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My current refrigerator is a GE Freezer Top that has worked well for a few years, but my crown jewel is a 1942 Westinghouse refrigerator I inherited from my grandparents that continues to operate flawlessly even at 80 years old.
All freezer top refrigerators are far more reliable due to their simplicity. Simpler is always better when it comes to home appliances, HVAC equipment, and water heaters.
@@tgeliot not really, older fridges don’t have as many high amp loads as a newer unit, just a compressor and a single fan motor. No ice maker, evaporator fans, defrost timer and heater, etc.
As an appliance repair tech I occasionally have some "WOW" moments. About the 2nd week of March 2023 my partner and I responded to a fridge repair call, upon entering the kitchen we found an original Harvest Gold Freezer still humming away like it was new. All it needed was to be unplugged and allowed to defrost. Once it was thawed and dried it fired right up. That color and Avocado Green have not been available since the early 70's so that is 50+ years old. A mechanical thermostat and a light bulb is all you see inside, just amazing !
I use an Admiral freezer top model I bought new in 95, it still works beautiful with the only option being the two ice cube trays that came with the fridge. 😀
I know what you mean. My mom's washer & dryer lasted 35 yrs. BUT I rented an apt in to a house in Los Angeles around the University of Southern California area that had a 1946 Servel natural gas refrigerator that I used for all 4 yrs. & when I graduated from USC in 1978 it was still running! Servel founded in 1922: And from 1927 until 1956, when it ceased producing them, it was the only American manufacturer of gas refrigerators. As the United States entered World War II, Servel shifted its manufacturing to support the war effort. In addition to cooking units and munitions, Servel built wings for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
Manufacturers would not stay in business if they built products that last half of a century! And if they did, they would have to charge 10x the rate just to stay in business.
@@buddysteve5543 and that's why I do not play that game. I buy - no wait I don't even have to buy - I find - vintage appliances on the curb and take them from being scrapped. My matching washer and dryer pair I have had for the last 15 years that is in and of itself from the late 60s or early 70s, I got for free. I was doing the curb crawl on the weekend looking for goodies sitting out and seen a house being cleaned out with this gorgeous avacado green washer and dryer set sitting out. they had some rust along the bottom like they were in a basement flood many times, but nothing too serious. asked if they were being thrown away and if I could have them they were confused as to why someone would want "that old junk" and then they were happy to have it hauled away, as the landfill charges you money for disposal of large items. i cleaned them up, gave the motors some cleaning and fresh lube, sanded down the rust damage then color matched and repainted the damaged areas, they have never failed on me still to this day. the only problem I had was a wire for the control board had rubbed on some sharp metal over time from vibrating and it cut the wire. simple 3 minute repair with a wire splice and that was solved. i donated my shitty 2008 Maytag front loader to put this set in its place and never regretted it.
I cant believe I spent my morning coffee time watching a video on refrigerators, especially since Im not in the market for one right now. But this was such a well done, comprehensive video on how to choose a fridge that I was totally engaged. Wonderful job on this, and just the sort of straight shooting we need these days. Keep up good work.
But when you are in the market, it happens suddenly and without warning. My mother had a power outage, and when the power came back on, the fridge struggled to get up again and couldn't. She had to get a new one, have it delivered. Meanwhile I grabbed every cooler I had. Picked up ice at the store to save as much food as possible. The frozen stuff was lost despite cooking as much as possible, eating ice cream etc. There were 4 of us trying to eat it. Would have lost more if she lived alone You can keep food cold on ice, but can't keep food frozen. Maybe a small chest freezer as backup? Depends on your use
I really appreciate his easy to understand explanations on the subject, I mean love it. And I too have a reliable fridge,thanks to this young and dedicated man, now but still enjoy hearing these videos.
This is probably the most honest, accurate, informative, thorough and well presented video on recommended refrigerator brands on the internet. You are a blessing to appliance consumers everywhere. Please keep up the good work.
Ben your content is great! I bought a home with a Samsung fridge 😩 your videos are super helpful at keeping it out of the landfill another year. When it dies I'm going on your recommendation!
I cannot thank you enough. based on this video we bought a GE PWE23K Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator mentioned by you. it is made in Kentucky and is a far cry quieter than the 3 year old Frigidaire trash. I have also used your washing machine video to help my brother. Keep up the good work ,we all need this kind of info.
I bought my last Frigidaire appliance. Never again. After 2 months the inner plastic liner started cracking. The local retailer AND Frigidaire refused to cover it under warranty.
It's puzzling how they get away with it in a world where you're shunned if everything isn't green/environmentally friendly..... when it's actually environmentally criminal to build these huge appliances that get thrown away sooner than later.
I'm so glad I found you! I was thinking about replacing our 17 year old fridge just because it's a 17 year old fridge. What I learned, is that I really need to take it out and vacuum it. We have no fancy ice makers or dispensers. It's just a cold box that has managed to stay cold for 17 years. Thank you!
A new model might have a higher energy rating on it. But if I could do it over, I'd have kept the first refrigerator we bought with our first house....30 years ago. That energy rating comes with more insulation, and less space. Newer models also have more plastic parts. Oh, and the stainless looks good for about five minutes, then it starts to get fingerprints, dents, and scratches.
@@cariwaldick4898 And those new fridge are dangerous, since a climate change idiot wrongly blamed them for destroying the ozone layer. The new "lighter gas" replacement is what starter the fire at Grenfell tower that killed around 100 people.
My boyfriend can fix anything. My fridge was 40 years old, and I didn’t want to buy a new one. He was easily able to replace the parts that could be faulty, but eventually he realized that the Freon needed to be replaced, and he didn’t have the equipment to do that. I finally gave up and bought one of the new, expensive behemoths. Had to send two back, and then just bought a couple of cheap office fridges and a small freezer. Yeah, it’s a drag to defrost them, but much better than throwing out expensive food.
I’ve been a Tech/Installer for 17-18 years and I wish I could work with this guy. I share the same passion. Great video man. Everything incredibly true.
I bought an avocado green GE Side by side with water and ice in the door in 1980. 23 years later, I bought a newer fridge and I gave my GE to my company to put in the shop for the yard employee's. 21 years later, it is still out there working away keeping things cold. 44 years old. Now that is good service.
My Viking freezer chest is now 49 years old. Never have had a problem with it. They made quality back then. It’s still running strong! Thanks for the info!
runs but probably more expensive to run... Those older ones aren't cost efficient. Mine (Whirlpool) was made in the 90's and doesn't strain the elect bill.
That’s cool, Linda! Do be careful about the wiring, though. I say this to everyone now since my father’s shop burned to the ground a few years ago with the origin being around a still-running deep freeze from the ‘80s. (No ppl injured.)
@@PK-bh1ww Incorrect. Old fridges are surprisingly efficient. I've got a 1932 GE fridge in my garage and it sips power. Only 117 watts when the compressor is running.
My aunt bought a Frigidaire or GE or Maytag in 1945 got it for her 45th birthday she lived to be 105 years old ran strong when she died that’s 60 years
I have only had two fridge freezes, one was an Electrolux and the other one which I have still got is Hotpoint. The first one lasted well over 40 years. The second one is at least 20 years old and still going strong. And if you want ice cubes, use an ice tray, they never break down.
I hear you. My Maytag is 27 years old. Freezer on top & no frills, no repairs. Last time I was checking out getting a new one, all that was on display seemed to be of poor quality & very costly so, I will try to extend the life of this one by opening the back, cleaning the coils, vacuum it out, as I have never done this…
You stole my thunder, My parents bought a 2nd handed pointvI was raised with that Hot Point refrigerator and when I got married I was broke and my parents gave me That refrigerator and we kept it for many years and ended up giving it To my wife's uncle and he made a freezer out of it....I'm 78 and wish I had of kelp it....because since then I've had 6 or 7 refrigerator!!!
I was raised by two school teachers, who I revere. That being said: your videos are extremely effective for teaching and explaining. You don't use abrasive language, you speak clearly, you are very coherent and confident, you prove your knowledge, and most importantly, you know how to inject just the right level of humor. Your humor isn't overboard to where some people would find you annoying. On the other hand, you inject just enough, and at the right times, for those that have trouble following along on topics like these (people that have ADHD appreciate that). You've earned my subscription, sir. Keep educating. Much appreciated! 🙂👍
Fantastic comment! All too many video's have foul language and/or trendy terms that people feel that somehow add to the subject, but to me only takes away.
30 years ago they used large US manufactured compressors, that's why. Now they all use Chinese junk (small) compressors. Whirlpools are now trash! And BTW, they bought up Maytag.
I have a 25.9 cf side by side refrigerator that has been working for 35 years and is still working! No repairs, all original parts. Freezer & Frig get cold
As someone who lives in a rural area, an hour from decent shopping, the best choice for our household is a simple all fridge refrigerator and an separate upright freezer. We have enough room to stock up on our biweekly shopping trips. As for an ice maker, that's what ice cube trays and kids are for.
I live in a small town (15k pop) but have just sold the French Door Fridge/Freezer for separate fridge/freezer like you. Totally agree, esp the ice trays :)
I'm a family of 1 but just discovered recently the "garage" style fridge and upright freezer recently. I am considering both two since my house is old and had a narrow door, so a standard fridge that will fit may be too small for stockpiling.
The ice maker on my fridge / freezer must have been smart (Samsung) they put the ice maker in the freezer section. No need to keep it any colder and has held up so far.
Man you just packed 80 pounds of crap into a 5 pound bag ! AMAZING. So much good information delivered in a very neutral manner. I love what you're doing here. Keep up the good work.
This was the best 20 minutes I've spent on UA-cam in months. It was technically straightforward without getting into the weeds. You video brushed up against the physics of why equipment fails and put me on a new path for taking care of my current refrigerator. You have new subscriber.
In the repair shop of my used appliance store we have a 1950s refrigerator that still works great. Coils on the back, no defrost, no ice maker. It s so simple and reliable it will outlive me.
My mother bought her kenmore frig back in 1972 it worked every day since. When she passed, We sold her house and moved south last year. I wish i had taken it with me. It was such a reliable piece of machinery.
Refrigerators back then were made well and very reliable. They could make quality appliances if they wanted to, but this way they sell more because it's generally cheaper to buy a new appliance than to have one repaired. We all need to just buy the cheapest one we can find and count on using it for 4-5 years discard and buy another cheap one. You can't repair a fridge for less than $500. That's $500 you can add to a new one.
It seemed people knocked Kenmore, but I've had some that lasted decades. People question why I buy used and I just say for better quality. Appliances, tools, cars, homes, home goods....
@@Johnslist Fortunately, REAL, ACTUAL statistics for vehicles are easier to track than for appliances, thus enabling narrative, story telling, anecdotes based on survivorship bias and personal bias to be questioned and overturned. Consumer analytic companies track and compile those easier-to-acquire statistics on vehicles, and what those REAL statistics show is that todays vehicles (the average vehicle) is much more reliable and l a s ts longer than ever before, contrary to anecdotal myths based on the survivorship bias fallacy and “golden age” story telling.
Right? As soon as I saw the first refrigerator with a computer screen on the front I knew I didn't want one. Same with the ice/ water in the door, but for a different reason. My mom had one and it was always dirty. Due to hard water in Texas you couldn't scrub the stains out of the tray so the whole front of the refrigerator looked awful.
Iowa made Maytag and Amana is super long lasting. Have Maytag side-side from 1998 (24 years old), and Amana bottom-freezer from 1995 (27 years old) . Both work perfectly. the Maytag has need defrost timer, defrost coil, motor starter. Amana has needed a Condenser Fan.
@@pablopicaro7649 Everything from that era lasted longer. Most of my kitchen appliances are still going strong for the last 20 years outside of little plastic pieces here and there but the exact same brands now don't make the same products unfortunately.
Whoa! What just happened here>?? An honest, clear report with plenty of details and explanations? How rare - what a treat. Thanks Ben. I got into refrigeration repair by accident a few years ago when I did some general repair work in a guy's apartment, and he liked what he saw me doing. He asked me if I could help him in his restaurant. I did, and realized the refrigeration repair tech he had was ripping him off bigtime, Told him he needed a new compressor (wrong - all that was wrong was the internal circulation fans were not working) and then quoted him a price about five times higher than it was worth. (I already knew how to do basic refrigeration repair.) So I became my friend's refrigeration tech. Had to learn how to fix icemakers (those f***ers are complicated), Was great fun working for my friend until he finally sold his restaurant, I wound up with a restaurant maintenance company until I retired a few years later. My thing was honesty and good work, so I can appreciate what you are doing.
"...honesty and good work..." That's all WE want, too. Get in, do the job correctly, timely, and at a fair price. That's all we ask, same as a small business.
I don't care if I somehow wound up on an alien planet never needing an appliance again, I would still watch your channel because the genuine advice is such an honest example of integrity that is unrecognizable in today's day and age. Happy new year God bless
I live in a rented “artist loft” thus my unit, of course, came with a fridge. I am not in the market for any appliances. Yet, I am totally glued to this video and fascinated by the information within. Ben is awesome! Honest, humble, has jokes, and knows his stuff. What a guy.
They even make plates or trim pieces that hold the two refrigerators together covering the gap and making it look like one unit. Pretty slick...I was impressed the first time I saw one. I wish you could do it with two bottom freezers instead though but it's been ages since I've seen one of those.
