Just our luck, literally on the same day we make the last payment on the truck, it appears that the Frigidaire SxS has decided it’s time to quit.

This fridge came with our new house, 11 years ago, and I get the impression that the life expectancy of this refrigerator is about the same.

Forum recommendations on brand, configuration, models?

Welcome

I haven't bought a fridge in 25 years so not sure what brands are recommended. I recommend avoiding Samsung/LGE or any Korean brand. I have a Kenmore Elite (Whirlpool) SxS that has been good with only two DYI issues (and coming from me, that's saying it's extremely easy). I would change 2 things: 1) front door dispenser area needs to be taller so I can fit reasonable mugs, 2) the ice shape is horrendous (flat on one side, oval on the other - it conforms to the curves of cups and acts like a dam so you can't drink).

I'm curious about recommended brands now, as well as the french door vs SxS. I like the shelving system of the SxS. The french door seems like it's friendly for bigger items (which we don't typically have except for rib racks). But I'm not sure I'd like to dig for things in the freezer drawer. Also, not sure about the ice dispensing in the french door models.

I'll be interested in what you get and whether you like it or not - with my luck these days, I may have to get a fridge as well.

GE/Whirlpool is my recommendation. Agree with Konata, avoid the Samsungs and LGs.

Depends on the budget, We have an Electrolux which is a Swedish company, it's a more Scandinavian design.

They also own Frigidaire, Kelvinator, Tappan, it's considered a premium level up from basic models and lower on the totem pole than Sub Zero, we are going on 15+ years and knock on wood....

It was one of the few counter depth units at the time and fits where the unit has to go.

Miele, Wolf, Sub-Zero are very good but very expensive, I wouldn't hesitate to get another Electrolux.

If you trust Consumer Reports, bottom freezer and French door models are generally the highest rated. Side-by-sides come in last. They seem to like Kenmore Elite and LG as top brands.

Data point of 1, but our side-by-side GE that came with the house has been less than satisfying. The automatic ice maker keeps shearing off plastic pieces. After fixing it twice and having it break again soon after, we've stopped using the door ice dispenser completely. It also won't shut itself off when it's supposed to, so it keeps filling the freezer with ice cubes that cascade down to fill every available space. It'll eventually stop making ice, but not before setting up an ice cube avalanche for the next unfortunately soul to open the door.

I don't think I'll by a side-by-side or a GE ever again after this experience. (Related anecdote - the GE dishwasher that also came with the house was trash as well and had to be replaced within a year of moving in.)

GE is a chicom company now?

GE Appliances is owned by the Chinese multinational home appliances company Haier Group.

Haier acquired the division from General Electric in 2016 for $5.6 billion.

Company Background Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Brand Usage: Haier holds the rights to use the GE brand name on appliances through a long-term licensing agreements.

Other Brands Owned: GE Appliances also manufactures and distributes products under brands like Café, Monogram, GE Profile, Hotpoint, and Haier.

GE Appliances are manufactured globally, but a large portion of products sold in the U.S. are made in the United States across several states, including Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Connecticut, following significant shifts to reshore production from overseas.

Its main headquarters and largest manufacturing hub is Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

U.S. Manufacturing Locations

Louisville, Kentucky: Produces refrigerators, washers, dryers, and dishwashers.

Decatur, Alabama: Builds specific refrigerator models.

Lafayette, Georgia: Manufactures gas ranges and cooktops.

Selmer, Tennessee: Focuses on air conditioners and cooling products.

Camden, South Carolina: Makes water heaters.

Other facilities: Include operations in Connecticut.

Hmm, i was kinda leaning towards GE. Whirlpool second choice.

We recently replaced a ~25 year old 22 cf GE side by side (no water / ice door dispenser) with a 27 cf GE side by side with door water / ice dispenser.

It fit the best with almost exact same exterior dimensions and has 0-clearance hinges which was a must for the freezer side door.

Around $1.5K on a 4th of July sale.

Whirlpool owns KitchenAid; Electrolux owns Frigidaire.

I have had great luck with Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Frigidaire.

