We have the same thoughts as you. How do you feel about no ice dispenser? Maybe that would help you decide. (We haven't decided yet, but we don't use much ice...)

We're fine with just having the icemaker inside - we don't use ice as much as we use water.. Who would've thought such a small thing would require such thought?! :-)

I think the internals LOOK better...but that having the door open to dispense seems really wasteful.

How about skip it altogether and do an under-sink chiller (or just filter)? It's remodeling time, after all!

It's definitely something we've thought about, but it seems like the refrigerators we're interested in at least come with an internal dispenser, so then we'd have double. And with a garbage disposal under the sink, I'm also a bit unsure if having another undersink unit would be too much. Plus then there's something else on the counter to clutter up as well.. so much to think about!

You don't have to use the internal dispenser just because the refrigerator has one. If the unit otherwise looks nice, fits your decor, has features that meet your needs, and is affordable, get it and ignore the water dispenser.

Kerrygw,
The water filter and chiller don't have to sit under the sink. They can be located anywhere. In my old house, the filter was in the utility room. When I remodel, the filter will go into the utility room again. Some people have had the Everpure chiller in their basements. I don't have a chiller but I do have a regular Everpure filter. I really don't drink that much cold water. I will be using a commercial Everpure filter in the future and it will feed the freezer, the Espresso machine, two sinks and potentially another freezer with ice.

I am not a fan of the external dispensers, so if you can separate it I think that is the best solution!

Good luck!

I was going to purchase the GE Monogram refrigerator too but it was slight to tall for my opening and decide on a LG 21.0 cu. ft. Stainless Steel French Door Duel Freezer and LOVE IT! Model #LMX21981ST. It really is a nice refrigerator and really adds to the look of the entire kitchen.

I would look at this refrigerator, if I were you!

Ok... so what are the advantages to going with a completely external water filter/chiller like the Everpure system? I was originally just talking about an internal dispenser vs. an external dispenser (still on the refrigerator - a "thru the door" if you will) but what are the disadvantages of going with a refrigerator dispenser vs. an Everpure-type dispenser? Thanks for making me think!

Sorry to add to the indecision. Hehehe. I think the reasons are pretty much what you think they are. The main disadvantages to the fridge are:

appearance (external)
opening the door to use (internal)
less accessible filtered water for other uses

Disadvantages to undersink chiller:

uses more energy
uses more space under sink
extra thingy on counter

We're considering an undersink filter with cold and instant hot, but not chilled. Might you enjoy instant hot as well?:) Somewhere I have a picture I saved of someone's 30" sink cabinet fitted out with everything you can imagine. It's doable!

Again to restate, the Everpure chiller does not have to sit under your sink! The advantage of the external filter is that you are not stuck with a manufacturer specific filter replacement based on which brand you purchase. There was a recent thread about the replacement cost of KA and Bosch fridge filters. Secondly, I use filtered water for cooking and every other task like filling my humidifier. The external filters allow you to do this easily. Some people have recently complained that they can't always fit their glass into the space on the fridge for the dispenser. The external and separated filtered system eliminates this problem. I keep a bottle of filtered water in the fridge for guests who like cold water. I tend to drink the water at whatever temperature it comes out at. The filtered water system also has a separate line to feed the ice maker in the fridge.

Fori,
You are such an enabler! Kerry came here for a simple answer and you have added an instant hot to the list of lusts. Shame on you:-)

Homepro01

Yeah, thanks Fori! :-) Instant hot keeps popping up in my head though - but the cold water is more important and i've heard the energy usage on the instant hots are pretty significant too (and i'd rather use the energy on the chilled water, however i get it). homepro - how far away can the chiller be? is there a website that describes the setup of this stuff? i looked over the everpure site but from the installation instruction it looks like it needs to be under the sink. i may have room there - we're getting a big sink in a big island, so it's quite possible - but i'm just curious about the options. And how much venting does it need, and is it loud? Thanks again!

Under the sink is the only available real estate in MY house! :)

The chiller can probably be elsewhere, like a basement, but you'll lose some of the chill if it has to travel far. (On the other hand, water coming from the basement tends to be nice and cool anyway...but you want COLD, not cool...)

Try the kitchen forum for people's experience if you can't get it here. It gets more action.

Ummm...you would probably be OK with just opening the fridge door. Probably would still use less energy and definitely make less noise than the chiller.

The 72" KA fridge is what we're going to get unless we get a built-in integrated, which don't have water dispensers at all, so we'd be getting the undersink thingy because we like filtered water.

They still make those water coolers with the big jugs ya know!

Kerry,
Don't make a liar out of me but I think Love2Cook4six may have an Everpure chiller. Take Fori's advice and post on the kitchen forum. You can put the chiller about 20ft away if I remember correctly. Someone on the kitchen forum has it in their basement. I don't know how much noise they make either maybe someone on kitchens can answer your questions. Everpure also sells a combined chiller and hot water system.

Good luck!

Thanks, Ann.