Bought an old 26 years old GE fridge 6 years ago for 20$. Fridge is now 32 years old and still running like a brand new one. The friend who sold me the old fridge bought a new one at the time and just had to replace that new one with another new one. I told him in 5 years when his 2nd new fridge breaks, I'd sell him my 37 years old fridge for 40$ :)
That's Funny! My whirlpool side by side I think is the same age! I have no interest in upgrading, because the crap they make now, would be a downgrade! I remember when I bought it, and while 32 years went by..still kicking! And just now I heard the ice drop...lol
When I moved to a different part of the state in 1992 I took my 1990 GE refrigerator with me. We kept in in our kitchen for 8 years and then my wife just had to have one of the new shinny silver models. We moved the old GE outside to the garage as a backup frig. 15 years later ( another two new inside refrigerators later) it finally broke down. The old one was just built better than the new ones!
The same happened with TeleVisions Some 4 decades ago - I repaired a PHILIPS TV (CRT type of TV) for a Fellow I knew - He worked part-time as a 'Barman' The TV was given to him when the establishment he worked at - purchased a new one with a 26-inch picture tube. It worked well for a while and then died - (as he put it) He missed watching his collection of " Westerns" he had on Video Tape. __I studied Electronics Engineering with PHILIPS during my 30-year Military career - and knew them inside out - He balked at the $150 I charged him for the repair -- == However I do recall that before HE died he said the $150 was really a bargain - as the TV worked for over 15 years after the repair - and worked without failure - So the $150 worked out to less than $10 per year of viewing. RIP Ronald 'Rocky' Lazar -
My parents bought a Norge refrigerator around 1960. It got relegated to the garage about 25 years later. Finally got rid of it about 10 years ago. They bought an upright freezer about 1970. Was still operating worry free when I got rid of it about 10 years ago. The only reason I got rid of it was I was afraid at 40+ years old, I'd wake up to $1000 in spoiled meat someday. Got a Tappan fridge in the kitchen now, that I'm about to move to the walk in pantry, for curing bacon and aging cheese. It was bought about 1995.
I have a smart family hub fridge and it’s been a nightmare. My old fridge is in the garage. The new one broke 3 months in. I have fixed it twice already and regret the purchase. My old backup is going strong in my garage.
Same story to me. My wife keeps over 30 years old style white Whirlpool refrigerator (made in USA) when we install new style stainless Samsung RFG237AARS/XAA was manufactured 2012. I have to keep cleaning the ices every 18 months. People who are unable DIY it is nightmare. We should file class lawsuits to have design flaws products to be sold in USA.
7 місяців тому+130
Hey as a mexican engineer I can say that refrigerators made in Mexico have great quality, many GE's fridges have been made in Mexico for over 30 years
Thanks, hope I remember your advice when my Whirlpool goes out. The electric system from CFE is bad and I get a lot of flickering lights etc. due to the 1960’s era transformer that is rectangular and about rusted out 😮
I've had three GE refrigerators in 40 years (builder grade replaced with a (monster) 29cuft SxS replaced with a profile French door counter depth.). They've all been great.
I recently bought a refrigerator , and saved almost $1,000 by going plain vanilla - top freezer without in-door water or ice. I just don’t use enough ice to rationalize getting a fancier model. Also, while the top freezer wasn’t as exciting as a French door, it is perfectly adequate for my needs. I usually aim for the appliances with the least bells and whistles I can get, figuring there are fewer things to go wrong.
My refrigerator has an ice maker. I usually keep frozen meat in the ice bin. Next to the ice maker I have two old fashioned Ice Cube trays. When I empty one, I refill it with water and put it behind the other tray, rotating the two.
Common sense - keep it simple stupid. [KISS principle]. Undergraduate - not to multiply entities beyond necessity, Ockhams Razor. Post grad - ontological economy.
I’m in the market for a new fridge, and it’s been overwhelming. This is EXACTLY what I needed to watch. It’s made my decision significantly easier. Thank you.
@@sjackson5980 I actually did that . Went to a Dollarama and bough a bunch just to organize bread and deli meats,I'm gonna get a few more to organize vegs. It made a huge difference .
I recently purchased a fridge and was so overwhelmed by the choices. I got a Bosch 800 no water/ice in the door. Got an awesome deal during a holiday sale. It’s been great so far!
Over 20 years ago I bought a 1939 Kelvinator fridge. Still had the Kelvinator companys 25th anniversary label on the inside of the door. It still works perfectly so long as I defrost the freezer about once a month. This is truly a 'they don't make them like this anymore' piece of equipment.
@@ErikssonTord_2 I remember my Grandmother putting all the food in the refrigerator and putting a pot of hot water in the freezer and scraping frost and ice every couple of months.
I'm a contractor and when we renovate a home(rentals) we buy the cheapest cuz it does not matter. Like you said, "They are all crap" When we get a new stove or dishwasher in from Korea, it has a checksheet taped to the inside somewhere that asks what badge to put on it! They are all made in the same crappy factories. Thanks for the truth.
I used to sell major appliances back in the 80s. GE once came out with a rotary compressor which was supposed to revolutionize the business. It had fewer moving parts, etc. It was a bust. What impressed me was that GE recognized the problem and replaced the compressor in all sold refrigerators -- without being forced to by lawsuit or government intervention. It was a completely voluntary recall.
I'm pretty sure there was no energy efficiency laws in place in the 80s. Today's refrigerators must meet strict energy efficiency laws and the linear compressor by LG has weak springs and plastic parts.
I had no idea that cleaning out the back of the fridge was a good idea. I've added it to my To Do list for the weekend chore list. I also agree 100% that simple is better. My fridge, washer and dryer all have the absolute minimum of controls (none of them are digital) and they all still work fine 25 years after they were purchased.
Just a thought ladies who don’t have a handyman in the home, I roll my refrigerator out and blow everything off with my leaf blower about twice a year, yes it makes for a dusty mess to vacuum up but it’s a very efficient and quicker way to keep your fridge running at optimal performance. Hope this helps .
@@pambeck324 I don't understand why you don't just remove the dust on the condenser coil directly with a vacuum cleaner instead of making a dusty mess with a leaf blower to be vacuumed up. I remove the dust on the condenser coil of my refrigerator with a vacuum cleaner once in a while. It's super easy.
For any appliance, stay away from a plethora of digital buttons. That’s a rule I learned many years ago from working at a neighbor’s family appliance store. Those were the most service calls. The store was open for 70 years and knew their stuff. This guy seems to have great advice overall.
Summarizing the 12minute mark 1-Simple Tech is always better than complex tech 2-ICE MAKER must be Inside the Fridge unit to be reliable, never inside the refrigerator above (Samung lawsuit says all) 3-Made in USA is more expensive, but the high quality standards on the sealing system will made more reliable than made in Mexico/China....Thank you so very much for this tip! 4-Avoid indoor water dispensers = Thank you so so much again! 5-Close attention to how many years is the warranty of the compressor! and once you buy 001-CLEAN ONCE A YEAR At Least. i confess that I never cleaned my LG refrigerator and after 7 years the compressor died on me this week, technician came and told me that IF I had cleaned it would be last longer....Le$$on Learned!!! Thanks again Ben 🙂👍
It must be inside the FREEZER to be reliable. The big issue is trying to make ice inside the space that is not below freezing especially if it's in the door.
@@bob_frazier I hooked a power meter to my mom's old coldspot fridge built in 1958 and amazing enough it was more energy efficient than her brand new one. Why, because it has only a compressor and a light. That's it. No fans, no auto defrost, no ice maker, no nothing. It still runs fine and even the gaskets are still good and original. We wait till winter to unload it and defrost it once a year.
I bought a no-frills, white Kenmore fridge about 25 years ago, made in Canada. It has never given me an ounce of trouble. Still looks good and does what it is supposed to do. My Mom and Dad had a GE fridge bought in and around 1950. They owned it until they sold their house in about 2005. As far as I know it is still going strong.
That's because its a Kenmore. Sears brand appliances were built to last. See my post about our 54 year old Kenmore refrigerator. Also the fridge I own now is a GE and I bought it used in 2015. I don't know how old it was when I bought it, but it wasn't new. The only thing I don't like about it is that the freezer door (its a side by side) doesn't open far enough, and tends to spring back on me. I have to prop it open with a chair when I'm having to get things in and out of the freezer. But I think it was made that way and has nothing to do with age.
That 1950 refrigerator should be replaced. For nostalgia sake, it's worth keeping. But for energy efficiency purposes, it's costing you more money to use it than to just buy a new one and replace it every 8-10 years.
I love the idea about putting 2 refrigerators together and off setting the doors to make a faux side by side French door unit. Great cheaper idea and lots of space.
The big sell for french doors for me is that large pizza boxes will fit inside vs a side by side where they often won't. But a red neck french door setup might work...
As someone who worked for an extended warranty company, the ice maker in the fridge door is one of the worst ideas anyone has ever had...they all break. I also appreciate your commentary on all brands, nicely done. Also like your signed Disciple album on your shelf...Nice!
Kevin and the band signed it 2 months ago! First time I saw them live was in my small home town and they were still a 3pc band with Kevin still playing bass
It’s so funny how no matter how fancy the home you visit, you need to check in to see if the door water and ice work. Over the holidays I was invited my supervisor’s home and when I went to refill my water, the spouse got me just in time to tell me I needed to use the bottled water. I seriously have no interest in all the bells and whistles after seeing my parents LG (which they bought after reading consumer reports) fridge have compressor issues at the 3rd year. I guess I should be happy my 1981 almond GE fridge is going strong!
My sister has one and it has been one headache after another. Myself I checked consumer reports first and bought a base model GE French style refrigerator based on Consumer Reports. I have had it for 6 years now and no issues at all. It works very well and is quiet. It has an ice maker, but we chose not to connect it. We just do the old fashioned ice trays. We do clean it off and on, but we need to do that more often. I did check into Consumer Reports and looked at reliability(where it was made). I already knew that less features means less things to go wrong. Great tips! Thanks!
Older-ish Whirlpools have a HUGE edge on GEs, and any tech will tell you that. Especially if its a Jazz-board unit. The bad problem was that those boards used to cost ~$250 but 3rd parties now offer them for $45.
@@bensappliancesandjunk -- I bought one of the Whirlpool freezer-top units with the control system you showed, 6 months ago. But at least I got an extended warrantee on it. And they knocked off $100 because the delivery guys put a dent in it on the way over here. I have the required clearances around it. Any other tips to extend its life?
@@grizzlygrizzle I hope this answers your question. I've found that everything about taking good care of anything can be found in the owner's manual. I suggest reading the owner's manual for anything from cover to cover.
Iowa made Maytag and Amana is super long lasting. Have Maytag side-side from 1998 (24 years old), and Amana bottom-freezer from 1995 (27 years old) . Both work perfectly. the Maytag has need defrost timer, defrost coil, motor starter. Amana has needed a Condenser Fan.
My brother still has our parents first refrigerator that they bought second hand in the mid-1940s, an art deco style General Electric. Nothing has ever broken on it, NOTHING, even the now illegal latch type industrial looking door handle that traps children inside works perfectly. It has never needed to be recharged. He had it painted in a body shop some years back and it looks awesome in his home theater bar area.
My father had a GE from the 1930's, with the 6" thick walls, with the tiny box on four 8" or so long legs, and the compressor on top of the box, enclosed in a circular shield. It never required service, and was still running a few year ago when he passed away. I wonder what became of it. Me, I have a 50 years old U-Line refrigerator that was my fridge in college. It also is still running, and has never been serviced.
That's the whole point. They don't make them like that anymore. At some point, these companies realized that having a well built appliance cut into their profits. If you have a fridge that lasts generations, then who is buying new ones? All these companies traded in the "Best Product" model, for the "engineered to fail after 2-4 years" model, so you can keep coming back. Washers, dryers, TV's, you name it. My Sony Bravia failed 3 days after the warranty was up.
@@sexual_chocolate Keep in mind the other side of the equation, and that is how dramatically the price has fallen over the years. My little U-Line cost $125 in 1973. In 2022 dollars that is $875. A comparable mini-fridge today is about $160, so 1/5 the price. If it lasts 9 years, it will deliver comparable value. Will it? I have no idea.
My folks' 1948-49 Kelvinator fridge stopped working and the cause was the tiny freezer box was frozen over. After defrosting that beast chugged along as the family room fridge for cases of beer and bushels of apples and pears. Parents died, house sold in 2015 with the Kelvinator fridge going strong.
My friend works for an appliance repair company and he hooked up an energy consumption meter to my antique refrigerator I have in my bonus/man cave room. It is the conversation piece in the room! Well, until he did the calculations and it’s using $1100 a year. I promptly sold it and bought a retro refrigerator that has energy efficient internals and has an appearance of a mid 40 or 50 refrigerator
sadly, if you bought a new one now from the same Big Box store now, it will likely cost 5-10 times more than the old one did, and have 5-10 times shorter lifespan...
Best video on refrigerators I've ever seen. I guess I have one of the last Kenmore refrigerators made in America. It's 18 years old, and I am very happy with it. It's side by side with water and ice in the freezer door. It's never been repaired. I am going to pull it out and vacuum the back. I've never done that and I've had many shedding cats. As an aside, my sister had a GE side x side 25 years ago, and the in-door water/ice component failed. She bought a replacement water/ice component, and we put it in the door and hooked it up to replace the old one. It worked great. She was a flight attendant and I am a geologist. She moved away, so I don't know how long it lasted.
