Refrigerators You Should Never Buy!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Aww thanks for the shout out! Did a great job on the video, especially with the data. VERY interesting seeing Beko in dead-last. Ouch! One thing about the data set you had: it'd of been interesting to see warranty calls on all brands with and without icemakers (since we've both mentioned it), then service calls by freezer placement (top-mount, bottom-mount, side-by-side). We don't do many new units + warranty calls so my sample size is pretty limited, but if you ever do a follow up on this, that's something I'd be interested in. Same thing goes for an even larger company like, say, Yale.

[@daniby9894]

Well, seeing data was interesting, but at the same time it's still pretty relative, becouse their statistics depend on refridgerator models they have at their disposal and are mostly selling, so those numbers regard only specific models not brand as a whole. I think the main point of this video is you cann't trust the newest tecnologies that hadn't been around for a few years (sometimes new car models have these issues that time only reveals) and if you wanna a fridge to last, you should go for fridges that are focused mainly on their duty of refridgerating and freezing, otherwise you end up buying "prototypes". Another thing to keep in mind is availabuility of spare parts, not all brands guarantee you finding spare parts available on the market for a long time, and average of majority brands is 10 years, some even less, but there are brands that guarantee you spare parts for longer. I had to change the fridge last month and the old one lasted me for over 25 years, but it reached a point of slowly giving signs his lifespan was running out and the electricity consumption was ridiculously high and I replaced it with another built in fridge of same dimension and capacity, I went for Beko and plain old neo frost tecnology with 2 separate inverter compressors for fridge and freezer that's been around for the past 8 years and compressors have a 10 year warranty, plus it was on sale and the manufacturer was giving extended 5 year full warranty on that model. As far as energy consumption goes, the new one consumes in one year what the old one used to in 3 months, so basicly I'll be paying off this new fridge through my electric bill reduction before my full warranty expires. There's really a lot to consider nowadays when you purchase a new appliance

[@-2u2]

You have a great channel, Ben. I always consult your channel before buying any home appliance. Thank you.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

@@-2u2 thanks!

[@az.................]

Ben, I agree completely on seeing the numbers broken down by freezer placement. A couple years ago I had to deal with a dead, 1 year old, LG fridge. It was eventually replaced with a Whirlpool top mount (based on personal experience and internet wisdom). It wasn't until I saw your video specifically calling out this specific style of Whirlpool that I realized my experience was likely pretty typical. A fridge is a just big insulated box with a heat pump, right? The box is so out of square that the handles are about 1/4" out of alignment. The interior is just as bad. The door seals were pulling away from the doors when I got it. Basically it looks like Hellen Keller got drunk and tried to build a fridge. After dealing with the LG I got some cheap wireless temperature probes so I stuck them in the Whirlpool. I had to fiddle with it quite a bit to prevent the temperature from spiking too much during the defrost cycle. It works, but it's not a nice fridge and I can see why warranties are so short these days. I looked around at some of the big box stores and outlets and yeah, all of the top mount Whirlpool (etc) fridges look this poorly built. Probably the most disappointing thing was that Whirlpool no longer sells top mounts with the super useful split shelves. More recently I got a Frigidaire top mount after you said the magic words (mechanical timer). Like the LG, the compressor sounds like a ringing bell but… wow… it does the one thing a fridge should do, it keeps a consistent interior temperature with no fiddling with the controls.

[@noboringconcrete]

What are your thoughts on Bosch?

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

My granny has a westinghouse, 71 years old. Still runs perfect!! Only the plug was replaced. Fridge !

[@drewthompson7457]

I remember when my mother's fridge was changed over to 60 cycle. It still worked when she passed.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

We need to have a birthday party for your fridge 🎂

[@rogerbec5766]

That qualifies as an antique in my book. Is the latch kid safe and also, do you have to defrost it the old fashion way?

[@wholeNwon]

That's great!! My grandmother had one that lasted forever, too. It was powered by gas. Though the unit was large, the freezer was small.

[@thetatek6634]

I think all of of us have examples like that. The big difference is having mechanical thermostats, a compressor, and cooling coils that are make of thick wall copper. Units like that did not have to worry about power surges or electronics over heating.

[@paulbaran4796]

I’ve been a service technician for 39 years. She’s spot on!!

[@performancetravel75]

Thank you for coment it helps alot

[@ffblegend]

What do you think about the LG LRFXC2606S or Kitchen Aid KRMF706ESS? I found that Kitchen Aid from a local outlet with a few small side dents...all new still in wrapper for 2000 from it's origial price of 4000+. My LG just recenelty went out and they seem to have tons of issues with the compressors.

[@paulbaran4796]

@@ffblegend I wouldn’t get LG, Samsung and Electrolux. Kitchen aid is made by Whirlpool. Kitchen Aid is the “high end” of Whirlpool, so it’s more expensive. You’re just paying for the name and the aesthetics, the quality is the same. Whirlpool owns Maytag, Amana, Jenn Air, Admiral as well. So by default, I would go with a Whirlpool brand.

[@AlephNullMore]

I want to say i'm here researching fridges because my Samsung broke after 1.5 years and they're claiming the problem is anything but what's still covered under warranty. Wish i'd done my research first. AVOID SAMSUNG. If it breaks the customer service will do everything they can to avoid fixing under warranty.

[@JackAgainski]

China made small compressors is the main problem now.

[@BillyBobDingledorf]

I applaud you for getting back to the basics. Complication = reliability issues. Keep things simple and you'll be a lot happier. Peace of mind is valuable.

[@BarbieHitsBack]

We are still using our Amana fridge that we purchased in 1986 and it has traveled around the world with us… we used a transformer to run it when we took it to Europe with us. I love this fridge!!!

[@BoulevardHome]

So glad to hear you've had a great experience with your Amana!

[@bettyjones5336]

I also have an Amanda which I have had for appx 48 years. Never repaired still working perfectly. I keep it in the garage because I have remodeled my kitchen

[@MarkChamberlain-gq6ru]

We have a 1997 Amana and no issues ever. Doesn't need defrosting ever either.

[@sadiporter2966]

the overhead compartment on the plane must have been rammed!

[@carlosoruna7174]

Umm your transformer converts 50hz to 60hz..LOL

[@NCF8710]

I have a 1947 Hotpoint refrigerator which was left behind in the basement by the previous owner in 1979. It is virtually silent in operation as there are no fans for the evaporator and condenser. It is still running to this day. The door gasket is shot and needs replacement. That's it. There's truth to the old saying, 'They don't make them like they used to'.

[@trishayamada807]

I have a toaster from the 1930’s, a sunbeam, art deco style, and it makes perfect toast.

[@nathalie_desrosiers]

@@trishayamada807 Art Deco style? I'm so totally jealous!

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

WOW! BUY IT' HAS TO. BE DEFROSTED. A LOT OF WORK

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

@@trishayamada807 my granny has a sunbeam coffee maker! 47 years now. Still makes great coffee😊😊☕☕

[@trishayamada807]

@@captainamericaamerica8090 that’s amazing! I go through a coffee maker a year. Ive bought cheap $10 to a $300 coffee maker, each lasted roughly a year. So very disappointing. I’m thinking maybe a French press or something…

[@supercareappliancerepair8538]

I'm an appliance repair technician and I stand by everything said here.

[@Anonymous09981]

So what brand do you recommend? I really don’t want a freezer on top though. I have considered a side by side. I love the French door for ease but am leaving behind a Samsung and just want a good fridge with a good ice maker. We are planning to only by if the ice maker is in the freezer not on the door in the refrigerator 🙄

[@elmbaker1683]

Whirlpool

[@dkexp725]

@@elmbaker1683 I have a Whirlpool only 9 years old. Broken and because sealed system costly to repair. Is there any fridge without this sealed system anymore? Amanna as good as whirlpool- and is 9 years good by today’s standards? Thank you for your comment. So helpful!