All have lasted at least 15 years or longer.

stay away from Whirlpool 28cu ft sxs w/ice maker mounted in freezer door. When ice maker goes you must replace door. Class action suit now. My fridge went bad under 3 years old .

https://www.google.com/search?...e=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8


A class action settlement (Costa v. Whirlpool Corp.) covers certain 28 cu. ft. and other side-by-side refrigerators (manufactured 2018–2021) under the Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir brands that suffer from a brittle wire harness defect causing in-door ice and water dispenser failures.

Claims must be submitted by November 2, 2026.Settlement Overview & EligibilityThe Defect: Brittle wires in the freezer door break from normal opening and closing, causing failure of the ice maker, water dispenser, ice dispenser, or control panel.Covered Brands: Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and JennAir side-by-side models (manufactured between 2018 and 2021 with in-door features).

Claim Deadline: November 2, 2026, for past or pre-existing failures.Where to File: Check your model/serial number and file on the official Refrigerator Settlement Website.Repair and Reimbursement TermsWithin 2–3 Years of Service Date: Whirlpool covers 100% of parts and labor for repairs, or 50% cash reimbursement of the original purchase price.

Our 22 year old Maytag French Door had initial problems covered under warranty in the first year. Compressor replaced with an upgraded model. Control panel was also replaced. All good for the last 21 years. The underneathcoils are difficult to clean.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I recommend avoiding Samsung/LGE or any Korean brand.

100%

I know I've posted about this before but we got an LG fridge and it was a POS from Day 1. I think I had 7 service calls in the first year. One day it just stopped working. It might have been the compressor, but I'm not sure because I had no intention of finding out; it was on it's way to the dump.

We replaced it with a Bosch. It cost twice as much, but worth every penny as we've not had a single issue with it.

Whirlpool/Amana/KitchenAid/Maytag, IIRC they're all under the Whirlpool umbrella & still US owned.

We didn't have good luck with the Frigidaire [Gallery line] & LG fridges that came with our last 2 houses, and had a GE top/bottom [of unknown age, and it was on our covered back patio] die on us last month.

I have two GE side by sides with lower freezer and both have been great.

I would check repair service ratings. I suspect they are all bordering on junk now

We went shopping. Home Depot, Lowes, and Menard’s. Primarily were looking at GE and Whirlpool. We decided that of the two, Whirlpool looked and felt, slightly higher quality. Wife wanted fingerprint resistant surface—most have that now. We both preferred internal ice and water. We hoped to spend less than $2K. Then we looked in Kitchenaid. Noticeable upgrade in appearance of quality on the inside. Salesman told us (as posted above) that Whirlpool owns Amana and Kitchenaid. He claims that the internals of Kitchenaid are more robust than the others, and that it should last longer. Cost will be higher than we intended by ~$400, but I think the stretch is worth it.

Our Frigidaire lasted 11 years, and there were things about it that we really didn’t like. The sales woman we spoke with at Lowes said the designed obsolescence of these new fridges is even less than that.

We just went back to Whirlpool a few months ago, and I am glad we did. The quality difference versus Kitchenaid (which used to be excellent) is huge.



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Our current fridge, a Whirlpool top freezer model has been a significant disappointment. It was bought to fit an existing cabinet cutout, not on specs or capacity. It does not use separate cooling mechanisms for fridge and freezer, but relies on ducted airflow from the freezer to the fridge. The problem is that if the vents in either compartment get even partially blocked, the vents get iced up which results in the fridge not cooling and getting water accumulation/dripping during the defrost cycle. You end up only being able to use about 3/4 of the capacity of either compartment, and constantly monitoring how the food is placed in the compartments as well as chasing too warm/too cold variations in both. The overflow catch pan spewing defrost water onto the floor is another bonus to this idiotic design.

I am pretty sure that anything you can buy today uses a similar arrangement, but if you can possibly find a unit that uses separate cooling circuits for freezer/fridge, buy it.

We finally replaced our 30+ year old GE SxS when the in-door icemaker gave up the ghost. Wife hated it as the shelves weren't wide enough to get trays/platters into fit.

She wanted a GE/Cafe French Door with a mid-drawer (adjustable temp) above the freezer. The only thing I insisted on was no through-door ice/water dispenser.

Got the 27cu ft model with internal ice maker and an auto-filling water pitcher inside the door. Got the finger print resistant glass front. The split adjustable shelves really make organization easy, but it doesn't have as much storage space in the doors.