I am going to send this to my husband. We bought a Samsung French door, no water/ice in the door (put my foot down to refuse that). The bottom drawer freezer is my favorite, we opted for French door because there was better space than the comparable side by sides. Got it as a floor demo to replace an aging Kenmore with stress cracks forming in the freezer. It works great for us.
My Samsung freezer top is a sleeper hit. Since I haven’t replaced other appliances the dark chrome works with the white appliances. It fits well. My old one was too large for the area which may have made it work harder and burn out.
I read your comment and had to laugh. In our case it was the wife who insisted on an LG with the ice maker in the door. I caved in of course. She spends all of her time in the kitchen and deserves her choice in refrigerators. We've had one call on the compressor, covered under warranty. Otherwise, no problems. It's been a good refrigerator. It's six years old, but I doubt that it lasts as long as the basic GE in our garage that we've had since 1985. With that one there've been no repairs or even a recharge of the coolant. But it looks old, and it makes her feel old, so it's the garage for the GE.
I’m happy to hear that, just bought my first Samsung fridge yesterday, arriving tomorrow after my 17 yr old Kenmore failed 😞 I’ve been nervous bc today I’ve read a ton of bad reviews when it comes to Samsung fridges! So thanks for sharing!
@@lolacookie453 Same! When I tell people we picked a Samsung I get just blasted with "are you insane!?" comments. We picked the 4 door one with the ice in the freezer. Even this guy seems to say it's a decent choice and he's clearly not biased on any of them. Are you liking yours?
My parents have a french door Whirlpool fridge they got brand new with a 50% discount in 1993 (the year I was born) because it had a big scratch in the front. It is still their only fridge to this day. It has lasted 30 years. Its fun to go over to their house and use the same fridge I grew up using. I have had a simple french door Samsung for 3 years with no issues. Simple meaning it only has a ice maker in the freezer, no water outlet or ice dispenser. I think the simpler the better.
T.U.Z.K: I would say that the chances are your parents were lucky that at the time they purchased that appliance (back in that era) it was the original Whirlpool company (most likely in Italy) of who manufactured to higher standards. But unfortunately these days the household appliances are just "named" with those brand-names, but it's all just a smokescreen. And I so miss those days (predominantly before 1993) when we actually had "choice" of different companies, but nowadays nearly all appliances are produced/manufactured under just "one" umbrella and disguised as many different companies - but it's all just a "lie". These days most appliances and other items are knocked up on the cheap and not made to last. Very sad :(
@@roadrunner694 Yeah, absolutely. It's all about "greed" and very greedy/uncouth business corps trying to make more and more "money" with no holds barred and in any which way but loose!! :(
Two years ago I switched to a separate refrigerator from the freezer. Two different units. Very large Midea fridge where I can put vegetables, fruits and everyday cooked food. Arctic king freezer where I keep frozen food. Both very simple, no complications.
Enjoyed the video. Why is the transcript not in English? What about midea refrigerators and arctic king freezers? A little confused by what to buy, perhaps do a summary as you close the video.
@@benjismith593 I believe Midea is Chinese and they're the largest manufacturer of appliances in the world. I think it's a lot like Foxconn in electronics, they build it no matter what name is on the outside (even if it says Apple).
My husband took out our ice maker and gave us so much more room for food. We have a top freezer Frigidaire since 2010 and it is still going strong,,praise the Lord! Each year he pulls it out and cleans up the floor beneath and cleans the fan and coils.
My Kenmore (GE) was bought in 1980 for $399.00 and is still running great. I should replace the seal but other than that, no complaints - even the ice maker still works. My other is a very basic 3 year old GE I got for free because the people were remodeling their kitchen and wanted to get a brand new fancy LG. So far it works great and it has the ice maker inside the bottom freezer drawer. My friend has been through 3 brand new LG's in the past year at a sticker price of over $2,000. Just like cars, the less buttons, the better!!
My husband was determined to get a Sub-Zero. I told him he was nuts. We got a refurbished one after we'd had a kitchen fire. Best money ever spent. We've likely saved the price of the refrigerator/freezer (side by side) in food that takes dramatically longer to spoil in the 8 years we've now had it. I've been stunned.
My neighbor in Alexandria had a Subzero built-in and we used to joke that she was having an affair with the repairman. He was there once a month! Glad to hear your experience was better!
He's right about buying something with the least components possible. I got a husband with only two working parts and he's been very easy to fix when needed.
🎉🎉🎉❤ standing ovation. I wish I had found your channel 2 refrigerators ago. Samsung and may tag, I'd never buy either again. Now I feel better equipped when I buy my next one.
I have a 42” Sub Zero side by side from when I built my house new in 1997. The ice maker is a drawer / bin inside the freezer. Flawless performance of refrigerator, freezer, and ice maker. Also, it’s super quiet. I vacuum the coils every 6 months. Just remove the grille at the top of the unit for easy access. Never a need to pull the unit away from the wall.
I paid a guy to fix a 2003 sub zero I got off Craigslist for the cost of buying a shiny new Samsung and good as new. Even the interior is in good shape. I never pay more than $500 for a new fridge unless I’m willing to pay $10k for one that lasts.
@@naynayhooray If it has not already been done, your freezer side may be eligible for an upgraded new style evaporator. The original design freezer evaporator has potential for dissimilar metal corrosion which could lead to loss of the refrigerant charge. Mine was upgraded free of charge out of warranty. It’s been many years ago, but it seems I was contacted by Sub Zero to schedule to get the new style evaporator installed. If this upgrade has been done, there will be a sticker indicating as such applied to the freezer door jamb, only visible with the freezer door open.
@@jstones9872 French door! Wow! That’ll be nice. I think it retails for around $16,000? Recently I checked the replacement cost for my 42” side by side and it retails for $14,000.
I love the "feature" my freezer/fridge came with: a manual ice maker. It was a ice cube tray that was taped inside the freezer so it wouldn't slide around during shipping.🤣 That is what it was advertised as, a manual ice maker! Between your channel and Consumer Reports, I got the most stripped down, freezer-over-fridge I could buy. It is a little smaller than I realized, but it works out great for me. I don't lose stuff in the back as easily.
We are in the market for a new refrigerator. My husband does not like bottom freezers or a water and ice dispenser on the outside. The hard water we have here creates problems for the dispenser. We also agree that the more features on the unit only leads to problems. Our current refrigerator is a Kenmore and it has problems with the fan. It breaks down and we've had service on it many times since we purchased it in 2018. Something that expensive should last more than 6 years. So, I will be listen carefully to your advice. Thank you for your video.
I mean... Subzero fridges start at roughly $10,000 and can go up over $20,000. Many refurbished and used ones still sell for $7-9000. Most people can't afford even one, let alone 3. If you can afford to spend between $20,000 and $40,000 on 3 fridges then you could probably afford to pay for a service call or to just replace them or buy a different one. Good for you for being able to afford them, but its like someone saying "I've never had any issues with my Lamborghini" when someone is complaining about their Chevy Cruz having issues. It doesn't help with 99% of peoples issues at all.
I bought my SubZero in 2009 and gave $14,000.00 for it. I had it specifically built into the cabinet and shortly after I moved into my house I got a notice in the mail to stop using it as it could catch fire. I sent my model number in and it was in the recall. The repairman had to remove it from the cabinets and replace a switch underneath. After that, no problems. I used my 20-year-old Maytag while it was out if service. Great video!
I have a Frigidaire refrigerator for 25 years and have had only one repair years ago. The ice maker died about 6 years ago. Thank you for your channel, I’m subscribing now!
I'm a tech and went to HVAC school, this video nails it on the head. Also makes me feel better because I usually recommend GE but I tell customers it's not like the Rolls Royce of appliances, they're all marginally better or worse. Thanks for the great vid!
I agree with this...and it's really well explained. I bought the most basic Samsung fridge from Costco - no bells and whistles - and it has been outstanding. It's quiet and works exactly as it should. Couldn't be happier. My LG was very basic too and lasted nearly 10 years so pretty happy with that as well. Stick to more basic fridges for fewer problems.
Happy to hear you’ve had good luck with their basic model. If your ever in the market for a higher end model make sure to do your research. I didn’t when I bought my Samsung refrigerator. It worked fine for two years then it was constantly breaking down. We had the repairman out 3 or 4 times a year for repairs. Thank god we had purchased the extended warranty. After about 3 and a half years we just bought another fridge because we couldn’t trust it. I will say the freezer always worked fine though.
We felt the same way, so you just reinforced my outlook and what I found when we researched before buying our last one a couple of months ago. We ended up getting a cheap one, as we didn't think spending more would get us a longer lasting product. No bells and whistles except being frost free with an ice maker. Nothing in the door! No water filter, no nothing! Nothing is built to last anymore period.
And a follow-up message, I opened the back up like suggested and while I didn't have a brush to get the worst of it out, I was able to remove several large small carpeted pieces from inside the fan assembly. It's not all of it but it was quite a bit so it might help this 20 year old fridge go even longer. Cheers and thanks
Ben should get the award if there is an award for best video production providing quality and entertaining information on appliances. I watched his video, which allowed me to better shop and care for refrigerators. I have fast-forwarded it through other content providers on appliances but I felt like I needed a bag of popcorn watching his video. Fantastic job, Ben!
I found this fascinating and educational. One thing you didn't mention but I have found very important, is the quality/type of plastic used to make the drawers, door compartments etc. In my experience as an owner I have found massive variations between models and brands. Great channel and I have just subscribed. FYI. I'm in the UK.
Straightforward, informative and honest! Thanks! I’ve had my Amana side by side fridge since 1997. Still running strong. Also, I have an old JC Pennny model I inherited from my folks, still running in the garage. Way older than 1997! They don’t build ‘em like they used to…
As a baby Boomer, who just celebrated her 74th birthday, I've seen lots of refrigerators in my life. I currently have my 2nd french door refrigerator with water and ice in the door. Since I'm the only one these days who uses the ice, I wouldn't mind having it back in the freezer section. However, I still want water on the door. I just wanted to comment on the fact that you suggest the side by side over the french door. When I had my side by side in the 90s, I found it extremely troublesome to use . The freezer is very difficult to access, and space is very limited. If you have something large to put in there, it's just not going to go in. There are similar issues with the refrigerator side. While it was a little better, It definitely wasn't great for space. Hence, I love the french door, which allows a lot of space in the refrigerator & the freezer sections. Therefore, while the side by sides might function better electrically, that is not the case for cooking and storage. Therefore, I don't know if there really is a solution to keep everybody happy . Also, I'm not a person who would afford a Sub Zero. As a retiree, I do a lot of cooking and baking, so the side by side just is not an option. I do love to hear all your appliance knowledge, though. It doesn't seem like there's a lot of young folks around like you doing this sort of career, so good for you. 👏 Keep up the good work.🤩 🏖Kj in Tampa Bay 😊
My fridge is a 35 y/o Whirlpool Top Freezer. It has the condenser coil hanging off the back. It's a frost-free design that has never had an issue. I service medical lab equipment including Cryostats. A Cryostat is a deep freezer with a microtome inside it. Old Cryostats made in the 70's can still be found working perfectly in some places. Newer units have a lot more issues. Refrigerant leaks, and insulation breaking down are common problems, not to mention electronic issues.
We remodeled the kitchen in 2015 and moved the GE Profile Arctica to the family room next to the kitchen as I couldn't justify getting rid of it. Good thing I did as the new Samsung ice in the door counter depth lasted only five and a half years. I replaced it with a counter depth GE. The old GE will be 21 years old this year and my small GE fridge for drinks on the porch by the pool will be 33 years old this year. GE for me for sure!!
Never thought I would say this about a refrigerator, but I am madly in love with my six year old Fisher and Paykel counter depth fridge. No ice maker, no water dispenser. Just a great top fridge/bottom freezer appliance. Easy to clean glass shelves. Three pull out freezer drawers. Quiet. Cheap to operate. No, I DON'T WORK FOR THEM 🤣 lol
F&P are great choices, but I just never, ever see them out in the wild. They definitely deserve an honorable mention, but they're in that odd area that Bosch usually are in, in that they aren't cheap, but also not on that elite Viking/Subzero/Monogram tier, either. Definitely good ones so I've heard.
I have their dual dishwasher and pro 48" stove. Super service. Call their 800 #, it's answered in Australia, and they will motivate the Los Angeles warehouse to ship replacements. DO NOT go to LA direct.
@@padraicmcguire108 Saw the same thing an my in laws house. They had a F&P dual drawer dishwasher that was always broken or leaking. And every appliance repairman that showed up to fix it ran like scalded cat as soon as they saw it...
Our refrigerator went out a few days ago right before we left for vacation… This has been an extremely helpful video! Thank you for showing the big picture of refrigerator manufacturers. And very cool that you are Disciple fan. I am a longtime fan of theirs and I’ve seen them in concert many times🤘🏼
@@Notrocketscience101You can’t save enough money today by buying a new energy efficient fridge because the cost of electricity has skyrocketed under Biden Bimbo
I wish the salesmen were 1/10th as helpful as you! Just bought a basic GE electric range in white and he couldn't have been less interested. I should have left but it was exactly what I wanted, I had already done my research and I wanted to buy from our local small business versus the big box. So far I'm very happy with it. Anyway thanks for your very thorough videos!
Great video and very valid points about adding all the options. Keeping the features simple and doing 2 steps religiously will give you the longest life of your fridge, 1) do not pack your fridge or freezer (the air needs to flow for it to work!) and 2) clean the vents and coils every six months (figure it out and do the best you can).
