft will be so narrow that you won't like the freezer section. I've also found that having a frig that is "too large" is more likable than is the one that is the "proper size". The only thing I would change about this one is to add 2 or 3 more cu ft.

Good luck to you and yours.

Call an appliance repair place and ask for their recommendation.

i want to get rid of ours (inside fridge, outside fridge and large freezer) and replace it all with side by sides and freezer on bottom. I hate that we hardly use the freezer but have to bend down and squat to see anything and we often forget what is in there. My aunt had this HUGE fridge side by side and freezer drawer on bottom .... i fell in love. although it was too big for out kitchen. Still like the idea...kenmore i believe. Look up reviews on sears.com and lowes . com and other places to see what customers are saying.