need new fridge
 

need to buy a new fridge. any recommendations?

Try going to Consumer reports for what should be an independent review of these. One thing to keep in mind, all brands seem to have problems with ice makers, we are on our 3rd one, so far the last one installed (new design) seems to be working much better then the original and first replacement. This is in a almost 6 year old Whirlpool french door unit. You will probably be getting lots of negative comments regarding the Whirlpool products, but outside of the ice marker and a minor leak there have been no other problems.
I would definitely stay away from the new internet connected units (cameras and screens) as these are probably going to be a maintenance nightmare, JMHO.

I would buy it from Lowes because they will deliver it in their own truck, and install it using their own employees. And, you have 30 days to return or replace it. Home Depot doesn't do that. I don't know what brand is the best, but the builder installs mostly Whirlpool appliances, which have a 2 year warranty. And Fields Appliance is in The Villages from Orlando on a regular basis, to do Whirlpool warranty and other repair work. I think they are very good.

I bought an LG from Home Depot. In the research that you are doing now you will likely discover that all brands have problems. Based on that information I took the extended warranty with Home Depot which I usually do not do. We had a compressor go out after the first year and Home Depot provided a loaner refrigerator while we had to wait on service. Glad we had the coverage.

Make you measure your width and depth so you will have a unit that will fit, in our CYV we couldn't go with a side-by-side but we got one with a French door.

We started by replacing the cheap Westinghouse W&D that came with our home, and then decided to do the entire kitchen. I spent several hours on the Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon and Best Buy websites looking at reviews. Just open them all up in different browsers so you can flip around.

When it was over, I found LG ranked great in washers, especially top loaders over front loaders and then studied the kitchen appliances and LG came out ahead again. We then compared prices and found Best Buy was generally cheaper and after we got there and got the assistant manager involved, we got really great prices. They matched the veteran discount of Lowes, gave us $100 store credit cards, gave us Google Home devices and free towaway of old appliances and discounted everything just like a car dealer.

My advice is start with looking at Best Buy website and LG as a brand and work your way around. I bought a Samsung 75" TV at the same time from Best Buy and it just went out, the power board needed replacing after two years. I found Samsung had bad reviews on most other items, my personal opinion, stay away from Samsung.

Also, if you buy from Lowes beware they only deliver form the store you purchased. So if there is a unit you really like and that store is out, you won't be able to buy it until it is restocked. Best Buy delivers from a central warehouse near Orlando and has almost everything in stock. I also found that I had picked a microwave and oven that were a different line than the refrigerator and dishwasher and the sales associate noticed that the handles would not match. So if buying more than one item, keep that in mind and the Best Buy sales person seemed very knowledgeable.

we’re also going to need one within a few months. I’m one for very basic things. Do they still make them WITHOUT an icemaker? I can live without it and without the headaches.

Our 8 year fridge board started blinking cost $400 plus didn’t know what would go wrong next

Extensive online search I wanted counter depth and side by side. I love the French doors, but takes me forever to find stuff in the freezer, and always seems to be less space.

We bought from Lowe’s, whirlpool side by side, staff was great, (changed my mind twice) delivery was early in the window bracket. Price was less than within 50 mile radius. Plus if you are a veteran you get 10% discount

We bought LG from Best Buy. We're happy with the price and the product.

Even if it has an ice maker built in you don't have to hook it up to a water supply.

I agree, but why would you not want an icemaker?

We just purchased a new one w/o ice maker because we already own another refrigerator that makes ice cubes....:icon_wink:

Don

I want and have an ice maker. I mentioned not hooking up water supply for Village swimmer.

Our Samsung french door fridge has served us well except for the ice maker. It's six years old and we started having problems with the ice maker freezing up right after the warranty expired. I understand it's a bad design and probably the reason the french door style didn't originally have ice and water dispensers in the door. We're tired of thawing out the ice maker every couple of weeks and look forward to replacing it. It's just hard to justify such a large expenditure just for a new ice maker. BTW we did replace the ice maker and after a short while it started freezing up too. Because we want to replace it the fridge will probably last a good long time. When we first tried getting the ice maker repaired the repairman said Samsung should stick with TV's.

I’m thinking of replacing my GE fridge that came with the 2007 designer home. I am not sure what the typical opening or fridge size is. Mine looks like every one else’s. Any recommendations?

You need to take a tape measurement. Measure the area where the fridge will go. Carefully measure the opening of the area. Height, width, and depth. Then measure the fridge you pick out to see if it will fit.

Well, I would if I was there... but I’m very far away. We are coming to TV for a couple of days only because hubby still has to work and we need a working fridge. I was thinking Best Buy or Lowe’s might set it up. I was wondering what size were the original fridges? Everybody’s looked the same when I was looking at houses.