Very well put together video. I came here after watching a repair video you had. My LG French door refrigerator started not cooling. The freezer was not freezing. I figured the coils needed cleaning. It is hard to get behind it and do a proper cleaning. So, after vacuuming the back off then 2 weeks later needing to do it again, I started researching the unit. Learned that I need to get behind it and do a proper coil cleaning and that I'm doing pretty good since its a 7-year-old LG French door. Thanks for the information. I will be doing more research on the next one.
What a great vid! The idea of 2 simple freezer tops with reversed doors was BRILLIANT! Not only that but if one does die you have a backup.. Just move everything over to the other side, much lower stress while you wait for the repairman/parts! I used to be in the airplane business. Back in the days when Boeing built the best airplanes around they had a company philosophy that simply read, “Simplicity = Reliability”. Every engineer at Boeing strove to keep everything as simple as possible in every aspect all the time. That is one of the reasons Boeing was a best seller in the airlines, they had the highest dispatch rates (dependability) and when they did they need fixing were quick and easy to repair. It was interesting to watch you teach us that same lesson that even Boeing has forgotten now!
This video takes me back to the 1970's when my Grandpa was still with us. He was a Electrical Maintenance Superintendent at Lockheed Burbank since before WW2. He used to say "if you want an appliance or machine to last, keep it simple stupid". I listened to him and whenever I can I follow Grandpa's advise I do. So when our GE whiz-bang double door stainless steel 5 year old refrigerator with through the door ice, cubed, crushed and water died I went back to a simple Kenmore $800, (on sale, made in Mexico, NOT China), top freezer stainless steel 20cuft refrigerator with a simple ice maker in the freezer Like we had before the $3,000 whiz-bang double door stainless steel refrigerator. Al least I can get 10 years out of this one and it doesn't cost as much as a used Toyoda.
I've been on refrigeration field as a technician for 18 yrs , it's my first time seeing an honest truthful video ever.....the more it's got more features the less reliability it will, I'm the only specialist in South Africa who can fix and modified any make and fridge model and give infinity guarantee on refrigerant or gas....will drop my UA-cam link here with the owners approval so you guys can keep on getting honesty about fridge.
I’m looking for a fridge and you have definitely gave me good guidance! I actually went to the store yesterday asked the workers what’s the best reliable fridge they sell… they literally said LG and Samsung 😒 and continued to show me high tech fridges with fancy screens, Ice dispenser on doors… list goes on! I told them want a fridge for 20years not 2years!
One of my fav pieces of advice (the flashlight test) many often overlook is the door gaskets which over time can fail, they get compressed, rip/tear, cause issues, simply wait for evening hours, hit the off switch for the kitchen overhead lights and place a lit flashlight inside the fridge or freezer. You might see light leaking from around the door gaskets, or coming from the ice maker door flap where the ice dispenses. Leaking gaskets or flaps allow warm air to enter the fridge. If your fridge is running all the time or the ice cubes in your ice bin is freezing into one big chuck, check the gaskets and flaps first. Too many times I have seen customers pay for expensive control boards, temperature thermostats, or compressors when it's simply a faulty gasket or flap. (Flap failure is usually the little spring that breaks or pops off causing the flap to not close & seal properly.)
Going light on all the bells and whistles is good advice on more than just refrigerators. My ex-wife just had to have a Saab convertible that did everything including whistle "Dixie." It was in the shop ALL the time. I don't recall a time when every system was working. We live in a world where people are attracted to the newest and latest. My cell phone can do all sorts of things I don't need it to do. Friends, you don't need a nail gun to hang a picture. Buy a hammer.
My dad said much the same - the new features may sound nice, but how often will you actually use them? Everything is a possible point of failure, so stripping out everything but the essentials makes for a far more reliable product.
I have a Frigidaire Gallery side by side with ice maker and it is 19 years old. Never has needed anything but a new lightbulb socket (I looked up the part, ordered and installed it myself thanks to UA-cam). I hope it keeps going a few more years. Thanks for this excellent video
Your channel is a blessing to homeowners. We're currently looking to replace a couple of appliances and have been checking your videos often for advice. I hope you enjoy making videos, and keep up the good work.
Great video. So the cliff notes.....get an American made plain icebox with zero bells and whistles (no ice-makers, water dispenser, touch screens, etc) as they tend to fail and the more you have the more chances of something going out fast. Basically, get great grandma's literal ice box, that will not be aesthetically pleasing or anything to write home about, and be happy.
Then apply this to all the electronics/appliances/vehicles that you buy. The more bells and whistles the more there is to fix or replace. A car needs to drive not play videos and take calls
@jro0809 Yes, Sarcasto Boy. Buy your grandma's fridge and be happy about it. I disagree about it not being something to write home about...much more interesting than any POS fridge you'll find on the market nowadays.
Dude... I can't properly explain in words how much I truly appreciate this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is what quality YouTubing looks like, and I'll definitely be subscribing and binge-watching your videos after I hit "submit." Thanks for your time and what you do. This is a true service for the average person. It's an absolute sham that manufacturers get away with their lack of quality. I'm not for more legislation, but there should be a law that makes every manufacturer to warranty their product for at least a decade. Something needs to happen... hopefully these class action lawsuits bring some change to the market. Paying $3-4K for a consumer appliance is ludicrous if it dies within 5 years. Crazytown...
Capitalism should be able to solve this without regulations or lawsuits. Why doesn't one of these companies take advantage of this dismal situation by making high quality products, and getting a big share of the market? And what has happened to Consumer Reports? Their top recs are LGs and Samsungs, despite the class action suits and awful reviews. Have they sold out, too?
My frig is a Sears Coldspot bought by my parents in 1955. It's still in use today, although the automatic defrost doesn't work, which requires me to manually defrost it every couple of months. Other than that it works great.
There use to be small appliance repair shops now throw away same now with major appliances where the repair part is more than a new unit. During my furnace repair the technician said furnace parts went up 300% where he tells people buy new if 10 years or older. We are so environmentally friendly with these high efficient throw away products.
I never had a fridge/freezer fail during my childhood and college years. I didn't know they could do that. They would run for decades. In my rented apartment, the fridge/freezer failed after around 10 years. Door hinges were all worn out (doors would often not close properly), sensor couldn't hold the temperature (sometimes you had 12+ C, sometimes your drinks were frozen in the fridge), light went kaputt (didn't know this could happen in the age of LEDs) and some of the plastic boxes inside had fractures. Was an Electrolux. Going to move soon to my own place, ordered a V-Zug side-by-side. The brand is usually known for better quality. Wish me luck.
I own a 1979 mobile home that was the mother-in-law‘s when we bought this place and we’ve done some remodeling up there but I’m so proud of the fact that that refrigerators over 40 years old more like 45 and it still runs great it’s a little rusty. I don’t care fact that this thing still running and I’ve been through 2 side-by-side refrigerators in my house in the last 20 years speaks volumes
The compressor in my LG was bad out of the box and died after three years. LG went out of their way to replace all of the guts that keep food cold (board and everything) and now the fridge I really liked and didn't want to give up works great and is super quiet. LG spent a lot of money to fix my $3700 fridge I got on sale for $2800 and they reimbursed me for a large part (not all) of the food I lost. Their customer service people were exceptional except for one who was obviously in the wrong business.
See my comment. Same issue, very different experience with a shady incompetent repair company. Btw, you didn't say how many repair visits you had to endure to get a working refrigerator.
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7:01 they are so bad even the frige on the left the door doesnt even line up look at it how its up a little
Hello sir can you help me I have a washing machine I did not understand the errors ?
Hey what makes a fridge “garage ready???”
Can you make a video about double ovens ranges? What’s the best gas ranges. I am looking at a Lacanche French range
Has LG finally changed or corrected their compressors ??
This channel is an outstanding example of why UA-cam has value.
Glad you liked it!
@@bensappliancesandjunk I have learned SO Much from this channel!!! Thanks! Subscribed way back.
@@dporrasxtremeLS3 thanks for your support!
You must be a UA-cam employee
What about other growing pile of human excrements doing crappy videos?
My current refrigerator is a GE Freezer Top that has worked well for a few years, but my crown jewel is a 1942 Westinghouse refrigerator I inherited from my grandparents that continues to operate flawlessly even at 80 years old.
Unfortunately I'd bet money that it's really costing you in electricity. ☹️
Edit:. Looks like I might lose that bet. 😆
All freezer top refrigerators are far more reliable due to their simplicity. Simpler is always better when it comes to home appliances, HVAC equipment, and water heaters.
@@tgeliot and wherever it is placed that's where it will stay until he's ready to get a crane to remove it.
@@tgeliot not really, older fridges don’t have as many high amp loads as a newer unit, just a compressor and a single fan motor. No ice maker, evaporator fans, defrost timer and heater, etc.
@@tgeliot yup the electric bill from that one will be more than replacing it every 5 years.
This man needs some kind of award. He has turned a run of the mill job, into something not only genuinely entertaining, but informative. Bravo
Not to mention the outfit! Ties it all in
Fully agree
this ^ ^
uou beat me to this comment..
yes this kid did a great job..!
I agree. Great job on all levels
I agree
I’m a service tech and could not spot a single lie on this video. Well-researched and well-presented.
Yea I believe you!
As an appliance repair tech I occasionally have some "WOW" moments. About the 2nd week of March 2023 my partner and I responded to a fridge repair call, upon entering the kitchen we found an original Harvest Gold Freezer still humming away like it was new. All it needed was to be unplugged and allowed to defrost. Once it was thawed and dried it fired right up.
That color and Avocado Green have not been available since the early 70's so that is 50+ years old. A mechanical thermostat and a light bulb is all you see inside, just amazing !
Was the defrost timer out?
I use an Admiral freezer top model I bought new in 95, it still works beautiful with the only option being the two ice cube trays that came with the fridge. 😀
I know what you mean. My mom's washer & dryer lasted 35 yrs. BUT I rented an apt in to a house in Los Angeles around the University of Southern California area that had a 1946 Servel natural gas refrigerator that I used for all 4 yrs. & when I graduated from USC in 1978 it was still running! Servel founded in 1922: And from 1927 until 1956, when it ceased producing them, it was the only American manufacturer of gas refrigerators. As the United States entered World War II, Servel shifted its manufacturing to support the war effort. In addition to cooking units and munitions, Servel built wings for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
Manufacturers would not stay in business if they built products that last half of a century! And if they did, they would have to charge 10x the rate just to stay in business.
@@buddysteve5543 and that's why I do not play that game. I buy - no wait I don't even have to buy - I find - vintage appliances on the curb and take them from being scrapped. My matching washer and dryer pair I have had for the last 15 years that is in and of itself from the late 60s or early 70s, I got for free. I was doing the curb crawl on the weekend looking for goodies sitting out and seen a house being cleaned out with this gorgeous avacado green washer and dryer set sitting out. they had some rust along the bottom like they were in a basement flood many times, but nothing too serious. asked if they were being thrown away and if I could have them they were confused as to why someone would want "that old junk" and then they were happy to have it hauled away, as the landfill charges you money for disposal of large items. i cleaned them up, gave the motors some cleaning and fresh lube, sanded down the rust damage then color matched and repainted the damaged areas, they have never failed on me still to this day. the only problem I had was a wire for the control board had rubbed on some sharp metal over time from vibrating and it cut the wire. simple 3 minute repair with a wire splice and that was solved. i donated my shitty 2008 Maytag front loader to put this set in its place and never regretted it.
I cant believe I spent my morning coffee time watching a video on refrigerators, especially since Im not in the market for one right now. But this was such a well done, comprehensive video on how to choose a fridge that I was totally engaged. Wonderful job on this, and just the sort of straight shooting we need these days. Keep up good work.
But when you are in the market, it happens suddenly and without warning. My mother had a power outage, and when the power came back on, the fridge struggled to get up again and couldn't. She had to get a new one, have it delivered. Meanwhile I grabbed every cooler I had. Picked up ice at the store to save as much food as possible. The frozen stuff was lost despite cooking as much as possible, eating ice cream etc. There were 4 of us trying to eat it. Would have lost more if she lived alone
You can keep food cold on ice, but can't keep food frozen. Maybe a small chest freezer as backup? Depends on your use
@@recoveringsoul755 I agree!!
I really appreciate his easy to understand explanations on the subject, I mean love it. And I too have a reliable fridge,thanks to this young and dedicated man, now but still enjoy hearing these videos.
Me too!
lol for real. I just finished a cup of coffee and this video. Was informative and relevant to what I do at my job.
This is probably the most honest, accurate, informative, thorough and well presented video on recommended refrigerator brands on the internet. You are a blessing to appliance consumers everywhere. Please keep up the good work.
I tried really hard to make this a good one!
Agreed
Ben your content is great! I bought a home with a Samsung fridge 😩 your videos are super helpful at keeping it out of the landfill another year. When it dies I'm going on your recommendation!
Agree!
I soooo appreciate you!
Thank you.
I cannot thank you enough. based on this video we bought a GE PWE23K Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator mentioned by you. it is made in Kentucky and is a far cry quieter than the 3 year old Frigidaire trash. I have also used your washing machine video to help my brother. Keep up the good work ,we all need this kind of info.
I have the same but mine is 12 yrs old
I bought my last Frigidaire appliance. Never again. After 2 months the inner plastic liner started cracking. The local retailer AND Frigidaire refused to cover it under warranty.
GE PWE23K refrigerator
In a world where manufacturers ensure their products break down so you have to buy more, this is helpful.