[@missb2182]

I have a 23 year old GE Profile. The major issue I had was taken care of with an extended warranty.

[@JenniferTrocke]

@@Anonymous09981 problem with the freezer tops is they aren't even close to 36" wide.

[@-2u2]

Finally, someone who actually names the best and the worst. Thank you for your information.

[@TT-dp8qh]

Whirlpool seems to be the choice for a home appliances!

[@pigboykool]

Very good summary. My experience is also true. It is a Refrigerator, NOT an iPhone, Not a Computer! We just need something VERY simple to Refigde stuffs.

[@careymitchell4731]

Amazing. In my mom's old house, which has been used only occasionally for the past 25 years, there is a Frigidaire that was purchased in the mid-1950's. It has been running flawlessly for almost 70 years.

[@liaratsoni9768]

Imagine the power consumption on that one.🤑

[@peggycole7162]

If they make em like they used to, they won't make money to pay stockholders. Also, Congress stuck their nose in our business and put on so many restrictions

[@wholeNwon]

@@peggycole7162 Doubt that many of the Chinese companies have stockholders.

[@donreinke5863]

At that time, Frigidaire units were made by General Motors, Kelvinator was made by American Motors Corporation (formerly Nash) and Philco was a Ford Motor Company product. Frigidaire was sold off and is now made by Electrolux, the company that made cheap vacuum cleaners back in the 70s. Ford sold Philco in 1973 and Kelvinator is now owned by either LG (Lucky/Gold Star) or Samsung, both purveyors of scrap masquerading as quality products. REAL Frigidaire units stated "Product of General Motors" on the door emblem. Air conditioning compressors on 1960s GM cars also bore the Frigidaire name.

[@donreinke5863]

@@liaratsoni9768 Irrelevant. Im not trading high power consumption for disposable junk. A lot of electricity can be had for the 3k (more in many cases) it costs to buy a new garbage refrigerator of highly dubious longevity.

[@Rhythm515]

The girl and the information she provides is awesome!! Loved the line "But at the end of the day the reason you're buying a fridge is to keep food fresh... not split an atom" That was FAH!!!

[@makeminefreedom]

A basic refrigerator is the best. The more advanced the refrigerator is the more components that can fail.

[@christopherrichardwadedett4100]

But can my refrigerator also save me the most time and money?

[@zezmerelda240]

same with automobiles

[@Landphoo]

My husband says same as you.

[@vegasrenie]

I just need something to keep my food cold. I do not need a "smart" refrigerator to let me know when I need to do shopping, browse the Internet, etc. It just has to keep my food cold. That's the only thing that matters!

[@jayson657]

Just like a basic car like a Toyota Corolla, plain and simple but will run 100’s of thousands of miles almost trouble free. Better off with a regular old top freezer unit with no ice maker or computer pad.

[@edsedlak6827]

I recently had to buy a new fridge. The supplier warned me away from Samsung sayings that they are not as reliable as Frigidaire. This is bourne out by my brother and several friends. My brother has a small apartment building and he bought some Samsung fridges and has already had to replace them. So that means that your message backs up our experience. Valuable information.

[@BoulevardHome]

That sounds about right according to our experience as well! Thanks for watching

[@davewilbeck8225]

Due to the quality and failure of Samsung to honor the original or extended warranties, I will never purchase any Samsung product.

[@markkaminski2416]

Agreed, add LG to that list. I have gone to the old reliables GE and KitchenAid and have been trouble free. I think the key is to buy models with only basic functions and avoid complex electronics.

[@DiannaAtherton]

I bought Bosch and GE kitchen appliances 6 years ago. Zero issues.

[@anitacordeiro372]

Yeah, I had one of those killer washing machines they had a recall on. Was out $900. Had to get rid of it, only 2 yrs old, violently jumping off the floor, scared to death of it. Never again will I buy a Samsung product.

[@marshallforeman2051]

I had a Samsung. It was the biggest piece of junk. I ever owned, other then a General Motors product

[@Rigandfixit]

I have a regular French door going on 5 years I hope I get 15 years out of it without repairs

[@basilbcf]

Our Sears Kenmore (aka Whirlpool) fridge (French doors with lowere freezer and ice maker) has lasted us 25 years and counting. Zero issues.

[@denisemartin3603]

2O years on my kenmore😢

[@samwisethebrave288]

Had a GE for close to 30 years, replaced it 13 years ago with a Whirlpool S/S that is still going strong today. I actually have a fullsize Westinghouse in my basement that the handle broke off of but it still works perfectly otherwise - it was my parents fridge IN THE LATE 50s!! Almost 70 years old! I keep it stocked with beer... always keeps it nice and cold. I painted it red by the way. True story!

[@RoughRidersTV]

I had a whirlpool for 18 years before it died. I then had an LG (still do in my rental) that is 16 years old and still working. In my house now, I have a Samsung (about 5 years old) and the Icemaker stopped working after 2 years. The fridge does not stay a cold as it should (set to 34 but fridge is 43). I think the problems stem from new compressor designs that are running R600 instead of the older refrigerant. These "more efficient" compressors just don't work as well. Putting an icemaker in the french door design is just bad engineering...you have a component that needs to stay less than 32 degrees surrounded by a compartment that is above 32 degrees. It's like putting a warm blanket on a snowman. So no, they don't make them like they used to for sure. I would take a louder old style compressor that will work for 20 years over a new compressor that just doesn't work as reliably as the old ones did.

[@larryfisher7056]

We have a Crosley Shelvador that my folks bought in 1951. It has never been serviced to my knowledge. Still going strong.

[@scoutman]

Ur a true american😊

[@ADB-zf5zr]

Very cool (literally, and figuratively), but have you compared the real world power usage compared to a modern fridge of a roughly equivalent size.? I would imagine that the electricity savings with a new fridge would pay for itself in record time.

[@liaratsoni9768]

You know new fridges pay for themselves in technological progress eg less power consumption. Jyst get rid of old shit preferably in an environmental friendly way.

[@jamesparks4421]

Appliance tech for 25yrs. Best advice ever. Great video. Exactly what I tell my customers. Thank you.

[@rondail5675]

I need a recommendation on a 27sq/ft side-by-side, no ice-maker or water dispenser. Please!!!!

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

​@@rondail5675Whirlpool

[@tompastian3447]

A BIG caution now about GE appliances... Nov. 20, 2023 I called GE Customer Service 800 number to try to get a technician out ASAP to fix my GE side by side, it stopped working. I'm in Miami, which between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, you have about 5 million or so people. It took more than an hour just to get a live person on the phone to try and schedule a service call. The lady said the earliest they could send someone out would be Dec. 5. That's 15 days just to get a service call; DEPLORABLE SERVICE by a major appliance company. One appliance repairman told me that GE uses a subcontractor to do it's repairs, A&E Appliance Repair. I've seen their trucks around town. IF GE is that backlogged with repairs, it should either hire more subcontractors, or stop selling appliances. GE sells washers, dryers, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers and refrigerators. I really have to hesitate about future purchases of GE products if they can't provide service in a reasonable amount of time.

[@robwhiff3411]

Looking for a good reliable 32-33” fridge with a dispenser , what brand do you recommend?

[@WhittyPics]

I am on my 3rd refrigerator since 2013. The first one was a Frigadare which lasted a little over 4 years. The second was a Whirlpool that lasted 3 and 1/2 years and I am currently on the 3rd one which is a GE. Both of my failed units had leaking evaporators that cost too much to repair. This is TOTALLY unacceptable. This GE make some odd noises and it is a little over a year old and there are some flaws in the finish. We are getting totallY JUNK appliances while the CEOs of these companies making them are making millions a year along with the big box retailers. We need to start raising hell with congress. I don't care how much energy they don't use if they don't even make it 5 years without needing to be replaced

[@WhittyPics]

I only buy top freezer models.

[@mossyoakmom8880]

I have an Samsung that has had no problems. I bought it in 2011.