There is no typical size for a frig, they come in many sizes. If you measure across the entire front of the door or doors, that will tell you the size. A common size is 36 inches for a side by side. If you can't measure it, the model number can tell you the size and dimensions. You also need to measure the depth of the frig and the clear opening to the front door of your house to determine if it will fit into the house. They can remove the frig doors, but that is a real hassle.

Thank you. I was just thinking there must have been a thousand similar fridges installed in designer homes in 2007 I was just wondering what they were - looks like GE 25.4 cu in to me but that is only a guess. You’re right about the doors that’s why I’d have them instal it. (Then the doors are their problem. :) )

Very happy with my LG counter depth french door, bottom freezer from Costco.

Seven year 100% parts and labor warranty.

Two years, no regrets.

I love counter depth, and Costco takes returns if it doesn’t work out.

Actually there are four widths
36, 32, 30, and 28. 32 and 28 are rare. There is standard depth and counter depth. Almost assuredly you have a 36 standard. Height can vary by four inches, that rarely matters.

Built in ovens do vary greatly by brand. Refrigerators do not.

Thank you, thank you, I hesitate to buy remotely but I have to accommodate my hubby’s schedule. I feel more confidant now.

I just looked at your picture, that is a 36" standard depth. I am 100% certain but of it.

We traded in the GE refrigerator for a counter-depth Whirlpool before moving in to our new home 11 years ago. It is smaller in cubic feet of storage but doesn't stick out so far from the cabinets; therefore a cleaner look, IMO. We got lucky regarding the ice-maker too; in all these years it has never broken.

Looking into counter depth. It was really important to know the width though. Very happy.

We just replaced all our appliances - refrigerator, gas range, dishwasher, microwave, washer and dryer. All are LG and we purchased from Best Buy. So far we have been very happy with the price, the free delivery and appliance removal, and, so far, the performance. Of course I have not way of knowing if they will "hold up" for the long-term but so far very pleased.

LG sounds like a great idea, means replacing everything but they are all 12 years old. Hubby prefers stainless anyways.

All of ours were original and the house is now 17 years old so we thought it best to do the whole thing since we hate buying in "emergency" situations when something like a refrigerator or washing machine breaks.

We did go with the black, finger print resistant, stainless steel and couldn't be happier.

BTW, we set up a free consultation with a Best Buy home rep. She took all the measurements and then sent us a proposal with 3 products in each category -- Good, Better and Best. From beginning to end it was seamless and a pleasurable way to shop. Once we made our decisions, the products were delivered and installed within 3 days.

Very helpful, thank you.

Type and make are a personal decision. If you are not here, why not wait until you get here?

Best buy is a good place to comparison shop, but not necessarily where to get best price. We found what we liked there by design and color. Checked various brands and then googled the model numbers and found our preference on the web for about $400 less and no sales tax or shipping cost. Setup of refrigerators is not a big issue.

The one that is there now is not working properly. When we come to TV, very soon now, we need a place to put the food. Hubby says, ABSOLUTELY.

I was thinking that if I order one now, have it set up by the time we are there and we come up with a better idea and change all the appliance. And we will have the right measurements too.

Our first French door fridge didn't have ice & water in the door (husband's preference) and the ice maker STILL broke--twice (LG). Our CYV came with a 2-yr-old French door fridge with ice and water in t he door, and the ice maker broke a month after we moved in (Whirlpool Gold). I'm sure it will break again down the line. Otherwise I like the Whirlpool Gold fridge a lot.


I like the French door with the drawer that can either be part of the fridge or part of the freezer. We use it for the fridge and keep husband's many many yogurt cups in there. And I find that we lose track of fewer items in the upper fridge part than we did with a side by side, where the opening was so narrow and things got pushed to the back. Plus you can fit large things like a pizza box or jelly roll pan in both fridge and freezer.

After a lot of research we finally purchased a french door Whirlpool. It’s a big, black stainless beauty! Love it. Bought from Costco. Lower price than Lowe’s and Best Buy, extra year manufacturers warranty, free delivery and haul away of old one. No add on costs. Delivery was courteous and seamless. All our next appliances will come from Costco.

Did the delivery guys do the install?

Yes.

I have great results with my GE fridges in 3 houses. Ice/water on the doors. All original ice makers.

My sister is on her 4th refrigerator because of the bad design of the ice maker. Lucky for her, she has an extended warranty and the company has surely taken a huge loss on her fridge. Not only has the fridge been replace three times, parts have been replaced too. Plus....the fridge sounds like an aquarium in her house. It has been one problem after another with the ice maker.

Her fridge is a Samsung. I would not purchase that brand of fridge. TV? Yes. Fridge? NO!!!!!

Oh no, Samsung appliances are great when they work, after that they are strictly disposable, in my experience. Our television works fine.

For a reliable ice maker go GE.

So many items we buy these days are disposable. Remember back when you bought a new refrigerator and it would last 20 years?