It's puzzling how they get away with it in a world where you're shunned if everything isn't green/environmentally friendly..... when it's actually environmentally criminal to build these huge appliances that get thrown away sooner than later.
How “Green” of them!😒That shows you what a scam all these green appliances & products are. Trash dump pollution is irrelevant to them.
Learn it from “Made in China” inferior quality control.
It's about efficiency. Here's your green future
In engineering they literally take a class for this, it's called Planned Obsolescence.
I'm so glad I found you! I was thinking about replacing our 17 year old fridge just because it's a 17 year old fridge. What I learned, is that I really need to take it out and vacuum it. We have no fancy ice makers or dispensers. It's just a cold box that has managed to stay cold for 17 years. Thank you!
I still drive my 40 year old truck,runs great,no need for replacement
A new model might have a higher energy rating on it. But if I could do it over, I'd have kept the first refrigerator we bought with our first house....30 years ago. That energy rating comes with more insulation, and less space. Newer models also have more plastic parts. Oh, and the stainless looks good for about five minutes, then it starts to get fingerprints, dents, and scratches.
@@cariwaldick4898 And those new fridge are dangerous, since a climate change idiot wrongly blamed them for destroying the ozone layer.
The new "lighter gas" replacement is what starter the fire at Grenfell tower that killed around 100 people.
My boyfriend can fix anything. My fridge was 40 years old, and I didn’t want to buy a new one. He was easily able to replace the parts that could be faulty, but eventually he realized that the Freon needed to be replaced, and he didn’t have the equipment to do that. I finally gave up and bought one of the new, expensive behemoths. Had to send two back, and then just bought a couple of cheap office fridges and a small freezer. Yeah, it’s a drag to defrost them, but much better than throwing out expensive food.
I have a 34 (?) year old Whirlpool fridge, which works like new. When I pushed back on replacing it, my wife repainted it. Now it looks like new.
I’ve been a Tech/Installer for 17-18 years and I wish I could work with this guy. I share the same passion. Great video man. Everything incredibly true.
I bought an avocado green GE Side by side with water and ice in the door in 1980. 23 years later, I bought a newer fridge and I gave my GE to my company to put in the shop for the yard employee's. 21 years later, it is still out there working away keeping things cold. 44 years old. Now that is good service.
I'm wild vicarious. Do the water and ice functions in the door still work?
I had a whirlpool washer that lasted 16 years and the dryer is still running….and we used the heck out of them too…..
I have same one same age sans water ice opt. I need to replace defrost elements again
My Viking freezer chest is now 49 years old. Never have had a problem with it. They made quality back then. It’s still running strong! Thanks for the info!
runs but probably more expensive to run... Those older ones aren't cost efficient. Mine (Whirlpool) was made in the 90's and doesn't strain the elect bill.
That’s cool, Linda! Do be careful about the wiring, though. I say this to everyone now since my father’s shop burned to the ground a few years ago with the origin being around a still-running deep freeze from the ‘80s. (No ppl injured.)
@@PK-bh1ww I'll take reliable cold food over a few cents of electricity.
@@PK-bh1ww Incorrect. Old fridges are surprisingly efficient. I've got a 1932 GE fridge in my garage and it sips power. Only 117 watts when the compressor is running.
My aunt bought a Frigidaire or GE or Maytag in 1945 got it for her 45th birthday she lived to be 105 years old ran strong when she died that’s 60 years
I have only had two fridge freezes, one was an Electrolux and the other one which I have still got is Hotpoint. The first one lasted well over 40 years. The second one is at least 20 years old and still going strong. And if you want ice cubes, use an ice tray, they never break down.
I hear you. My Maytag is 27 years old. Freezer on top & no frills, no repairs. Last time I was checking out getting a new one, all that was on display seemed to be of poor quality & very costly so, I will try to extend the life of this one by opening the back, cleaning the coils, vacuum it out, as I have never done this…
I still have the old aluminum lever type ice trays. Must be 40 years old, but they work.
@@jamesplotkin4674 That is so cool. Wish I saved mine. They were the best!
I've got a Hotpoint microwave from the 70s, still works and the incandescent bulb still works!
You stole my thunder, My parents bought a 2nd handed pointvI was raised with that Hot Point refrigerator and when I got married
I was broke and my parents gave me
That refrigerator and we kept it for many years and ended up giving it
To my wife's uncle and he made a freezer out of it....I'm 78 and wish
I had of kelp it....because since then
I've had 6 or 7 refrigerator!!!
I was raised by two school teachers, who I revere.
That being said: your videos are extremely effective for teaching and explaining. You don't use abrasive language, you speak clearly, you are very coherent and confident, you prove your knowledge, and most importantly, you know how to inject just the right level of humor. Your humor isn't overboard to where some people would find you annoying. On the other hand, you inject just enough, and at the right times, for those that have trouble following along on topics like these (people that have ADHD appreciate that).
You've earned my subscription, sir. Keep educating. Much appreciated! 🙂👍
As someone with ADHD, can confirm
Fantastic comment! All too many video's have foul language and/or trendy terms that people feel that somehow add to the subject, but to me only takes away.
I appreciate he does not say 'you know' repeatedly as so many do.
Because good customer service starts and ends with courtesy and class. Nothing says you are a street person like using foul language.
777 77y7 ûý u77 6 77y7 ûý 6 yy7y yy7y yy7y yy7y⁶
I built a house 30 years ago and still have all my original appliances. They are Whirlpool!
30 years ago they used large US manufactured compressors, that's why. Now they all use Chinese junk (small) compressors. Whirlpools are now trash! And BTW, they bought up Maytag.
I have a 25.9 cf side by side refrigerator that has been working for 35 years and is still working! No repairs, all original parts. Freezer & Frig get cold
25 plus years ago everything was made in America
@JackAgainski Hi if you had to buy a new fridge, which would you buy?
As someone who lives in a rural area, an hour from decent shopping, the best choice for our household is a simple all fridge refrigerator and an separate upright freezer. We have enough room to stock up on our biweekly shopping trips. As for an ice maker, that's what ice cube trays and kids are for.
When my nephew saw the ice cube tray, he asked me what it was. He was shocked...
I live in a small town (15k pop) but have just sold the French Door Fridge/Freezer for separate fridge/freezer like you. Totally agree, esp the ice trays :)
@Viridian: 😂🤣😂🤣" that's what ice cube trays and kids are for"😂🤣😂🤣
I'm a family of 1 but just discovered recently the "garage" style fridge and upright freezer recently. I am considering both two since my house is old and had a narrow door, so a standard fridge that will fit may be too small for stockpiling.
The ice maker on my fridge / freezer must have been smart (Samsung) they put the ice maker in the freezer section. No need to keep it any colder and has held up so far.
Man you just packed 80 pounds of crap into a 5 pound bag ! AMAZING. So much good information delivered in a very neutral manner. I love what you're doing here. Keep up the good work.
I appreciate that!
This was the best 20 minutes I've spent on UA-cam in months. It was technically straightforward without getting into the weeds. You video brushed up against the physics of why equipment fails and put me on a new path for taking care of my current refrigerator. You have new subscriber.
In the repair shop of my used appliance store we have a 1950s refrigerator that still works great. Coils on the back, no defrost, no ice maker. It s so simple and reliable it will outlive me.
My mother bought her kenmore frig back in 1972 it worked every day since. When she passed, We sold her house and moved south last year. I wish i had taken it with me. It was such a reliable piece of machinery.
Refrigerators back then were made well and very reliable. They could make quality appliances if they wanted to, but this way they sell more because it's generally cheaper to buy a new appliance than to have one repaired. We all need to just buy the cheapest one we can find and count on using it for 4-5 years discard and buy another cheap one. You can't repair a fridge for less than $500. That's $500 you can add to a new one.
My aunt has the original fridge that came with her house that was built in the early 60's and it still works great.
@cindypattana6071 Yes, I'm sure it does. It was manufactured when America was great.
It seemed people knocked Kenmore, but I've had some that lasted decades. People question why I buy used and I just say for better quality. Appliances, tools, cars, homes, home goods....
@@Johnslist
Fortunately, REAL, ACTUAL statistics for vehicles are easier to track than for appliances, thus enabling narrative, story telling, anecdotes based on survivorship bias and personal bias to be questioned and overturned.
Consumer analytic companies track and compile those easier-to-acquire statistics on vehicles, and what those REAL statistics show is that todays vehicles (the average vehicle) is much more reliable and l a s ts longer than ever before, contrary to anecdotal myths based on the survivorship bias fallacy and “golden age” story telling.
I’m an electrician by trade for 40 years. It’s amazing how everything is overly complicate for simple tasks.
And the worst part is consumers gobble it up, encouraging them to keep pushing this stuff
Right? As soon as I saw the first refrigerator with a computer screen on the front I knew I didn't want one. Same with the ice/ water in the door, but for a different reason. My mom had one and it was always dirty. Due to hard water in Texas you couldn't scrub the stains out of the tray so the whole front of the refrigerator looked awful.
@@bensappliancesandjunk proof that consumers, like voters, are stupid.
Iowa made Maytag and Amana is super long lasting. Have Maytag side-side from 1998 (24 years old), and Amana bottom-freezer from 1995 (27 years old) . Both work perfectly. the Maytag has need defrost timer, defrost coil, motor starter. Amana has needed a Condenser Fan.
@@pablopicaro7649 Everything from that era lasted longer. Most of my kitchen appliances are still going strong for the last 20 years outside of little plastic pieces here and there but the exact same brands now don't make the same products unfortunately.
Whoa! What just happened here>?? An honest, clear report with plenty of details and explanations? How rare - what a treat. Thanks Ben. I got into refrigeration repair by accident a few years ago when I did some general repair work in a guy's apartment, and he liked what he saw me doing. He asked me if I could help him in his restaurant. I did, and realized the refrigeration repair tech he had was ripping him off bigtime, Told him he needed a new compressor (wrong - all that was wrong was the internal circulation fans were not working) and then quoted him a price about five times higher than it was worth. (I already knew how to do basic refrigeration repair.) So I became my friend's refrigeration tech. Had to learn how to fix icemakers (those f***ers are complicated), Was great fun working for my friend until he finally sold his restaurant, I wound up with a restaurant maintenance company until I retired a few years later. My thing was honesty and good work, so I can appreciate what you are doing.
"...honesty and good work..."
That's all WE want, too. Get in, do the job correctly, timely, and at a fair price. That's all we ask, same as a small business.
We need more of you in the world. My hubby watches these videos and repairs our own appliances. Thank you for working with integrity:)
BEN, You are the absolute best. All of your UA-cam viewers owe you a big debt of gratitude for your wisdom and help. Thank You!
I don't care if I somehow wound up on an alien planet never needing an appliance again, I would still watch your channel because the genuine advice is such an honest example of integrity that is unrecognizable in today's day and age. Happy new year God bless
I live in a rented “artist loft” thus my unit, of course, came with a fridge. I am not in the market for any appliances. Yet, I am totally glued to this video and fascinated by the information within.
Ben is awesome! Honest, humble, has jokes, and knows his stuff. What a guy.
Now I know why my fridge has lasted so long. I never make ice and I vacuum the coil area. If I needed ice for a party I just went out and bought it.
My gosh !!!! Never thought of it !! Two fridges side by side !!! You.Are.A.Genius.🤗
I Will do that.
Genius!!
Wiley G. Coyote , U R A Genius
Love it!!
Wish they put the freezer on bottom. I hate ducking down to find my food.
They even make plates or trim pieces that hold the two refrigerators together covering the gap and making it look like one unit. Pretty slick...I was impressed the first time I saw one. I wish you could do it with two bottom freezers instead though but it's been ages since I've seen one of those.
I had a old Frigidaire refrigerator that I bought used that I've had it for almost 50 years and still working fine
Hi Ben , Very nicely done ! I'm a retired refrigerator repairman and I can say you were bang on with everything you said ! Keep up the great work !
Glad you liked it!
Bought an old 26 years old GE fridge 6 years ago for 20$. Fridge is now 32 years old and still running like a brand new one. The friend who sold me the old fridge bought a new one at the time and just had to replace that new one with another new one. I told him in 5 years when his 2nd new fridge breaks, I'd sell him my 37 years old fridge for 40$ :)
That's Funny! My whirlpool side by side I think is the same age! I have no interest in upgrading, because the crap they make now, would be a downgrade! I remember when I bought it, and while 32 years went by..still kicking! And just now I heard the ice drop...lol
My 1948 general electric fridge still runs as good as new...old reliable .
😆 thanks for the laugh dude.
Still have my 1990 GE fridge and it runs like a champ!
You'd better not sell it!
When I moved to a different part of the state in 1992 I took my 1990 GE refrigerator with me. We kept in in our kitchen for 8 years and then my wife just had to have one of the new shinny silver models. We moved the old GE outside to the garage as a backup frig. 15 years later ( another two new inside refrigerators later) it finally broke down. The old one was just built better than the new ones!
The same happened with TeleVisions
Some 4 decades ago - I repaired a PHILIPS TV (CRT type of TV) for a Fellow I knew -
He worked part-time as a 'Barman'
The TV was given to him when the establishment he worked at - purchased
a new one with a 26-inch picture tube.
It worked well for a while and then died - (as he put it)
He missed watching his collection of " Westerns" he had on Video Tape.
__I studied Electronics Engineering with PHILIPS during my 30-year Military career -
and knew them inside out - He balked at the $150 I charged him for the repair --
== However I do recall that before HE died he said the $150 was really a bargain -
as the TV worked for over 15 years after the repair - and worked without failure -
So the $150 worked out to less than $10 per year of viewing.