[@stevebabiak6997]

I have a two year old GE that allows moisture in the room air to freeze up in the ice maker opening. That’s what I call a POS.

[@aday1637]

@@WhittyPics My Frigidaire top freezer model lasted 9 month and Frigidaire repair said it couldn't be repaired. At least they refunded me the price of it. NONE ARE ANY GOOD.

[@stevebabiak6997]

@@Stark-ek7mh - I have two of the Craftsman belt drive garage openers. Over twenty years old. But a few years ago there is a plastic gear inside the opener that “failed” - the plastic gear teeth were worn away - on both of them, first on one and then a short time later on the other. Anyway, that part is not expensive and is a common repair.

[@andrewherold389]

In 1959 my parents bought a Sears refrigerator (I think it was a Kenmore) and 37 years later when my mom was a widow and sold her house,the fridge was still in the same place and was still working !

[@albertcarello619]

@andrewherold389: Very Amazing!

[@JamesSteele-jb5km]

Same here as my old Sear's Kenmore fridges lasted 20 to 30 years, but the last 2 Kenmore's I bought (which are now LG) only lasted 5 years each. Just like she says in the video, nothing is made like the used to. And now that Kenmore is LG, they won't even replace defective parts that they used to in the old days under Sears. Had Sears repair come to repair the Kenmore they sold me and said the compressor was gone and I needed a new one for $1200. Trash company. I am going with the 4 that Ashley mentioned for my next one.

[@ronwinkles2601]

How things change! My aunt bought a Sears French door with the bottom freezer, and it was the best Sears had to offer in 1963. She kept an extended warranty on it all through the years. Every couple years Sears would send out a technician to clean the coils and check the operation. After 40 years, it finally quit in 2003. The Sears tech responded in 24 hours, and he determined there were no parts available to repair it. Instead, he gave my aunt a Sears brochure of refrigerators to select any model she wanted. He gave her a voucher to purchase the most expensive French door with freezer on the bottom model. I went with her to get the new one that afternoon. It was delivered in a couple hours, and they took away the old one. No tax was charged on the new refrigerator because it was a direct exchange.

[@BoulevardHome]

I'm so glad to hear about your aunt's great experience with that fridge! Hopefully her new fridge works well for her as well.

[@davecalico3273]

@@BoulevardHome- it was 2003

[@vanatic22]

EXCELLENT video and information! I just retired after 42 years in the appliance service industry and I am so glad to hear someone else speaking the truth about today's appliances! Ashley is spot on with this evaluation! Simplicity usually equals reliability, hence why the good old top mount refrigerators are the most reliable. The more complicated anything gets, the more there is to go wrong. I heard all the same things she mentions from customers. Not that you shouldn't buy a French door ice & water dispenser model if you like that, but just understand that it has far more potential to need repairs than that simple top freezer unit. She has the statistics to illustrate this. I so agree with the fact that LG and Samsung are fine for TVs and mobile phones, but in reality they are the 'new kids on the block' in the white goods arena. In 1988 I started a job as a service manager for Frigidaire International and traveled to Korea to train Samsung engineers on our U.S. built side-by-side refrigerators that they were buying! At that time, the largest refrigerator they manufactured was a 16 cubic foot three door top freezer model. They had nothing like our ice and water side-by-sides. Same with LG. They both also made 'twin tub' top load washers then . . . a far cry from the front load washers they build today. So realistically, they've been in the major appliance business for around 30 years . . . while in comparison most U.S. manufacturers harken back to the early 1900's!

[@Whoo_Boy]

I was born in the early 1970s and it was in the 80s when appliances began to break down and die after a short ownership. Back then, the assumption was that products were being made too well, made to last a lifetime which cut into continuous sales. No need to buy any new steam irons if the one I bought 70 years ago still works. Imagine everybody doing that and then passing it down to their children after they pass. So, it was said that manufacturers were using less reliable parts than before and generally designing appliances not as well as before to make sure they always had new customers (new money constantly coming in). But that was about American companies. Foreign companies always had the reputation of manufacturing inferior products from appliances to automobiles. It wasn't until the mid to late 80s when Sony and Samsung took over the radio industry with top notch radios and walkmans that foreign companies began to become the rage. Then when Datsun became Nissan, the automobile industry people sought out foreign for luxury in Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Alfa Romeo. Anyway, you get the gist.

[@oscarc7853]

Thank u for the reply. All the techs I've contacted have told me the same thing. My mom is 5' tall and the ice box to the left is easier and more accessible than top load freezers.

[@Ikey04-ge9gy]

LG has only been in the biz 30 years and they make way better laundry units than American 100 year old giant whirlpool…

[@tompastian3447]

A BIG caution now about GE appliances... Nov. 20, 2023 I called GE Customer Service 800 number to try to get a technician out ASAP to fix my GE side by side, it stopped working. I'm in Miami, which between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, you have about 5 million or so people. It took more than an hour just to get a live person on the phone to try and schedule a service call. The lady said the earliest they could send someone out would be Dec. 5. That's 15 days just to get a service call; DEPLORABLE SERVICE by a major appliance company. One appliance repairman told me that GE uses a subcontractor to do it's repairs, A&E Appliance Repair. I've seen their trucks around town. IF GE is that backlogged with repairs, it should either hire more subcontractors, or stop selling appliances. GE sells washers, dryers, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers and refrigerators. I really have to hesitate about future purchases of GE products if they can't provide service in a reasonable amount of time.

[@erict7867]

Top freezer is a colossal bad idea. You go into the fridge a lot more than freezer

[@thomasyoung9591]

I have a Kenmore, bought in 1991 at the Sears Scratch and Dent Store. It still runs perfectly, 18 cubic feet with ice maker but no other bells and whistles.

[@BoulevardHome]

We're so glad to hear that! Hoping that it continues to run well for years to come.

[@JanetLynnEthier]

Great informative video, thank you for taking the time to do this. I had purchased an LG 5 drawer refrigerator 10 years ago, and had nothing with issues after one year. LG ended up almost replacing everything because they didn’t know what the actual problem was. I was advised by a sales person at the store we purchased this product that LG knew there was problems with this new model but launched it anyway. I will never again buy any refrigeration products from LG.

[@ecoRfan]

Just this month (February 2024) had a 2016 LG fridge fail. As usual, it was the compressor that failed.

[@IP0Monsturd]

I have a chariot previously owned by Ben Hur. Over 2000 years old and still a great daily driver!

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

Wooden wheels haven't increased in price since then?

[@ureasmith3049]

You're Wrong, Messala !

[@sjmusicforlife4638]

Must have run flat tires?

[@joansonbaptiste-james3649]

I read this seriously then it hit me😂

[@eponymousIme]

😂

[@Kili-Kili-Bantot]

We had a GE fridge (older than me) that we had to replace 13yrs ago with an electrolux top mount inverter. It is still working just a few rust and scratches on the doors. This video is Gold, more power to this YTchannel.

[@secondamendmentconservativ3556]

Have had a side-by-side Kenmore refrigerator for 24 yrs with no problems. Has interior ice maker.

[@alphacentauri1757]

Kenmore, is made by other brand names like whirlpool, etc. depending on the model.

[@treaty92]

I bought a Kenmore in 1990 still running fine. No frills 18 cubic foot with freezer on top.

[@ferraridan4883]

We bought a new LG French door frig years ago. It went out within a year. Took LG a week to figure out the error code FF, freezer fan. Took almost 2 months to get the part from the other side of the world. There were no $10 freezer fans anywhere in the US. Got it fixed then we got rid of it. Never again. Great video by the way !!

[@garyf2871]

LG is terrible. Their compressor goes anytime. Moved into a house that had one and it went literally 1 month after 5 yrs from manufacture (didn't have the original receipt). They still warranty the part, if I remembered 7yrs from purchase or manufacture, but I had to incurr the labor charges at that point which was over $200 as the the tech was there for 2+ hrs. The tech said they can go at anytime, no predetermined point where failure can happen.

