Thermador vs Subzero refrigerator integrated columns?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We are going to redo our kitchen. I am torn between the Thermador freedom and Subzero integrated columns. I'm looking at a 30" refrigerator and 24" freezer. I like the lines of the Thermador and the push to open feature along with the self close. The subzero seems harder for me to reach, I'm 5' 2". I keep being told "well, subzero is the best, but Thermador is great too, we sell a lot of both".

Any happy Thermador column owners out there? Has Thermador "caught up" with Subzero in terms of quality and longevity? Both have dual compressors and the ability to keep food fresh. Price points are close to the same and a free dishwasher isn't enough in the big picture to sway me one way or another. Lastly, we are going to have refrigerator/freezer drawers in a coffee bar. Subzero only makes 30", Thermador makes them in 24", which is the size I need. Refrigeration opinions?

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DrB477

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We got thermador columns (30"/24") 2.5 years ago. since we also got a range, buying the fridge gave us a "free" hood and dw. They were also a little cheaper at the time, so all in, they were $5-6k less than SZ, These are one model older than what you are looking at, they don't have push to open (the columns are a little tough to open, but my 5 year old does it without too much of a problem).

They have performed without issue since. I have a hard time imagining SZ would have been noticeably better although to be honest, I probably would have bought SZ just based on the name if it was really a cost neutral situation.

I realize this is a controversial option for an integrated column, but we went with external dispenser on freezer. It definitely results in far more water being drunk and kids more independent getting it. The ice maker has had an occasional issue clogging (with stuck ice cubes) after vacations, dumping the ice and starting over has fixed this.

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Comments (9)

suzyq53
6 years ago
We have 30" Thermador columns. The storage is excellent and our food stays fresh. However the icemaker has broken 3 or 4 times and been replaced and various parts replaced and has leaked and damaged our panels. Same with our previous Viking ice maker requiring numerous repairs and being replaced every few years, but it never leaked.. And the same with prior Subzero built-in icemaker needing repair and replacement. The ice makers are always the issue. We don't have the push to open option but I have read about some issues with that.
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megs1030
6 years ago
Subzero makes 24" refrigerator drawers:

https://www.subzero-wolf.com/sub-zero/counter-refrigerator/24-inch-refrigerator-drawers-panel-ready

I have never owned a Thermador fridge. I owned a Subzero fridge/freezer combo and their fridge drawers in my last house. Next week we will have both a fridge and freezer column installed. I am short like you and not really worried about reaching the top of the inside of the appliance I never had a problem with anything in my Subzero appliances. We had the interior water dispenser and an ice maker in the freezer, never an issue. I will say that the ice maker took up almost one freezer drawer entirely and I was not happy about that. It left very little freezer room. Fwiw, my parents have owned a side-by-side Subzero with almost no issues for the last 20 years.

Here's my thought on both the columns after looking at them online. Counter depth fridge / freezers are shallower inside then a standard fridge / freezer. Meaning, you will not fit as much in them. Everything will be more visible which is great! It looks like the SubZero offers a little more storage on the door, more shelving all the way down the door. The Subzero door shelves have less dividers so that you are not so limited as to what you can store in them. The drawers in the Subzero, specifically where you might keep lunch meat, are also divided to keep meats separate from cheeses.

The undercounter drawers are slightly different across the brands. Subzero offers dividers whereas the Thermador does not. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but wanted you to be aware of the function.

I don't know that one brand is substantially better than the other, so I can't answer that specifically.
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pennfire
6 years ago
I went back and forth between the two companies during our kitchen remodel as well.

I can't remember exactly what pushed me over to Subzero but I am very happy with them. The one thing I would have changed is I wished I would have gone with a larger freezer.

Concerning the push to open feature, the appliance dealer advised me that the more extra moving parts, the more likely something will break.
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Original Author
6 years ago
pennfire - thank you, what size freezer do you wish you would have purchased?
sornbarry
6 years ago
We have the 36” subzero integrated fridge (designer series). It is a tall fridge at 84”. Spouse is same height as you and never bothers reaching for the top shelf as it is too high for her.

We also have 30” freezer drawers with ice maker. Ice maker does take up 3/4 of the bottom drawer but I have significantly increased by water intake as I find ice water refreshing. We looked at the subzero 24” undercounter drawers but it was too small for us given that we went for all refrigeration on the 36” model.

Overall very pleased with our decision on going with subzero. We also looked at thermador but subzero’s marketing with our dealer’s showroom displaying the whole range of their products helped.
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Donna Reed
5 years ago
I'm now in the same boat! Thermador or Subzero! The only thing that keeps me in Subzero is this from Yale Appliances: Anyone have input on this?

Thermador has good storage on the door and some pretty cool controls. It is a less expensive option, but still a good consideration, especially in a package.

However, for keeping food fresher longer with its air scrubber, vacuum seal, and magnetic crisper, Sub-Zero is still the best refrigerator on the market.
ezoom
4 years ago
We are on the same boat too. Would love opinions from those that went SZ or Thermador route
cjammer
4 years ago
We have had both Thermador columns in 2012 and SZ in 2020. We had the push to open feature on the SZ and it was positively a nightmare and SZ would not support it. At least in Canada. And the icemaker needed to be repaired and a light in the freezer.

We are currently building a new house and we will be going with Thermador columns (no push to open). It was not worth the extra money for the SZ in my opinion. And I like the lighting better in the Therm/Gagg columns.