RIP Ronald 'Rocky' Lazar -
I hear you!
My parents bought a Norge refrigerator around 1960. It got relegated to the garage about 25 years later.
Finally got rid of it about 10 years ago.
They bought an upright freezer about 1970. Was still operating worry free when I got rid of it about 10 years ago.
The only reason I got rid of it was I was afraid at 40+ years old, I'd wake up to $1000 in spoiled meat someday.
Got a Tappan fridge in the kitchen now, that I'm about to move to the walk in pantry, for curing bacon and aging cheese. It was bought about 1995.
I have a smart family hub fridge and it’s been a nightmare. My old fridge is in the garage. The new one broke 3 months in. I have fixed it twice already and regret the purchase. My old backup is going strong in my garage.
Same story to me. My wife keeps over 30 years old style white Whirlpool refrigerator (made in USA) when we install new style stainless Samsung RFG237AARS/XAA was manufactured 2012. I have to keep cleaning the ices every 18 months. People who are unable DIY it is nightmare. We should file class lawsuits to have design flaws products to be sold in USA.
Hey as a mexican engineer I can say that refrigerators made in Mexico have great quality, many GE's fridges have been made in Mexico for over 30 years
I already have a GE Side by side refrigerator made in Mexico, and it works perfectly since 17 years ago!
Thanks, hope I remember your advice when my Whirlpool goes out. The electric system from CFE is bad and I get a lot of flickering lights etc. due to the 1960’s era transformer that is rectangular and about rusted out 😮
@@twolford01 if you connect your fridge to a individual electric regulator (koblenz x example), it will work for decades!
Good to know!
I've had three GE refrigerators in 40 years (builder grade replaced with a (monster) 29cuft SxS replaced with a profile French door counter depth.). They've all been great.
I recently bought a refrigerator , and saved almost $1,000 by going plain vanilla - top freezer without in-door water or ice. I just don’t use enough ice to rationalize getting a fancier model. Also, while the top freezer wasn’t as exciting as a French door, it is perfectly adequate for my needs. I usually aim for the appliances with the least bells and whistles I can get, figuring there are fewer things to go wrong.
Best thing to do. I tell my customers this all the time. Simpler is better.
My refrigerator has an ice maker. I usually keep frozen meat in the ice bin. Next to the ice maker I have two old fashioned Ice Cube trays. When I empty one, I refill it with water and put it behind the other tray, rotating the two.
I called these analogue, lol
I do the same on all appliances and cars
Common sense - keep it simple stupid. [KISS principle]. Undergraduate - not to multiply entities beyond necessity, Ockhams Razor. Post grad - ontological economy.
I’m in the market for a new fridge, and it’s been overwhelming. This is EXACTLY what I needed to watch. It’s made my decision significantly easier. Thank you.
What did you choose ? I wanna buy my parents a new fridge , I'm tired of seeing our fridge so unorganized .
Yes, I too would like to know what you got and how well it went.
@@sjackson5980 I actually did that . Went to a Dollarama and bough a bunch just to organize bread and deli meats,I'm gonna get a few more to organize vegs. It made a huge difference .
I have a simple Samsung side by side 4 yrs. old and no prob.. (just ice in door and water)
I recently purchased a fridge and was so overwhelmed by the choices. I got a Bosch 800 no water/ice in the door. Got an awesome deal during a holiday sale. It’s been great so far!
Over 20 years ago I bought a 1939 Kelvinator fridge. Still had the Kelvinator companys 25th anniversary label on the inside of the door. It still works perfectly so long as I defrost the freezer about once a month. This is truly a 'they don't make them like this anymore' piece of equipment.
My Mom and Grandmother both had one of these.
Not many like to defrost their freezers themselves, and once a month is a bit over the top!
@@ErikssonTord_2 I remember my Grandmother putting all the food in the refrigerator and putting a pot of hot water in the freezer and scraping frost and ice every couple of months.
I had a vsiual of my mom doing just that@@jeffkelly5972
@@rcorn79135 The old stuff was made with quality parts and labor when people still cared. Made in the USA too.
I'm a contractor and when we renovate a home(rentals) we buy the cheapest cuz it does not matter. Like you said, "They are all crap" When we get a new stove or dishwasher in from Korea, it has a checksheet taped to the inside somewhere that asks what badge to put on it! They are all made in the same crappy factories. Thanks for the truth.
I used to sell major appliances back in the 80s. GE once came out with a rotary compressor which was supposed to revolutionize the business. It had fewer moving parts, etc. It was a bust. What impressed me was that GE recognized the problem and replaced the compressor in all sold refrigerators -- without being forced to by lawsuit or government intervention. It was a completely voluntary recall.
I'm pretty sure there was no energy efficiency laws in place in the 80s. Today's refrigerators must meet strict energy efficiency laws and the linear compressor by LG has weak springs and plastic parts.
@@xcmskim4all designed to give us an inferior product.
Here because my 2 year old GE fridge compressor took a dump already and apparently theres a class action lawsuit
I had no idea that cleaning out the back of the fridge was a good idea. I've added it to my To Do list for the weekend chore list. I also agree 100% that simple is better. My fridge, washer and dryer all have the absolute minimum of controls (none of them are digital) and they all still work fine 25 years after they were purchased.
He said you need to do it every 6 months if you have pets; once a year if you don't.
Just a thought ladies who don’t have a handyman in the home, I roll my refrigerator out and blow everything off with my leaf blower about twice a year, yes it makes for a dusty mess to vacuum up but it’s a very efficient and quicker way to keep your fridge running at optimal performance. Hope this helps .
@@pambeck324 LOL I use a leaf blower too (on low)... for the floors - you just have to dust after.
Agreed.
@@pambeck324 I don't understand why you don't just remove the dust on the condenser coil directly with a vacuum cleaner instead of making a dusty mess with a leaf blower to be vacuumed up. I remove the dust on the condenser coil of my refrigerator with a vacuum cleaner once in a while. It's super easy.
For any appliance, stay away from a plethora of digital buttons. That’s a rule I learned many years ago from working at a neighbor’s family appliance store. Those were the most service calls. The store was open for 70 years and knew their stuff. This guy seems to have great advice overall.
Summarizing the 12minute mark
1-Simple Tech is always better than complex tech
2-ICE MAKER must be Inside the Fridge unit to be reliable, never inside the refrigerator above (Samung lawsuit says all)
3-Made in USA is more expensive, but the high quality standards on the sealing system will made more reliable than made in Mexico/China....Thank you so very much for this tip!
4-Avoid indoor water dispensers = Thank you so so much again!
5-Close attention to how many years is the warranty of the compressor!
and once you buy
001-CLEAN ONCE A YEAR At Least. i confess that I never cleaned my LG refrigerator and after 7 years the compressor died on me this week, technician came and told me that IF I had cleaned it would be last longer....Le$$on Learned!!!
Thanks again Ben 🙂👍
11 yr old Samsung. Never cleaned. Bottom freezer, drawer still work perfectly. Dbl door fridge area nit keeping cold enough
It must be inside the FREEZER to be reliable. The big issue is trying to make ice inside the space that is not below freezing especially if it's in the door.
I had a Hisense Side-by-side that stopped working after 5 years. So I switched back to my 55 years old Liebherr fridge. Still works like a charm.
Imagine how energy inefficient that old beast is?
@@bob_frazierNot that bad that you can afford a new fridge every five years from the difference in your electricity bill. 💸
@@jansix4287 And you also have saved the earth by throwing less things in the landfill.
@@bob_frazier I hooked a power meter to my mom's old coldspot fridge built in 1958 and amazing enough it was more energy efficient than her brand new one. Why, because it has only a compressor and a light. That's it. No fans, no auto defrost, no ice maker, no nothing. It still runs fine and even the gaskets are still good and original. We wait till winter to unload it and defrost it once a year.
Liebherr made fridges? Are they yellow?
This channel is an outstanding example of why UA-cam has value.. This channel is an outstanding example of why UA-cam has value..
Who makes the best fridge? Who knows!
But who makes the best videos?
You ❤️
I bought a no-frills, white Kenmore fridge about 25 years ago, made in Canada. It has never given me an ounce of trouble. Still looks good and does what it is supposed to do. My Mom and Dad had a GE fridge bought in and around 1950. They owned it until they sold their house in about 2005. As far as I know it is still going strong.
Thanks! That's really helpful for somebody looking to buy a new refrigerator!
I would have taken it with me.
That's because its a Kenmore. Sears brand appliances were built to last. See my post about our 54 year old Kenmore refrigerator. Also the fridge I own now is a GE and I bought it used in 2015. I don't know how old it was when I bought it, but it wasn't new. The only thing I don't like about it is that the freezer door (its a side by side) doesn't open far enough, and tends to spring back on me. I have to prop it open with a chair when I'm having to get things in and out of the freezer. But I think it was made that way and has nothing to do with age.
I have a Roper that came with the home and mfg date of 3-99, works well 22-24 years old
That 1950 refrigerator should be replaced. For nostalgia sake, it's worth keeping. But for energy efficiency purposes, it's costing you more money to use it than to just buy a new one and replace it every 8-10 years.
I love the idea about putting 2 refrigerators together and off setting the doors to make a faux side by side French door unit. Great cheaper idea and lots of space.
Very nice if you have the space...
Nice idea but who has that kind of space?
Great idea. If one malfunctions, the other one can still be used.
@@user-es6ft5xg8h Sure ..if you keep one empty or both half filled..
The big sell for french doors for me is that large pizza boxes will fit inside vs a side by side where they often won't. But a red neck french door setup might work...
As someone who worked for an extended warranty company, the ice maker in the fridge door is one of the worst ideas anyone has ever had...they all break. I also appreciate your commentary on all brands, nicely done. Also like your signed Disciple album on your shelf...Nice!
Kevin and the band signed it 2 months ago! First time I saw them live was in my small home town and they were still a 3pc band with Kevin still playing bass
I have a Whirlpool Gold fridge, it's been great but I've had to replace every ice maker component at least twice.
It’s so funny how no matter how fancy the home you visit, you need to check in to see if the door water and ice work. Over the holidays I was invited my supervisor’s home and when I went to refill my water, the spouse got me just in time to tell me I needed to use the bottled water. I seriously have no interest in all the bells and whistles after seeing my parents LG (which they bought after reading consumer reports) fridge have compressor issues at the 3rd year. I guess I should be happy my 1981 almond GE fridge is going strong!
@@Progrocker70 my whirlpool gold is at least 12 years old and the original ice maker is going strong
My sister has one and it has been one headache after another. Myself I checked consumer reports first and bought a base model GE French style refrigerator based on Consumer Reports. I have had it for 6 years now and no issues at all. It works very well and is quiet. It has an ice maker, but we chose not to connect it. We just do the old fashioned ice trays. We do clean it off and on, but we need to do that more often. I did check into Consumer Reports and looked at reliability(where it was made). I already knew that less features means less things to go wrong. Great tips! Thanks!
We have a LEC fridge freezer bought second hand in about 1993, so at least 30 years old, it has moved house 3 times and still works fine :-)
This makes me feel good about my Whirlpool. I bought it used for $80 in 2011, and it's still going strong.
Older-ish Whirlpools have a HUGE edge on GEs, and any tech will tell you that. Especially if its a Jazz-board unit. The bad problem was that those boards used to cost ~$250 but 3rd parties now offer them for $45.
It made me so happy to read this, Calvin!
@@bensappliancesandjunk -- I bought one of the Whirlpool freezer-top units with the control system you showed, 6 months ago. But at least I got an extended warrantee on it. And they knocked off $100 because the delivery guys put a dent in it on the way over here. I have the required clearances around it. Any other tips to extend its life?
@@grizzlygrizzle I hope this answers your question. I've found that everything about taking good care of anything can be found in the owner's manual. I suggest reading the owner's manual for anything from cover to cover.
Iowa made Maytag and Amana is super long lasting. Have Maytag side-side from 1998 (24 years old), and Amana bottom-freezer from 1995 (27 years old) . Both work perfectly. the Maytag has need defrost timer, defrost coil, motor starter. Amana has needed a Condenser Fan.
My brother still has our parents first refrigerator that they bought second hand in the mid-1940s, an art deco style General Electric. Nothing has ever broken on it, NOTHING, even the now illegal latch type industrial looking door handle that traps children inside works perfectly. It has never needed to be recharged. He had it painted in a body shop some years back and it looks awesome in his home theater bar area.
My father had a GE from the 1930's, with the 6" thick walls, with the tiny box on four 8" or so long legs, and the compressor on top of the box, enclosed in a circular shield. It never required service, and was still running a few year ago when he passed away. I wonder what became of it.
Me, I have a 50 years old U-Line refrigerator that was my fridge in college. It also is still running, and has never been serviced.
That's the whole point. They don't make them like that anymore. At some point, these companies realized that having a well built appliance cut into their profits. If you have a fridge that lasts generations, then who is buying new ones? All these companies traded in the "Best Product" model, for the "engineered to fail after 2-4 years" model, so you can keep coming back. Washers, dryers, TV's, you name it. My Sony Bravia failed 3 days after the warranty was up.
@@sexual_chocolate Keep in mind the other side of the equation, and that is how dramatically the price has fallen over the years. My little U-Line cost $125 in 1973. In 2022 dollars that is $875. A comparable mini-fridge today is about $160, so 1/5 the price. If it lasts 9 years, it will deliver comparable value. Will it? I have no idea.