[@NaturalBeauty214]

​@@garyf2871$200?? I have the same problem and LG is charging me $550-$625 to send a technician out. 😢

[@ecoRfan]

Just this month (February 2024) had the freezer fan and compressor fail simultaneously on a mid-2016 LG fridge. At 7.5 years old, it’s too young, but actually outlasted typical LG fridges, which is pathetic. Avoid LG fridges like the plague.

[@wholeNwon]

You didn't research LG first???

[@mikethebike7372]

@@wholeNwon Research should not be necessary. The product should be better. LG makes a good t.v. but their appliances stink.

[@natgasf7236]

I’m on my 3rd fridge in twelve years. I just purchased a French door Fisher Paykel. It was a bit more expensive but I’m a believer in you get what you pay for.

[@BoulevardHome]

Wishing you luck with your new fridge!

[@Fazzel]

I had a Frigidaire for around 20 years and never had a problem with it until for some reason it stopped defrosting and the freezer just had a big chunk of ice at the bottom and pretty much stopped cooling food in the main part of the refrigerator. So I bought a new refrigerator that turns out to be a Whirlpool. Which I have had for around 15 years. I didn't even pay attention to the brand, I just liked how it looked and it was bigger than the Frigidaire. So good to know that Whirlpool is one of the most reliable brands

[@BoulevardHome]

We hear so many negative stories about appliances breaking after a short period so it's always nice to hear when people who have had refrigerators for multiple decades like yourself. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheresaTV1]

I don’t know… the only two refrigerators that we ever had break down were Whirlpool, so 🤷‍♀️

[@bobweiram6321]

That was years ago. Frigidaire today sucks! Their products are unbelievably unreliable!

[@wholeNwon]

That's really common and it's usually just the little electric cycle timer. It's the equivalent of an electric clock. They are cheap and easy DIY to replace. Mine is at the bottom of the unit on the right corner under the grate. In an emergency, many can be turned manually with a screwdriver to confirm malfunction and to make the unit cycle.

[@shirleysmith4446]

We had an appliance tech come yesterday to fix our 7 yr old Samsung French door, with beverage/meat drawer, bottom freezer. The lady that does this video knows what she is talking about, my repairman said all the same things to us before he left. I will never get another Samsung (I watched him take it apart to fix it... needs all new parts). Not the first time it's needed repair btw. Way too expensive so we are getting a new fridge (no LG either). And I will do extensive reaearch first, thanks to the advice of my repairman & this lady's video!

[@rednekokie]

several years ago, I purchased a Samsung french door refrigerator, with, supposedly, a 10 year warranty on the compressor. I bought it at Lowes. After a year and a half, it stopped running. I called Samsung, and they said they wouldn't repair it. I called a refrigerator technician out to repair it -- he told me that that model's compressor was a notorious failure, and that it would cost $800 to replace it, but with the same compressor, as they had not made a new compressor which wouldn't fail, and the replacement would simply fail again after another year or so. I asked Lowe's if it was under warranty, and they said they could not and would not repair it after 1 year. I decided then and there never to buy anything Samsung again, nor ever to shop at Lowe's ever again. Fortunately, I had an old Westinghouse refrigerator in my workshop which my dad had purchased in 1947, which ran just fine -- it had never had a service call. I moved it into my house, (that was 3 years ago) and it still just cranks cold air out day in and day out. Had Lowe's had a minimum of customer satisfaction in their operation, I wouldn't have not put them on my "s" list -- but now, they'll never get off it, nor will Samsung.

[@BoulevardHome]

Customer service is a big part of consumers' frustrations in these situations. We've heard a lot of similar stories with Samsungs customer service. Glad you were able to have a backup. Our goal with videos like this is to shed some light on the unfortunate issues consumers are facing with modern appliance reliability trends. It helps when people like you share stories like this. Thanks for sharing!

[@donnaarehartpiffier8800]

The warranty isn't through Lowe's but through Samsung. I think there was some kind of class-action lawsuit regarding LG and Samsung's compressors and an issue with getting replacement parts. My head is spinning trying to figure out what to buy.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Just curious, why did you purchase a Samsung to begin with?

[@wakaflockaproject]

​@@donnaarehartpiffier8800perhaps a bosche? Less horror stories

[@fiberSplicer]

I feel the same way about LG. Stay away from them as well. I won't be touching Samsung either.

[@specialized29er86]

Thanks for the information and I have an all original 1954 Kelvinator that still keeps cold, a little noisy but a beauty.

[@elizabethstump4077]

Thanks for making this video. I am at the beginning of remodeling my kitchen and picking appliances for the kitchen designer to make plans and I picked an all fridge (no freezer) by Frigidaire and a standing all freezer by Frigidaire as well. No ice maker, no bells or whistles, no ice maker. Your video confirms my choices, which eases my mind.

[@tracytuten5116]

Thank you, I'm currently building a house and looking for appliances, that's a great idea I never thought of.

[@vroom6490]

That’s a great idea!….if you have the space.

[@elizabethstump4077]

Frig is going in the kitchen, freezer in the garage, I have the space in the garage.@@vroom6490

[@porshaflowers9079]

@@vroom6490this comment right here! If you have the space!

[@lindajensen5473]

I’m on my second in 23 years and it needs replacing. However I have an Amana that was bought in 1976, which is in my garage and has been repaired once!

[@edwardantrobusjr2253]

When my wife and I got married in December 1977, her parents gave us their first refrigerator. It was an early 1950's Philco. The style then was a latch to open the fridge. Then, a separate compartment inside for a tiny freezer. In 1989, it developed a refrigerant leak. It would have been very difficult to repair as the coolant lines for the freezer were embedded in the freezer floor. That's where it was leaking. Didn't quite make it to 40 years old.

[@ThePolaroid669]

Easy repair actually.

[@krislange1186]

I got a new Samsung gas range & french door refrigerator. Consumer Reports listed them as their #1 pick. The range: knobs that are heavy and look like metal are actually plastic in the middle. I've already had to order new knobs. Sometimes the oven does not want to heat up. Once it took 1 1/2 hrs. for the oven to reach 350*. I did have a Bosch electric wall oven for a back up. Then all of a sudden the Samsung started working again. We'll see if it lasts. Also the stainless is cheaper than the ones on my other appliance brands and very hard to cleanand stains easily and the painted parts (stove top) chip really easy. The refrigerator (french door model) has the ice maker in the door and another one in the freezer. I've had to take the upper ice maker apart once to get it going. Then a year later it's doing the same thing and I can't even get it apart this time. At least the bottom one is working and the water still works in the door. My opinion of Samsung products: NEVER AGAIN!

[@BoulevardHome]

So sorry to hear about your experience with Samsung! Hoping you have some better luck in the future.

[@drwisdom1]

Our house came with a Sub-Zero fridge. After a couple of years the evaporator froze over. The problem was the drain tube was clogged causing moisture to condense and freeze on the evaporator. It was easy to diagnose and fix because 30 years ago they made really simple refrigerators. My brother has an LG with a linear compressor. The cheap poorly engineered compressor broke after a year and a half. LG gave him a list of repairmen but they all refused saying LGs are no good and they don't provide the needed parts. So he called LG back and they forced a repairman to fix his fridge (while griping about LG).

[@drwisdom1]

Update to this comment. My brother's LG fridge stopped keeping temperature going back and forth between the 30s and the 60s. He had to get a new fridge. The LG lasted about 5 years and had too much grief.

[@myboyclint]

This video was outstanding.Hit every rung on the information ladder. Covered many a brand in the refrigerator world with concise and fact driven data. If you're like me and want just the facts and no hype, then this video is a home run. Thank you so much BH. Your expertise is very much appreciated and beyond helpful.

[@kodyadams5561]

WE HAVE A FRIDGAIR AND IT STILL RUNNING 29 YEARS OLD . STILL MAKES ICE GREAT.

