<p>I’m getting ready to buy a new refrigerator. Dimensions are VERY specific and limiting. Looking for input on manufacturers. Do you buy Whirlpool or Maytag made by Whirlpool? The ones that seem to meet the space criteria include Kitchen Aid, Maytag, and Whirlpool. So many choices out there but so many off by inches so it’s very frustrating. How about issues with water dispensers? Any thoughts would be great. Current one is 26 years old so kind of out of the loop. Thanks.</p>
<p>It’s just a box with a little engine to keep it cold. Walk around Sears with a measuring tape, when you find one that fits for size, looks nice, and feels like a decent price, buy it.</p>
<p>Then spend your time thinking about other stuff.</p>
<p>Check the latest (May) issue of Consumer Reports to see about brand reliability. I flipped through it in the supermarket yesterday, and believe they rated both Maytag and GE poor for reliability/repairs, and Kenmore and Whirlpool good, although it varies by type (top or bottom-freezer, side-by-side). Any time you get a water dispenser or icemaker, more things can go wrong.</p>
<p>I like the Amana freezer-on-the-bottom models.</p>
<p>Check the appliance forum on Garden Web’s That Home Site. There is lots of information there. Consumer Reports also has good information, especially on the reliability issues. Unfortunately, you sometimes fall in love with the one refrigerator that hasn’t been reviewed, so the reliability lists are helpful. That home site though is a fairly active board.</p>
<p>We’ve ordered a Whirlpool Gold refrig. for a new house still under construction. The guy at Lowes said Whirlpool had the least service calls than any other brand. Saw that online also. Who knows? Could be a sales pitch but Lowes sells all kinds of refrigs. </p>
<p>I originally wanted a freezer on the bottom model but ended up going with the side-by-side because the freezer capacity was so much larger. Also, I’m tall and felt as if I were standing on my head to reach down to the bottom of those bottom freezers.
I could envision that set up becoming more problematic as we got older. </p>
<p>Love the Garden Web (home) site. The forums are so helpful and full of info.</p>
<p>We’re very happy with a Kenmore Elite side by side that fits in a specific sized space and has an icemaker that takes up very little room. Stainless exterior. Sears has reliable and easy to reach repair service. I’ve also found their appliance salespeople tend - or at least one per shift - to know the stuff.</p>
<p>Kitchen Aid is also a Whirpool brand. All Sear’s major kitchen appliances used to be made by Whirlpool - not sure if that is still the case.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the advice. What a way to waste a Sunday afternoon…researching refrigerators. Almost have one…Kitchen Aid , bottom freezer, no ice maker/water dispenser to break. Whirlpool apparently makes one close but can’t seem to find much one it. Not a fan of stainless steel so will most likely go with black.</p>
<p>I have a comment about it being just a box that keeps things cold: that was my thought when I went cheap last time. It was a mistake. Everything that gets pushed to the back of the shelf freezes, and sometimes explodes. Lovely. If I turn the temp down, it is too warm for food in front.</p>
<p>Next time–soon, I hope–I will not get cheap with major appliances.</p>
<p>I will never have again a refrigerator without water dispenser… That is my favorite feature. Next time I also want a drawer-bottom freezer.</p>
<p>To any one researching this- DO NOT get GE MONOGRAM side by side.</p>
<p>I literally know 4 families whose ice dispensers do not work do to the poorly engineered system, it is way expensive to repair (the house call part mostly!) for those of us who grew up getting ice by opening the door anyway ;)</p>
<p>Whirlpool makes Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Amana, Maytag, Jenn-Air and many of the Kenmores. </p>
<p>That’s why so many interiors will be similar. The differences will be convenience things on the inside and door handles on the outside.</p>
<p>We got a Kenmore. The one thing I hate, hate, hate about the interior is that the shelves don’t go right to the edge of the back wall. I have more things disappear into that dumb slot. (I think the idea is to keep things away from the back wall which is extra cold, but it drives me crazy.)</p>
<p>Water dispensers and ice makers are the top things to break on a fridge. We didn’t need them so we didn’t get them.</p>
<p>A few years ago we got a GE Profile stainless steel (ha!) with all the computerized bells and whistles. The finish on the stainless is an upkeep nightmare! The “stainless cleaner” that they provide and that you can buy has mineral oil and does quickly remove fingerprints and such - but it makes every drop of water (like from the tiny flakes from filling a glass with ice) stand out. Cleaning this mess with something like window cleaner does nothing. In my next life I get another white 'fridge. (And I don’t even have any kids at home making fingerprints !)</p>
<p>KitchenAid was the only French door Bottom freezer model we found with a one hand, push the glass into the control, operation of the water dispenser (inside). All the others required one hand to hold the glass and the other to press the button.</p>
<p>But if you are dimension specific, you have a great starting point. Tell us what fits.</p>
<p>Dragonmom, try Weiman Stainless Steel wipes. They do a great job with very little effort. I agree the bottle of stainless cleaner that comes with the appliances is awful.</p>
<p>I like the french doors, freezer on the bottom. Ours, “Kenmore elite” from Sears, has a one hand, push the glass into the control, operation of the water dispenser. Used to only drink bottled water, and thought I wouldn’t use it, but with the filter, tastes okay. I also like Gardenweb.com. consumer reports, and shopping at Sears. I think a lot depends on whether you mostly use fresh vs. frozen foods.</p>
<p>Goodness! A 26 year-old fridge, OP! Buy THAT brand! Whatever you buy I predict a noticeable decrease in your electric bill–fridges have come a LONG way in energy efficiency in 26 years!</p>
<p>Have used the wipes, they are better, but why should you need something special? It’s in the kitchen, soap and water (or perhaps windex-type cleaner) should do.<br>
The wipes also have oils… same problem days later.</p>