Refrigerator advice

10 years ago

We are starting to remodel our kitchen and I am overwhelmed with appliance selection. My husband has wisely advised that I start with on appliance and go from there since it is clear that no single brand is going to meet all of our requirements. So, refrigerator:

Counter depth, french door, and water dispenser on the outside are our wants. Maximum capacity desired but we will put current one in the basement. I like the Samsung 4 door but it has horrible reviews. Kitchen Aid also prone to break down according to consumer reports. Would welcome advice from people who have had theirs at least a year.

Thanks.

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Comments (3)

dadoes
10 years ago
It doesn't reflect on current models but I have a 1997 KA top-freezer that has needed no repairs for the duration. It has been my garage-refrigerator for 11 years. My parents have a KA top-freezer a few years newer, no repairs. My neighbor has a KA SxS with ice/water, probably 6-ish years, no repairs other than a mouse chewing the compressor wires.
homechef59
10 years ago
Your husband is correct. One thing at a time. It will work it's way out.

I've had good results with my KA Architect II FD 36" refrigerator. I would plan on more real world experience on this forum than I would advice from Consumer Reports. I quit following their advice a long time ago. Do some research on this forum's search function. There is more information that you can digest.

I didn't want to spend for a Sub Zero, but I wanted something better than a Samsung or LG. They look great, but the service seems to universally suck and parts are impossible to get.
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jeffreydn
10 years ago
The Consumer Reports information is interesting to consider as a data point, but there are so many discrepancies with my real-world experience (as an appliance professional) and what is reported.

KitchenAid is a very good brand, and they shine in refrigeration. With KitchenAid you do get a 10 year guarantee on the sealed system (the compressor, etc) vs just 5 on many other brands. Samsung is also very popular in the market right now though dealing with service, if necessary, is a much bigger pain. But you mention the 4-door, which I think is really cool with the convertible bottom-right section that lets you switch between freezer, soft freeze, fridge, and beverage settings; as a big fresh-food user that really interests me.

Back to consumer reports and their "repairs" ratings -- here's a thought -- icemakers/waterdispensers are notoriously hard to keep running year after year after year and account for a large percentage of service calls on all brands of refrigerators that have them. Now thinking about KitchenAid and their being a more premium-focused brand -- one where the end consumer usually goes home with a water dispenser, vs other brands that do top mounts etc, maybe the data consumer reports collects from their user surveys doesn't differentiate the type of repair, so skews the data around. Just a thought.

I would not hesitate to get a KitchenAid refrigerator.

The Samsung 4 door I haven't heard of many service issues about... are people not liking the layout of the freezers since they're separated? if you're just searching on the Internet for negative info, you'll find that about all appliances! No one has come up with the perfect appliance that is 100% reliable, 100% manufactured perfectly, 100% never damaged in transit, and pleasing in style, function, and reliability to 100% of people's homes (some with pet hair, others with wonky electricity, etc etc etc).