[@stevenguajardo6049]

I agree. Mom dad had the same fridge for close to 15 years. Mom decided to "upgrade". It was just a basic fridge. They got French door fridge with screen,matching washer and dryer. Not even a year the washer leaks, the fridge broke twice. 10 grand down the tubes. I have a basic fridge,and washer and dryer.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Don't get the obsession with "matching" a brand. If everything is SS aren't they already matching?

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

What brand was it please?

[@OB17358]

A few years ago my 15 yo Maytag bottom drawer freezer fridge had a new compressor installed at the cost of a new fridge. The box itself is like new and fits the space it’s in so I chose to keep it. Still works.

[@jgesselberty]

The elephant in the room is that appliances became more prone to breakdowns when we started making most of the parts out of the country.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Now there's a massive labour shortage.

[@bonniekruger6245]

Imagine that...

[@fiberSplicer]

You can thank corporate greed for that.

[@smokeycanuck8058]

Yeah but it's cheaper to do it that way which means the CEOs and share holders make more $$$ and that's WAY more important than the consumers getting value for their hard earned money right?

[@tomg6284]

Well, I am sure if you dig deeper you will find the reason things get sent to China is LAWYERS!

[@donaldmcdougall3542]

I’ve had all of these brands over the last 20 years and I concur, wholeheartedly. Love my current Whirlpool, and my Samsung was junk. Hated the LG too.Neither one could consistently make ice and compressors wore out in a couple of years

[@JobyJoby-iw2wr]

Fridge maintenance is important. My new home (1999) came with GE appliances. Top freezer model with an ice maker. Have cleaned the bottom mounted condenser coil once, using a condenser coil brush and used a vacuum cleaner around the compressor area once. Pull the unit away from the wall yearly to clean the area under/behind the unit. When the ice bucket is full, I shut the ice maker off at the lever/bar mounted on the unit. Ice level gets low, I turn the unit back on.

[@BoulevardHome]

Maintenance is super important, glad to hear you're on top of it! Thanks for watching!

[@wholeNwon]

I do, too, and it's one of the reasons mine is still running well at 40 yrs.

[@robertrios3145]

Fantastic video. Great job and thank you for your time to help us all out with our next fridge purchase.

[@sforoushani1]

I love, love, LOVE that you shared your data in this vid. Felt a lot more confident following the conclusions with that visible. Thanks!

[@marlenefunk2137]

I have a 4 year old LG and it works perfectly. I have lived in Ecuador for 12 years and Everything I purchase in South America seems to last longer. Even cars. Almost everything now is produced in South America. LG is popular in South America with the least problems. Before I purchased this last refrigerator, I went on line to see what was most purchased and best and I got back LG. So I emailed LG in Seoul, Korea and asked for all LG models sold in Ecuador. I picked what I wanted and then asked LG where I could find a distributor with that model. Turned out to be a place I knew well and purchased many items over the years. Had my new refrigerator in 3 days and am totally pleased with it an md and it does have the smart inverter.

[@BoulevardHome]

Glad to hear you found a model that works well for you! Thanks for watching

[@johnstuartsmith]

Perhaps South American governments aren't constantly forcing appliance manufacturers to redesign products to comply with increasingly stringent water and energy-saving mandates.

[@daisybe3736]

​@@johnstuartsmithI don't trust this guy. Usually companies mostly care about the quality of products for Western countries. source: a factory worker

[@lakeseminole]

I learned a lot 10 years ago when I purchased my new refrigerator. Absolutely avoid ice makes in the upper part of the fridge, exclude water, if you can. Stay away from high tech refrigerators with touch screens and so on. The simpler, the better. I purchased a Maytag double door with a bottom freezer and ice maker in the bottom freezer. Best decision ever. Still running great, never serviced in 10 years and looking for many more. When it comes to buyer a refrigerator (and other appliances) SIMPLICITY will keep you out of trouble.

[@dsimpson530]

Pro tip from a former luxury appliance salesman (Former NKBA member). The more basic the refrigerator, generally the more reliable it is. No ice maker is reliable, especially external dispensers. You sacrifice quality for convenience with external ice dispensing. Internal ice makers are the most reliable automatic icemakers, the most reliable is an ice cube tray. Mechanical refrigerators (only top freezers) are the best for reliability (typically Frigidaire or GE/Haier). Look for internal cooling dial controls, not digital temp controllers.

[@BoulevardHome]

Totally agree with you! In fact, we said basically that same thing in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4G3pWt-pKimf6csi=Zf8tfEx_DDdpD8TW Thanks for sharing!

[@whomeverwherever]

I actually disconnected my ice maker to use that space for freezer items. Fridge is going on 6 years, no issues so far. Top freezer…crappy (cheap model) Frigidaire brand.

[@cgschow1971]

Agree. Same with washer and dryers. Cheap basic with mechanical timers are most reliable.

[@StonemanRocks]

Screw that I want ice and water in the door its not THAT much of a sacrifice! Lol!

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

Why ​@@StonemanRocks

[@carolyneverett762]

Our GE Cafe refrigerator bought from COSTCO died the first week. Back it went. Our four door Whirlpool is quiet and works good👍🏻

[@divacirce2845]

This is definitely the best fridge buying tutorial I have come across. Thank you for offering such honest and thorough information!

[@dsimpson530]

This is just about reliability, not what is the best for your needs (i.e French door vs side by side vs bottom freezer vs top freezer or built in)

[@edwardp.2642]

I wish my local appliances stores had such good, qualified no nonsense managers like this lady. And the sales vs failures data you provided was really helpful too.

[@GeoTex1111]

Great video! Well, my Sears Kenmore lasted 30 years from 1983-2013. I then bought my first Whirlpool - basic design, top freezer and I declined hooking up any water features since I don't need ice cubes. The compressor died right after the 5 year mark so it was out of warranty. I thought it had to be a fluke so I bought another basic Whirlpool, model WRT311FZDW in 2018. Now here I am again 5 years later with a fridge failure! At least this time, it malfunctioned while still within the sealed system warranty. The tech came yesterday and will come back next week to replace the compressor & evaporator. Not only is the compressor weak at .5amps but the refrigerant is leaking as well. I pray this repair will buy me at least 5 more years but I will never buy another Whirlpool. At least I have a 40yo Norge refrigerator in my garage to save me from these breakdowns!!👍

[@captainamericaamerica8090]

Whirlpool was excellent many years ago. It's CRAP' TODAY

[@peggygray4259]

You are sooo lucky. Sears told me American Home Shield will pay for the installation of the parts that they cover. Wrong!! I was told installation wasn't covered. Sears quoted $795 to install the compressor & God only knows how much for the remaining 2 parts that went out at the same time. Home Depot sold me a Frigidaire on sale for $800 plus dollars. I now wonder why I pay for insurance with AHS! Not moving forward. I'll never own another Kenmore appliance nor a contract from AHS.

[@GeoTex1111]

@@peggygray4259 It's sad that quality has gone downhill on appliances - to spend so much money every few years to replace them is a hardship. I researched home warranty companies several years ago & decided it's better to have an emergency fund to cover these expenses. I'm more comfortable selecting my own trusted appliance repairmen or HVAC person. KZbin has been such a great resource to DIY some repairs myself to save lots of $$!!

[@loismcgurk3184]

Thanks for the info. Our son has had his LG French door fridge for over 11 years with not a moment's problem. We've had ours 2 1/2 years and so far so good! I don't doubt what you're saying, but there are always exceptions. I do agree that a fridge should be to preserve your food and all those extras are totally unnecessary for most of us. Again, thank you for sharing your expertise!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

An LG made 11 years ago would be rouhgly around 2011. That puts it in the realm of possibly being made before they had their problems. You only see their massive failures after the introduction of the linear compressor which was phased in around 2012.

[@Ikey04-ge9gy]

Which compressor did they use before 2012?