My folks' 1948-49 Kelvinator fridge stopped working and the cause was the tiny freezer box was frozen over. After defrosting that beast chugged along as the family room fridge for cases of beer and bushels of apples and pears. Parents died, house sold in 2015 with the Kelvinator fridge going strong.
My friend works for an appliance repair company and he hooked up an energy consumption meter to my antique refrigerator I have in my bonus/man cave room. It is the conversation piece in the room! Well, until he did the calculations and it’s using $1100 a year. I promptly sold it and bought a retro refrigerator that has energy efficient internals and has an appearance of a mid 40 or 50 refrigerator
I have a very basic GE fridge that my dad bought new almost 20 years ago from a Big Box store on clearance. It's *still* going strong! 😃
I have a bottom of the line GE and it’s still going strong since 1995! Never had any problems whatsoever.
GE has since been sold to China (Haier)
Older GE was great due to their Matsushita compressors
sadly, if you bought a new one now from the same Big Box store now, it will likely cost 5-10 times more than the old one did, and have 5-10 times shorter lifespan...
sorry - reliable yes but efficient no. The annual cost of running an old fridge freezer is a lot higher than a new one
Best video on refrigerators I've ever seen. I guess I have one of the last Kenmore refrigerators made in America. It's 18 years old, and I am very happy with it. It's side by side with water and ice in the freezer door. It's never been repaired. I am going to pull it out and vacuum the back. I've never done that and I've had many shedding cats.
As an aside, my sister had a GE side x side 25 years ago, and the in-door water/ice component failed. She bought a replacement water/ice component, and we put it in the door and hooked it up to replace the old one. It worked great. She was a flight attendant and I am a geologist. She moved away, so I don't know how long it lasted.
I am going to send this to my husband. We bought a Samsung French door, no water/ice in the door (put my foot down to refuse that). The bottom drawer freezer is my favorite, we opted for French door because there was better space than the comparable side by sides. Got it as a floor demo to replace an aging Kenmore with stress cracks forming in the freezer. It works great for us.
My Samsung freezer top is a sleeper hit. Since I haven’t replaced other appliances the dark chrome works with the white appliances. It fits well. My old one was too large for the area which may have made it work harder and burn out.
I read your comment and had to laugh. In our case it was the wife who insisted on an LG with the ice maker in the door. I caved in of course. She spends all of her time in the kitchen and deserves her choice in refrigerators. We've had one call on the compressor, covered under warranty. Otherwise, no problems. It's been a good refrigerator. It's six years old, but I doubt that it lasts as long as the basic GE in our garage that we've had since 1985. With that one there've been no repairs or even a recharge of the coolant. But it looks old, and it makes her feel old, so it's the garage for the GE.
As long as you don't have an ice maker inside the fridge compartment of a Samsung, they are relatively trouble free.
I’m happy to hear that, just bought my first Samsung fridge yesterday, arriving tomorrow after my 17 yr old Kenmore failed 😞 I’ve been nervous bc today I’ve read a ton of bad reviews when it comes to Samsung fridges! So thanks for sharing!
@@lolacookie453 Same! When I tell people we picked a Samsung I get just blasted with "are you insane!?" comments. We picked the 4 door one with the ice in the freezer. Even this guy seems to say it's a decent choice and he's clearly not biased on any of them. Are you liking yours?
My parents have a french door Whirlpool fridge they got brand new with a 50% discount in 1993 (the year I was born) because it had a big scratch in the front. It is still their only fridge to this day. It has lasted 30 years. Its fun to go over to their house and use the same fridge I grew up using. I have had a simple french door Samsung for 3 years with no issues. Simple meaning it only has a ice maker in the freezer, no water outlet or ice dispenser. I think the simpler the better.
The less moving parts the better.
I agree. The fewer bells and whistles, the better.
T.U.Z.K: I would say that the chances are your parents were lucky that at the time they purchased that appliance (back in that era) it was the original Whirlpool company (most likely in Italy) of who manufactured to higher standards. But unfortunately these days the household appliances are just "named" with those brand-names, but it's all just a smokescreen. And I so miss those days (predominantly before 1993) when we actually had "choice" of different companies, but nowadays nearly all appliances are produced/manufactured under just "one" umbrella and disguised as many different companies - but it's all just a "lie". These days most appliances and other items are knocked up on the cheap and not made to last. Very sad :(
@@bigcityjunglecatenvisageth1422 greed.
@@roadrunner694
Yeah, absolutely. It's all about "greed" and very greedy/uncouth business corps trying to make more and more "money" with no holds barred and in any which way but loose!! :(
Two years ago I switched to a separate refrigerator from the freezer. Two different units. Very large Midea fridge where I can put vegetables, fruits and everyday cooked food. Arctic king freezer where I keep frozen food. Both very simple, no complications.
Your a smarty man! I have the same setup. Plane Jane, dirt cheap and going strong 16 years
We find Midea parts in Samsung products. China
Enjoyed the video. Why is the transcript not in English? What about midea refrigerators and arctic king freezers? A little confused by what to buy, perhaps do a summary as you close the video.
@@benjismith593 I believe Midea is Chinese and they're the largest manufacturer of appliances in the world. I think it's a lot like Foxconn in electronics, they build it no matter what name is on the outside (even if it says Apple).
This is a good idea!
My husband took out our ice maker and gave us so much more room for food. We have a top freezer Frigidaire since 2010 and it is still going strong,,praise the Lord! Each year he pulls it out and cleans up the floor beneath and cleans the fan and coils.
What model is it? Thanks
My Kenmore (GE) was bought in 1980 for $399.00 and is still running great. I should replace the seal but other than that, no complaints - even the ice maker still works. My other is a very basic 3 year old GE I got for free because the people were remodeling their kitchen and wanted to get a brand new fancy LG. So far it works great and it has the ice maker inside the bottom freezer drawer. My friend has been through 3 brand new LG's in the past year at a sticker price of over $2,000. Just like cars, the less buttons, the better!!
It's not just about less buttons. They just don't build appliances like they used to.
My Kenmore was bought in the early 90s. Still running like a champ.
My husband was determined to get a Sub-Zero. I told him he was nuts. We got a refurbished one after we'd had a kitchen fire. Best money ever spent. We've likely saved the price of the refrigerator/freezer (side by side) in food that takes dramatically longer to spoil in the 8 years we've now had it. I've been stunned.
That's the OLD SubZero. The new ones are shit made from Chineseum.
Did she say she was wrong? Your are blessed man!!
My neighbor in Alexandria had a Subzero built-in and we used to joke that she was having an affair with the repairman. He was there once a month! Glad to hear your experience was better!
OMG That poor woman. Simple is best bet, though nothing beats the old ones. I've got one...1984...Maytag
@@OneAdam12Adam Sub-Zero still makes them in the USA...
He's right about buying something with the least components possible. I got a husband with only two working parts and he's been very easy to fix when needed.
How would you feel if your husbandhad madethat comment?
You are very disrespectful to your hUsband. Then again what can we expect from a woman
@@mikevale1000 Calm down boomer. This was a funny joke. If my wife made this comment, I'd laugh. Live life a little bit more lol
😂🤣😭
😂😂😂
Love the joke…..😂😂😂😂😂
🎉🎉🎉❤ standing ovation. I wish I had found your channel 2 refrigerators ago. Samsung and may tag, I'd never buy either again. Now I feel better equipped when I buy my next one.
I have a 42” Sub Zero side by side from when I built my house new in 1997. The ice maker is a drawer / bin inside the freezer. Flawless performance of refrigerator, freezer, and ice maker. Also, it’s super quiet. I vacuum the coils every 6 months. Just remove the grille at the top of the unit for easy access. Never a need to pull the unit away from the wall.
I paid a guy to fix a 2003 sub zero I got off Craigslist for the cost of buying a shiny new Samsung and good as new. Even the interior is in good shape. I never pay more than $500 for a new fridge unless I’m willing to pay $10k for one that lasts.
@@naynayhooray If it has not already been done, your freezer side may be eligible for an upgraded new style evaporator.
The original design freezer evaporator has potential for dissimilar metal corrosion which could lead to loss of the refrigerant charge.
Mine was upgraded free of charge out of warranty. It’s been many years ago, but it seems I was contacted by Sub Zero to schedule to get the new style evaporator installed.
If this upgrade has been done, there will be a sticker indicating as such applied to the freezer door jamb, only visible with the freezer door open.
good to hear. we are renovating our kitchen completely. Ordered a 42 french door sub zero looking forward to get it in a few weeks hopefully.
Sounds like what I need. Mind is so LOUD and runs constantly. Frigidaire is horrendous!
@@jstones9872 French door! Wow! That’ll be nice. I think it retails for around $16,000?
Recently I checked the replacement cost for my 42” side by side and it retails for $14,000.
I love the "feature" my freezer/fridge came with: a manual ice maker. It was a ice cube tray that was taped inside the freezer so it wouldn't slide around during shipping.🤣 That is what it was advertised as, a manual ice maker!
Between your channel and Consumer Reports, I got the most stripped down, freezer-over-fridge I could buy. It is a little smaller than I realized, but it works out great for me. I don't lose stuff in the back as easily.
I love manual anything.
I still have my top freezer Whirlpool Imperial that I bought in 1990. Only had to replace the door gaskets about ten years ago. Still works great.
We are in the market for a new refrigerator. My husband does not like bottom freezers or a water and ice dispenser on the outside. The hard water we have here creates problems for the dispenser. We also agree that the more features on the unit only leads to problems. Our current refrigerator is a Kenmore and it has problems with the fan. It breaks down and we've had service on it many times since we purchased it in 2018. Something that expensive should last more than 6 years. So, I will be listen carefully to your advice. Thank you for your video.
I bought two subzero refrigerators and a subzero freezer in 2007. They’ve all worked flawlessly for 15 years. No service calls. No problems.
That's before the Era of fridges he's talking about
Yes, they are built like tanks. However, even tanks need maintenance sooner or later, and labor and parts for Subzeros are way up there.
I'll see your 2007 SubZero's and raise you 1936 GE Monitor Top (Kitchen) & a 1952 GE Freezer Top (basement). ;p
I mean... Subzero fridges start at roughly $10,000 and can go up over $20,000. Many refurbished and used ones still sell for $7-9000. Most people can't afford even one, let alone 3.
If you can afford to spend between $20,000 and $40,000 on 3 fridges then you could probably afford to pay for a service call or to just replace them or buy a different one.
Good for you for being able to afford them, but its like someone saying "I've never had any issues with my Lamborghini" when someone is complaining about their Chevy Cruz having issues. It doesn't help with 99% of peoples issues at all.
I bought my SubZero in 2009 and gave $14,000.00 for it. I had it specifically built into the cabinet and shortly after I moved into my house I got a notice in the mail to stop using it as it could catch fire. I sent my model number in and it was in the recall. The repairman had to remove it from the cabinets and replace a switch underneath. After that, no problems. I used my 20-year-old Maytag while it was out if service. Great video!
I have a Frigidaire refrigerator for 25 years and have had only one repair years ago. The ice maker died about 6 years ago. Thank you for your channel, I’m subscribing now!
same; my 22 year old Frigidaire is still going
I've been a self employed major appliance repair tech for 28 years and I agree with everything you say in this video.
Well done Ben.
Mom’s GE has been plugged in since 1947. Keeping my beer cold right now.🍻
I'm a tech and went to HVAC school, this video nails it on the head. Also makes me feel better because I usually recommend GE but I tell customers it's not like the Rolls Royce of appliances, they're all marginally better or worse. Thanks for the great vid!
I agree with this...and it's really well explained. I bought the most basic Samsung fridge from Costco - no bells and whistles - and it has been outstanding. It's quiet and works exactly as it should. Couldn't be happier. My LG was very basic too and lasted nearly 10 years so pretty happy with that as well. Stick to more basic fridges for fewer problems.
Happy to hear you’ve had good luck with their basic model. If your ever in the market for a higher end model make sure to do your research. I didn’t when I bought my Samsung refrigerator. It worked fine for two years then it was constantly breaking down. We had the repairman out 3 or 4 times a year for repairs. Thank god we had purchased the extended warranty. After about 3 and a half years we just bought another fridge because we couldn’t trust it. I will say the freezer always worked fine though.
10 years, sorry that is a short life span even for a little dog , a refrigerator is simple well established and should last much longer.
Same here. LG - 8 or 9. Have 2 $600 from Lowes.
We felt the same way, so you just reinforced my outlook and what I found when we researched before buying our last one a couple of months ago. We ended up getting a cheap one, as we didn't think spending more would get us a longer lasting product. No bells and whistles except being frost free with an ice maker. Nothing in the door! No water filter, no nothing! Nothing is built to last anymore period.
And a follow-up message, I opened the back up like suggested and while I didn't have a brush to get the worst of it out, I was able to remove several large small carpeted pieces from inside the fan assembly. It's not all of it but it was quite a bit so it might help this 20 year old fridge go even longer. Cheers and thanks
Ben should get the award if there is an award for best video production providing quality and entertaining information on appliances. I watched his video, which allowed me to better shop and care for refrigerators. I have fast-forwarded it through other content providers on appliances but I felt like I needed a bag of popcorn watching his video. Fantastic job, Ben!
You tube awards him with cash!
I agree , he is awesome !!!
I found this fascinating and educational. One thing you didn't mention but I have found very important, is the quality/type of plastic used to make the drawers, door compartments etc. In my experience as an owner I have found massive variations between models and brands. Great channel and I have just subscribed. FYI. I'm in the UK.