[@jxmai7687]

I have my one since 2011 with 10 years compressor warranty, so far so good, at that time Samsung was already suck, we know from the sales manager as friend of our friend.

[@DiannaAtherton]

My subzero lasted 25 years. We sold our home and last I heard was still going strong. We bought a new Frigidaire side by side and still works great

[@SuperWoodyboy]

Kenmore side by side our family bought in mid 70's....Lasted over 40 years with NO repairs!

[@peggycole7162]

Hi Ashley, you presented very nicely & clearly, and you didn't talk too fast for me. I didn't have to rerun any parts once. I agree with you about Samsung, they burned me on a product of theirs when they 1st came on the scene here in America, and I've not purchased anything made by them since. I have a Kenmore at least 15 yo. While there isn't anything wrong w/it & I've never had problems with Ii, the problem is with me. I suffer badly with back & knee. I have hard time seeing & reaching items on the 2 lower shelves. I only use the front half of each shelf. Really, really hard for me to clean. Thank you for the video. I had planned to buy a new bottom freezer fridge to help me with this problem. Just how many more problems does this type of fridge have? Again, thanks so much for the video. Very helpful. Does anyone make refrigerators anymore with the slide out shelves. A friend of mine had one and it was great. My Dad always said the same thing about cars. He did 2012 with a 5 yo car, no pwr windows or locks.

[@bobspittle3201]

We have a Sears Coldspot freezer from 1967 still going!

[@thestoneworks]

Honestly think, a lot of the problems on these newer style fridges have more to do being plugged directly into the wall with no surge protection. You get surges in storms and whatnot and then you end up having problems. My fridges that have died, did so shortly after a big storm. Something to think about. I wouldn't dare plug a tv or computer, etc into the wall without a battery backup or at least a good APC surge protector. Think about it.

[@ImADish]

Very good point. Our old 35 y/o fridge has never had a problem, but our 3 y/o freezer bit it after a storm. Will keep this in mind! Thanks!

[@ThePolaroid669]

@@ImADish Likely because your old fridge has no electronics. The new one likely did.

[@imadish5356]

@@ThePolaroid669 That's for certain -nothing is simple mechanics now.

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

Have a surge protector installed in the main power supply. Would cost less in the long run than having to buy individual surge protectors and/or replacement of the items fried.

[@patrickcoughlin-qj9uk]

My grandparents bought a new Sears cold spot in 1975 side by side , it lasted a good 49 years , the only parts ever replaced was evap blower And 3 defrost timers .

[@Mark-rw3kw]

I have an LG refrigerator that is still going strong after 16 years. But the key factor in reliability is the number of complicated features that a refrigerator has. The more complex the design and the more features it has, the less reliable it is likely to be. Same thing usually applies to energy efficiency. Variable speed compressors are more energy efficient, but notorious for breaking down. Same with variable speed compressors on AC units.

[@BoulevardHome]

Very true! Thanks for sharing.

[@chiluve]

I have my LG side by side refrigerator for 20yrs

[@kellypearsall4540]

That’s the problem, they don’t make them like they used to anymore. My GE Fridge is 37 years old and it’s never had to have a repair.

[@Mark-rw3kw]

@@kellypearsall4540 One of the main reasons for that is government mandates for higher efficiency. There are some new proposals being looked at now that would impose even more complex technology to achieve even greater efficiency. Same thing for clothes washers that now are supposed to clean your laundry in a shallow puddle of water.

[@RoughRidersTV]

Because you have an LG with an older style compressor that is reliable. The new "linear" compressor is not as reliable as the older ones. My whirlpool lasted 18 years before dying. My LG in my rental house is going on 16 years now. My 4 year old Samsung has plenty of issues. Newer tech is crap and unreliable.

[@seraglioborneo2803]

My South Asian parents bought a direct cool 300 liter fridge in 1975. Only minor problems like spring to the freezer door. Then entitled interests hijacked the 1982 Montreal meet to declare that "HC, HCF and HF coolants are destroying the ozone layer". The fridge continued to work without problems, till 2017, until I was told that replacement HC, HF, HCF coolants would not be available. I reluctantly scrapped the still working fridge and bought a modern plastic based Frankenstein. Sob! I still miss my 300 liter 1975 direct cool, minimum electriciy consuming champ! I bet the new owners have found a way to recharge it with coolant and extend its life indefinitely!

[@thihal123]

We have a fridge that has the freezer in the bottom. It’s not a fancy one with sliding freezer. It’s literally like the OG model top freezer but with freezer in there bottom. The doors are hinged and top door is NOT French door. I wonder if this type of fridge is replace. Thoughts?

[@amiemongaya9809]

Is beko brand is good?? I dont understand the chart what means of md ?

[@Miss2BeFree]

I purchased one 2 days ago, I am getting anxiety thinking about it because all the reviews I read did not say good things about it. They will deliver it in 6 days! I am thinking of cancelling and buying a basic fridge however, the store policy says there is a 20% stock fee. I am wondering if it still applies if the fridge hasn’t been delivered yet. 🤔

[@Gordon-inthemoment]

@@Miss2BeFree Next month our Beko washing machine will be 3 years old and nothing has gone wrong with it, I am looking into maybe the possibility of buying a Beko fridge our current fridge is an LG one and must be getting close to 10 years old I would guess, without ever having any problems.

[@rifleman1873]

Frigidaire warranty is terrible!! I had a Maytag “wide-by-side” that had lasted 15+ years, but the ice maker quit working. Due to the age I decided it would be prudent to buy a new fridge rather than put money in the old one. Gave the Maytag to a friend for a garage fridge and bought a Frigidaire. The ice maker began having problems within 3 months. Had numerous service techs out and the problem persisted. Several of the service techs told me that the issue was a known problem with “Frigicrap” and that they would keep giving me the same runaround. So called Frigidaire and told them that due to the number of service attempts I wanted to return it. They said they would not honor a return but I could exchange it. What good would that do? I will never buy a another Frigicrap” in my life and spread the word anytime I can. Whirlpool or Maytag for me. BTW, the Maytag is still going strong in my friend’s garage…

[@Jaded7981]

I made the huge mistake of buying a Maytag refrigerator. Weird noises & poor build quality. It still works so I’ll keep it. I won’t make any attempt to repair it if anything at all goes wrong with it.

[@azhotmom]

This was WONDERFUL. Ashley is not only well spoken and intelligent, she is gorgeous 😍

[@garfieldsmith332]

All one needs is a basic refrigerator. All fridge or fridge/top freezer. All the fancy do-dads are not needed. Wi-fi connections, 50 doors/drawers/ LCD screens, fancy lights do not make the refrigerator any colder. My basic Frigidaire is 13 years old and works wonderful. Keep It Simple Sam.

[@donnaarehartpiffier8800]

I think a smart appliance is stupid. I do like my ice maker though. And because of my bad back I wanted the bottom fridge. I'm getting rid of my lower cabinet doors and putting in drawers. Now I'm trying to calculate what my lifespan will be trying to determine if my new fridge will outlive me. I've probably got another 15 years in me.

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@donnaarehartpiffier8800 Agree. All those 'smart' do-dads are not required and just add to the cost of the appliance. They also make it more expensive to repair.

[@humee7088]

Awesome 👌. Which refrigerator is best for garage?

[@carolw32]

I bought a GE side by side in 1982. The ice maker was replaced twice and finally I went to ice trays. However, that was only problem I had but replaced it in 2020 because I wanted french door style. I bought LG and wish I still had my old side by side.

[@donnaarehartpiffier8800]

Your GE was American Made. Newer ones are made in China. Haier bought GE.

[@davemills5542]

GE and GE Profile side by sides are made in Mexico

[@donnaarehartpiffier8800]

@@davemills5542 and owned by Haier and Haier is owned 47% by the Chinese Government

[@bka8851]

I've got a Kenmore that I got from my parents house in 1987. They had it for a few years and my mother wanted a new one so they gave it to me. I've replaced the ice maker about 10 years ago. That's it. Runs perfectly.

[@jakemanchester5139]

We have a GE that was bought new in 1996. Never been repaired. Use it as a basement refigerator now...

[@donnaarehartpiffier8800]

When GE was an American owned and American manufactured .

[@kelconway5792]

Sub zero is the best. I have been using mine for 18 years with NO problems. We bought the fridge column and freezer column separate to make a side-by-side and that prevented the ice maker from being inside of the fridge, which seems to cause most repair issues according to the experts. In my previous home, we acquired a sub-zero from the former owner. We sold the house to a relative and they continued to use that same fridge. That model had the ice maker inside of the fridge and that is the only repair issue they had.

[@BoulevardHome]

Sounds like Sub Zero has treated you well, glad to hear it! Thanks for watching.

[@USArmy91222]

most people aren't willing to spend $10,000 - $15,000 on a refrigerator!

[@A-privilege-not.a-right]

@@kelconway5792 Your fridge is worth more than my house.

[@aca2983]

Right now I"m very happy with my portfolio of Whirlpool brands. My gas range (6 mo.) and dishwasher (1.5 yr) are both Maytag. They look great, perform great, and I think strike a great value. Same with my french door fridge from IKEA, made by Whirlpool, and feature-wise seems to split the difference between similar Maytag and Kitchen Aid models.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

My fridge is a Maytag. I've had it since 2005 and it's been great, coming up on its 20 year anniversary. My downstairs freezer is a Kenmore, also 2005. With Sears being gone, I don't know if I can get support for my Kenmore or not. It's been a great freezer.

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

I have a Maytag stove and it routinely discolors and burns the tips off the cast iron porcelain-coated grate finish. I'm on my second set of grates and they are burning too.

[@mikefoehr235]

My wife and just got a Hisense Fridge/freezer and a frost free L2 freezer. We will see how it goes. Our Amana Distictions refrigerator lasted 24 years. Well made product

[@machovoce6826]

Great vid. Won't find ANYTHING like this on network TV.

[@califdad4]

I bought a basic side by side fridgdare, 5 years ago, been working just fine and the thing I like most it makes lots of ice

[@Fbarts]

I had a "garage" fridge it was an old Frigidaire that was 50 years old and still working when I gave it away.

[@jmfa57]

Some of my friends bought LG refrigerators and they've ALL had terrible problems with them, and have experienced difficulty getting them repaired, just as you say. Thank you for this video!

[@phreak1118]

I was in that boat. Bought an LG new in 2018. Broke in early 2021 (yay pandemic) and it took 62 days for it to get repaired under warranty. This included 3 separate repair visits due to incorrect diagnosis and wrong parts. (It was a bad compressor). I had a baby at the time and let me tell you how much fun it was for my wife to be pumping and not able to store milk in the freezer. And there werent even other fridges/freezers available to buy during that time.

[@bill648]

It’s the linear compressor in LG models that’s the problem. Don’t believe me? Just Google it.

[@hpwray]

WOW! Such a great video about rating refridgerator! Thank you for all your work!! You sound so honest. Love it!

[@Mark-rw3kw]

Over the years companies like GE and Whirlpool had some of their top end refrigerators (and other appliances) made for them by Samsung or LG, so it is not always easy to judge the reliability of entire brand, because they have so many different models, some of which may be made for them by other companies. This is especially true for the high end models. So while GE has been fairly reliable over the years, the top end models (including Profile) have been made by other companies and may not be as reliable, largely because they have more complex technology (including variable speed compressors).

[@mrtodd3620]

I know of no GE refrigerator made by LG, but for a split second GE brand engineered Samsung french door refrigerators, but that is in the past. I know of no Whirlpool brand engineered products right now. Kenmore Elite french door source 795 refrigerators are made by LG, and just remember that Kenmore does not manufacture anything; all their products are brand engineered. There is a real good reason that one should buy a branded item and not a Kenmore, and that is while the brand may come up with warranty extensions and other fixes for certain issues, Kenmore rarely does, the brand won't touch a Kenmore. Example: LG might come up with a warranty extension on their refrigerators, but Kenmore won't do that for a Kenmore made by LG, and LG only repairs LG products.

[@Mark-rw3kw]

@@mrtodd3620 GE appliances got bought by Haier, a Chinese company, in 2016. At one time GE Profile appliances were mostly made by someone else, but not sure who that was (or maybe still is).

[@mrtodd3620]

@@Mark-rw3kw Usually putting a brand on a product from another company is based on not having an assembly line of their own to build such a product. I would say that if GE did that in the past, they probably don't do it anymore.

[@Mark-rw3kw]

@@mrtodd3620 Youi may be correct, but GE Appliances is now owned by the Chinese firm Haier, so what happens in the future is anyone's guess. In terms of appliances, the Korean's (LG and Samsung) have pulled off a miracle similar to the Japanese manufacturing miracle started in the 1960's. Before that Japanese made goods were considered junk, and later the same was true for Korean goods, but no longer is that the case. Samsung in particular is an giant industrial powerhouse, including appliances, electronics, semiconductors, computers, smartphones, food processing, textiles, insurance, securities, ship building, etc.

[@mrtodd3620]

@@Mark-rw3kw Yes, LG and Samsung are manufacturing powerhouses. Too bad that their refrigerators disappoint buyers to so quickly after purchase. Samsung has a very poor repair network in the USA. I don't know if they use any techs besides subcontractors. LG does have their own repair network, and they are pretty good at what they do. But why bother buying a Korean machine when one built in our own country is better? GE machines use proprietary devices (SmartHQ) to assist with diagnosis, and they are available for purchase by independent techs now. Very few techs have them so far. GE machines are also overly complicated, so a tech that doesn't have the device may not be able to repair a product well.

[@erichsbloodaxe]

We bought my mom an $800 GE fridge at Lowe's about a year ago. After 8 month, it stopped working, ruining a few hundred bucks worth of food. Still under manufacturer warranty, so we had to call for GE service, instead of Lowes. It took over an hour to get an appt scheduled, and that appt was 2 weeks out. The day arrives, as does the repair guy. What, need to order parts? Another 2+ weeks til the next appt. Fixed? Welll.... it ran... constantly, and the freezer was freezing and thawing, freezing and thawing, and the fridge part didn't really seem cold, even cranked up. 10 months in, they gave up on it and just bought a new LG that seems to be working fine so far.

[@MollyMiaAndMe]

I just bought a Beko freezer bottom, without an icemaker. Salesman told me to make sure it was plugged into a surge protector. He said power surges are the cause of many board failures in the new fridges. The blue/green/red lighted produce drawer does a great job of keeping everything fresh!

[@77.88.]

Gee a 25 cent fuse located in an easy access would probably take care of this problems, they seem to do a good job with computers. It might surprise you how many of these appliances are made and controlled by China?

[@PeterLawton]

I agree completely. It's the kind of thing I can't see working, so I was a little sceptical. But then I had been noticing things in my office would die too often. Separately, power dropped out often, but only briefly, so I bought several UPS's, with surge protection. After a couple of years, I noticed nothing was dying anymore. It really made a difference.

[@Garth2011]

Seems like the public need to have surge protectors for their entire home, at the main power panel. Electric utility companies have failed the public in the past 25 years as they used to provide clean continuous power. Today, we are subject to all sorts of issues like a third world country has with electricity yet the power cost in the USA is a good ten times more money. A whole house surge protector seems to be the only solution considering everything we purchase these days has a circuit board that was made for "perfect voltage regulation".

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

@@Garth2011agree! The expense of buying a surge protector for every electronic item is crazy when you can just have one installed in your main panel nowadays. 👍🏻

[@Garth2011]

@@SpeakTruthBeKind Exactly, just like the cable/satellite decoder boxes, they only need one, at the gateway of the house, then let the TV do all of the tuning. For those customers who want to use the extra features on those boxes to pay their bill or other non essential needs, they can pay the monthly rents.