Straightforward, informative and honest! Thanks! I’ve had my Amana side by side fridge since 1997. Still running strong. Also, I have an old JC Pennny model I inherited from my folks, still running in the garage. Way older than 1997! They don’t build ‘em like they used to…
We have my parents old Amana side-by-side. Over 30 years old and still works!
I also bought an Amana in 1997, and it still works fine.
26 years and counting.
As a baby Boomer, who just celebrated her 74th birthday, I've seen lots of refrigerators in my life. I currently have my 2nd french door refrigerator with water and ice in the door. Since I'm the only one these days who uses the ice, I wouldn't mind having it back in the freezer section. However, I still want water on the door. I just wanted to comment on the fact that you suggest the side by side over the french door. When I had my side by side in the 90s, I found it extremely troublesome to use . The freezer is very difficult to access, and space is very limited. If you have something large to put in there, it's just not going to go in. There are similar issues with the refrigerator side. While it was a little better, It definitely wasn't great for space. Hence, I love the french door, which allows a lot of space in the refrigerator & the freezer sections. Therefore, while the side by sides might function better electrically, that is not the case for cooking and storage. Therefore, I don't know if there really is a solution to keep everybody happy . Also, I'm not a person who would afford a Sub Zero. As a retiree, I do a lot of cooking and baking, so the side by side just is not an option. I do love to hear all your appliance knowledge, though. It doesn't seem like there's a lot of young folks around like you doing this sort of career, so good for you. 👏 Keep up the good work.🤩 🏖Kj in Tampa Bay 😊
My fridge is a 35 y/o Whirlpool Top Freezer. It has the condenser coil hanging off the back. It's a frost-free design that has never had an issue.
I service medical lab equipment including Cryostats. A Cryostat is a deep freezer with a microtome inside it. Old Cryostats made in the 70's can still be found working perfectly in some places. Newer units have a lot more issues. Refrigerant leaks, and insulation breaking down are common problems, not to mention electronic issues.
We remodeled the kitchen in 2015 and moved the GE Profile Arctica to the family room next to the kitchen as I couldn't justify getting rid of it. Good thing I did as the new Samsung ice in the door counter depth lasted only five and a half years. I replaced it with a counter depth GE. The old GE will be 21 years old this year and my small GE fridge for drinks on the porch by the pool will be 33 years old this year.
GE for me for sure!!
I've had my SAMSUNG 3-door for 10 yrs. No problemo so far!
Never thought I would say this about a refrigerator, but I am madly in love with my six year old Fisher and Paykel counter depth fridge. No ice maker, no water dispenser. Just a great top fridge/bottom freezer appliance. Easy to clean glass shelves. Three pull out freezer drawers. Quiet. Cheap to operate. No, I DON'T WORK FOR THEM 🤣 lol
F&P are great choices, but I just never, ever see them out in the wild. They definitely deserve an honorable mention, but they're in that odd area that Bosch usually are in, in that they aren't cheap, but also not on that elite Viking/Subzero/Monogram tier, either. Definitely good ones so I've heard.
I have their dual dishwasher and pro 48" stove. Super service. Call their 800 #, it's answered in Australia, and they will motivate the Los Angeles warehouse to ship replacements. DO NOT go to LA direct.
Just wait till it needs to be fixed. My F&P 5 year old dishwasher is not serviceable. Parts are no longer available.....:-(
@@padraicmcguire108 Mine is 16 years old.
@@padraicmcguire108 Saw the same thing an my in laws house. They had a F&P dual drawer dishwasher that was always broken or leaking. And every appliance repairman that showed up to fix it ran like scalded cat as soon as they saw it...
Our refrigerator went out a few days ago right before we left for vacation… This has been an extremely helpful video! Thank you for showing the big picture of refrigerator manufacturers. And very cool that you are Disciple fan. I am a longtime fan of theirs and I’ve seen them in concert many times🤘🏼
I have a GE fridge made in 1947. 76 years old and still runs smooth as did when it was new.
That’s fantastic
But I bet your paying as much to run it as a new fridge would save you in 4 years.
@@Notrocketscience101 that's like saying the new cars are better than the old cars in cost upkeep...
Nothing wrong with keeping something that works.
@@Notrocketscience101You can’t save enough money today by buying a new energy efficient fridge because the cost of electricity has skyrocketed under Biden Bimbo
I wish the salesmen were 1/10th as helpful as you! Just bought a basic GE electric range in white and he couldn't have been less interested. I should have left but it was exactly what I wanted, I had already done my research and I wanted to buy from our local small business versus the big box. So far I'm very happy with it. Anyway thanks for your very thorough videos!
The salesman will end up without a job .
Great video and very valid points about adding all the options. Keeping the features simple and doing 2 steps religiously will give you the longest life of your fridge, 1) do not pack your fridge or freezer (the air needs to flow for it to work!) and 2) clean the vents and coils every six months (figure it out and do the best you can).
Very well put together video. I came here after watching a repair video you had. My LG French door refrigerator started not cooling. The freezer was not freezing. I figured the coils needed cleaning. It is hard to get behind it and do a proper cleaning. So, after vacuuming the back off then 2 weeks later needing to do it again, I started researching the unit. Learned that I need to get behind it and do a proper coil cleaning and that I'm doing pretty good since its a 7-year-old LG French door. Thanks for the information. I will be doing more research on the next one.
What a great vid! The idea of 2 simple freezer tops with reversed doors was BRILLIANT! Not only that but if one does die you have a backup.. Just move everything over to the other side, much lower stress while you wait for the repairman/parts!
I used to be in the airplane business. Back in the days when Boeing built the best airplanes around they had a company philosophy that simply read, “Simplicity = Reliability”. Every engineer at Boeing strove to keep everything as simple as possible in every aspect all the time. That is one of the reasons Boeing was a best seller in the airlines, they had the highest dispatch rates (dependability) and when they did they need fixing were quick and easy to repair.
It was interesting to watch you teach us that same lesson that even Boeing has forgotten now!
McDonald Duoglas clowns took over management and all went to shiiit
Agree!
This video takes me back to the 1970's when my Grandpa was still with us. He was a Electrical Maintenance Superintendent at Lockheed Burbank since before WW2. He used to say "if you want an appliance or machine to last, keep it simple stupid". I listened to him and whenever I can I follow Grandpa's advise I do. So when our GE whiz-bang double door stainless steel 5 year old refrigerator with through the door ice, cubed, crushed and water died I went back to a simple Kenmore $800, (on sale, made in Mexico, NOT China), top freezer stainless steel 20cuft refrigerator with a simple ice maker in the freezer Like we had before the $3,000 whiz-bang double door stainless steel refrigerator. Al least I can get 10 years out of this one and it doesn't cost as much as a used Toyoda.
I've been on refrigeration field as a technician for 18 yrs , it's my first time seeing an honest truthful video ever.....the more it's got more features the less reliability it will, I'm the only specialist in South Africa who can fix and modified any make and fridge model and give infinity guarantee on refrigerant or gas....will drop my UA-cam link here with the owners approval so you guys can keep on getting honesty about fridge.
Nice, do it!
I’m looking for a fridge and you have definitely gave me good guidance! I actually went to the store yesterday asked the workers what’s the best reliable fridge they sell… they literally said LG and Samsung 😒 and continued to show me high tech fridges with fancy screens, Ice dispenser on doors… list goes on! I told them want a fridge for 20years not 2years!
One of my fav pieces of advice (the flashlight test) many often overlook is the door gaskets which over time can fail, they get compressed, rip/tear, cause issues, simply wait for evening hours, hit the off switch for the kitchen overhead lights and place a lit flashlight inside the fridge or freezer. You might see light leaking from around the door gaskets, or coming from the ice maker door flap where the ice dispenses. Leaking gaskets or flaps allow warm air to enter the fridge. If your fridge is running all the time or the ice cubes in your ice bin is freezing into one big chuck, check the gaskets and flaps first. Too many times I have seen customers pay for expensive control boards, temperature thermostats, or compressors when it's simply a faulty gasket or flap. (Flap failure is usually the little spring that breaks or pops off causing the flap to not close & seal properly.)
tu
Good one!
Can a dummy like me replace it myself? Minehas issues. I have a nonicemakerone and i dont want it to give out .
Thank you. I checked mine last night and there are two pieces of the gasket that are ripped.
How do you fix it if the door gasket failed? Thanks
Going light on all the bells and whistles is good advice on more than just refrigerators. My ex-wife just had to have a Saab convertible that did everything including whistle "Dixie." It was in the shop ALL the time. I don't recall a time when every system was working. We live in a world where people are attracted to the newest and latest. My cell phone can do all sorts of things I don't need it to do. Friends, you don't need a nail gun to hang a picture. Buy a hammer.
My dad said much the same - the new features may sound nice, but how often will you actually use them? Everything is a possible point of failure, so stripping out everything but the essentials makes for a far more reliable product.
I'm still using ice cube trays.
I have a Frigidaire Gallery side by side with ice maker and it is 19 years old. Never has needed anything but a new lightbulb socket (I looked up the part, ordered and installed it myself thanks to UA-cam). I hope it keeps going a few more years. Thanks for this excellent video
Yeah but they don't make those anymore. When it goes out you will be screwed like us. 😁
I still have a Frigidaire side by side refrigerator from 2002 that still runs like a champ with not a single problem the whole time.
Your channel is a blessing to homeowners. We're currently looking to replace a couple of appliances and have been checking your videos often for advice. I hope you enjoy making videos, and keep up the good work.
I just checked mine. Its a Maytag side by side. I clean the coils every year and it’s worked great for 17 years
Great video. So the cliff notes.....get an American made plain icebox with zero bells and whistles (no ice-makers, water dispenser, touch screens, etc) as they tend to fail and the more you have the more chances of something going out fast. Basically, get great grandma's literal ice box, that will not be aesthetically pleasing or anything to write home about, and be happy.
Then apply this to all the electronics/appliances/vehicles that you buy. The more bells and whistles the more there is to fix or replace. A car needs to drive not play videos and take calls
which one ?
@jro0809 Yes, Sarcasto Boy. Buy your grandma's fridge and be happy about it. I disagree about it not being something to write home about...much more interesting than any POS fridge you'll find on the market nowadays.
Dude... I can't properly explain in words how much I truly appreciate this video.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is what quality YouTubing looks like, and I'll definitely be subscribing and binge-watching your videos after I hit "submit."
Thanks for your time and what you do. This is a true service for the average person. It's an absolute sham that manufacturers get away with their lack of quality. I'm not for more legislation, but there should be a law that makes every manufacturer to warranty their product for at least a decade.
Something needs to happen... hopefully these class action lawsuits bring some change to the market. Paying $3-4K for a consumer appliance is ludicrous if it dies within 5 years. Crazytown...
Capitalism should be able to solve this without regulations or lawsuits. Why doesn't one of these companies take advantage of this dismal situation by making high quality products, and getting a big share of the market?
And what has happened to Consumer Reports? Their top recs are LGs and Samsungs, despite the class action suits and awful reviews. Have they sold out, too?
My frig is a Sears Coldspot bought by my parents in 1955. It's still in use today, although the automatic defrost doesn't work, which requires me to manually defrost it every couple of months. Other than that it works great.
@kenfrank - they don't make em' like they use to !!!
WOW
It feels like quality is becoming a relic of the past.
Everything is a throw away!
There use to be small appliance repair shops now throw away same now with major appliances where the repair part is more than a new unit. During my furnace repair the technician said furnace parts went up 300% where he tells people buy new if 10 years or older. We are so environmentally friendly with these high efficient throw away products.
You both are unfortunately right.
I never had a fridge/freezer fail during my childhood and college years. I didn't know they could do that. They would run for decades.
In my rented apartment, the fridge/freezer failed after around 10 years. Door hinges were all worn out (doors would often not close properly), sensor couldn't hold the temperature (sometimes you had 12+ C, sometimes your drinks were frozen in the fridge), light went kaputt (didn't know this could happen in the age of LEDs) and some of the plastic boxes inside had fractures. Was an Electrolux.
Going to move soon to my own place, ordered a V-Zug side-by-side. The brand is usually known for better quality. Wish me luck.
@@svr5423 I will have to check them out!
I own a 1979 mobile home that was the mother-in-law‘s when we bought this place and we’ve done some remodeling up there but I’m so proud of the fact that that refrigerators over 40 years old more like 45 and it still runs great it’s a little rusty. I don’t care fact that this thing still running and I’ve been through 2 side-by-side refrigerators in my house in the last 20 years speaks volumes
The compressor in my LG was bad out of the box and died after three years. LG went out of their way to replace all of the guts that keep food cold (board and everything) and now the fridge I really liked and didn't want to give up works great and is super quiet. LG spent a lot of money to fix my $3700 fridge I got on sale for $2800 and they reimbursed me for a large part (not all) of the food I lost. Their customer service people were exceptional except for one who was obviously in the wrong business.
TRUTH BE SAIS SEARS PUT OUT GREAT REFIGS FOOOR YEARS...
@@tomortale2333Sears appliances were made by other companies - at one time it was Whirlpool.
I’ve own my LG refrigerator for 8 years now with no problem 👍
See my comment. Same issue, very different experience with a shady incompetent repair company. Btw, you didn't say how many repair visits you had to endure to get a working refrigerator.
They replaced that compressor with more failure prone compressor parts. It will inevitably fail, by design.