[@lindamastropietro4429]

We have had our refrigerator for over 25 years and it’s still running well.very well

[@kunj025]

We have had a SAMSUNG and LG appliances since 2010 and had no issues with them.

[@fideauone3416]

Don't know who made it but after about 20 years with a GE, moved into a bigger house and needed a larger unit. Bought a Kenmore from Sears and it's still going strong over 30 years later. I have replaced the icemaker myself twice. Had to replace the door cams a couple of times, real easy and cheap. It's the side by side and we love it.

[@MuskokaAdventures]

I have a Kenmore side by side fridge 22 yrs old and still going strong 👍

[@markfreedman2470]

Excellent video! As a professional repair technician in Florida, your advice about refrigerator reliability is absolutely spot on. Keep up the good work

[@tompastian3447]

A BIG caution now about GE appliances... Nov. 20, 2023 I called GE Customer Service 800 number to try to get a technician out ASAP to fix my GE side by side, it stopped working. I'm in Miami, which between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, you have about 5 million or so people. It took more than an hour just to get a live person on the phone to try and schedule a service call. The lady said the earliest they could send someone out would be Dec. 5. That's 15 days just to get a service call; DEPLORABLE SERVICE by a major appliance company. One appliance repairman told me that GE uses a subcontractor to do it's repairs, A&E Appliance Repair. I've seen their trucks around town. IF GE is that backlogged with repairs, it should either hire more subcontractors, or stop selling appliances. GE sells washers, dryers, stoves, microwaves, dishwashers and refrigerators. I really have to hesitate about future purchases of GE products if they can't provide service in a reasonable amount of time.

[@dianehaskins8640]

Question.. So Amana (which used to be on the top of the refrigerator food chain) is not crap??

[@tompastian3447]

@@dianehaskins8640 You can't go by brand name anymore. GE once made very reliable washing machines. Now they use a lid switch that is inferior, and subject to failure. With Amana, you need to check the quality of the interior parts of the refrigerator you plan to purchase. That goes for any brand. A warehouse I work at bought a new Samsung frig, scratch and dent special, but new. The ice maker is very noisy and doesn't work. I have 3 customers with Whirlpool top load washers that all have an LED set of lights below the main control knob. Everyone of those I have been called to reset computer control. I have the same Whirlpool but mine came out BEFORE the ones with the LED light bar. I have had no problems with my machine. Even Maytag is suspect now as to the quality of their washing machines. The problem with reviews like Consumer Reports is that they don't necessarily determine what the failure rate is over time of various products. You might want to talk to people who repair various appliances before making a final decision.

[@walkingman9171]

Guess I got lucky with my choice. 20 year old Whirlpool top freezer still working good. Ice maker replaced twice, once under warranty and once on me (only $50 amazon). Thanks for the tips.

[@johnnyViDeO]

Been through 2 compressors on my $3k LG. Fortunately, the company covered the replacements despite it being out of warranty. Fridges used to last 20,30, even 40 years, but now they last 6-8. Manufacturers need turnover and they make their units just a bit more reliable than the average and hope for good reliability ratings from CR and YT.

[@Mark-rw3kw]

Does your fridge have a variable speed compressor? That is the problem. They are very unreliable, even though most energy efficient.

[@timsouttahere]

ive heard that lg has fixed their compressor problems on new models

[@caddothegreat]

I have a GE still going that I bought in 1969. I did just replace the de-frost heater element. I also have an 1980 Kenmore. These are both freezer on top design. I had to replace the light switch a while back.

[@roberttennant572]

@@timsouttahere for me, they covered the compressor but not the labor....the labor was $800+. I'll never own another LG as long as I live.

[@jgesselberty]

What few realize is that when you pay big bucks for a high-tech appliance, the inner workings that actually provide cooling, are all pretty much the same. You are not paying for better mechanics, but more tech.

[@Col-Hogan]

My Amana I purchased 3/1991 with the top freezer is still working perfectly.

[@michaelsuk6440]

I’m a tech. Most technicians won’t touch LG or Samsung, unless it’s manufacturers warranty. They take a risk because the parts are very likely to fail again within a year, especially if using OEM parts. Aftermarket is surprisingly higher quality, but won’t work with all of the electronics that they throw into the mix. That’s why you can’t find AM parts for Korean refrigerators. If we’re talking any other appliances, you’re in luck, big time. AM is far superior to OEM with anything else. Just don’t ask for microwaves. Most techs won’t even touch MW. The high-voltage is too much of a concern. 2500 V+

[@m.e.kitson2188]

So what brand for fridges is best? And what type of fridge?Two door ?one door ?

[@243wayne1]

@@m.e.kitson2188 No door.

[@m.e.kitson2188]

@@243wayne1 they all have doors

[@donaldperrotta8514]

I absolutely hate LG & Samsung ! No thanks !!!

[@Agent-lg1mu]

My family bought a samsung microwave in 2008. It work till 2021, and it was repaired and it is still running. So, are newer ones are trash?

[@orlandorosado2157]

I always bought Whirlpool then tried GE. The GE had control board had to be replaced, then the evaporator had to be replaced, and two years in had to replace the ice maker. Going back to Whirlpool when the time comes for new fridge.

[@snowmamm1410]

I have a Kenmore french door fridge with bottom freezer that is over 10 years old. I am VERY happy with my fridge and would NEVER buy a fridge with ice and water available in the door. I don't want a filter that must be changed often. My ice maker in my freezer works very well for me and I hope I will never have to buy another fridge.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

I have a freezer in my basement that is a Kenmore. I got it in 2005 and it's been great, no problems.

[@tedbender246]

Thanks for this video. Love having actual data based information instead of just personal opinion driving your suggestions.

[@mariad4337]

Big Box stores are the worst places to buy appliances. We always look for smaller appliance stores, last move cross country, did same and were told outright that if we chose a Samsung or LG no repair people would be found! I even called around repair services in my research. Though against my nature I did spring for the extended warranty which has saved us twice, and yes, the ice maker was the culprit twice!!

[@dianehaskins8640]

I agree. Also you get better service if you buy from a store which services what it sells

[@j134679]

yeah. Always ask about where the nearest service center is. Only buy from brands with centers nearby.

[@lvsqcsl]

Other than one of my refrigerators, everything I own are old Maytags and I have only met the Maytag repairman one time and the problem with the appliance turned out to be the operator. GREAT VIDEO!

[@PLATINUM2U]

Your video was extremely helpful. Any advice on a reliable dishwasher?? Thanks 😊

[@BoulevardHome]

We always suggest Bosch when it comes to dishwashers, but there are several other good options as well. Check out some of our other videos on dishwashers!

[@PLATINUM2U]

@@BoulevardHome thank you so kindly! 🙏

[@Fazzel]

I have had a Whirlpool for 35 years. Also use Cascade. Works the best for me.

[@lightsfansofthewest481]

If you can afford one, get a Cove.

[@KawaRider88]

Sharing this type of information, WOW!! This is what we need in todays age, honesty. You should work in sales. Mad respect!

[@BoulevardHome]

Thank you for the kind words! We always aim to give the most accurate information to our viewers.

[@MarbsMusic]

We purchased an LG last year after multiple Whirlpool / Maytag issues and failures on multiple fridges. My best friend has had an LG for over 17 years with no issues, my MIL for 9 years and many others I know are in similar situations. I did a lot of research and spoke to local repair areas and while they hate dealing with LG if there is an issue, they all noted they were very reliable and were thankful they didn't get many calls. Hopefully we don't end up with the issues you guys have seen.

[@meatpopsicle1567]

NOT! Our LG gave up the ghost after less than 4 years. There was no warning. It was working fine one day, and completely dead the next. We called around for a service repairman and were told it could not be done. No one in our area repairs them. No one in our area will touch them! I will never buy another LG fridge again. We replaced it with a Whirlpool.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

My fridge is a Maytag, I've had it since 2005 and it's been great. I guess you never know.