All the ones I am looking at have like 4.5 star ratings, but there are still a lot of people reporting problems, with every one I look at. One gets great reviews, but then multiple people report that it has rust problems, or a problem with the freezer frosting up. Another one will have a couple of other equally troubling problems. I am about ready to give up.

I have a 12 year old Whirlpool Gold freezer on top model now, but I like the idea of the French doors and freezer on the bottom, plus at 12 years old, I think it would be OK to replace this one now rather than waiting for it to die.

I do not really want the water and ice through the door, don't need a super big fridge, and would like to spend less than $1,500. I have found a couple that are on sale for $998 or so, but they are the ones that get the reviews I am talking about above. Costco has one on sale for $1,300 or so, but it has the water/ice through the door, and I have heard these features can be prone to failure.

Anyone have a French door without ice/water that they really like?

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Had a bigger Samsung floor model with ice/water in the door and loved it. Bought a smaller LG without ice/water because it fit a particular space and it cooled unevenly (had a thermometer to confirm) and was just *loud*. So, based on two fridges, I'd say get the Samsung with the options you want.

I bet I saw the one you're talking about -- $998 Whirlpool at Home Depot with 4.5 star rating, but a few 1-star rants at the top.

I can tell you that Whirlpool is generally a good brand with good service. I could name other brands that I know for a fact have consistently bad and slow service.

Like hard drives, everybody has their favorites, and the people who do have problems will shout much more loudly than the happy trouble-free people.

Couple things - The Black Friday sales at Home Depot feature some genuinely great deals on appliances. Best prices of the year at HD, other than the equally good mid-year 4th of July sales.

That said, $998 is a low price for a French Door fridge, no matter what kind of sales are going on. Some corners have, no doubt, been cut.

I think that Whirlpool will be as good as anything you'll find at that price, but you might get better overall value if you could spend a little more.

Is it stainless steele? Tough to keep clean. OUrs is.

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Microman
Is it stainless steele? Tough to keep clean. OUrs is.

Yeah, my current fridge is SS and it is a pain to keep clean, but it does look good, when clean.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Which is why there are two kinds of SS refrigerators.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

I kind of closed my eyes and threw a dart at the top of the Consumer Reports frequency repair list and got a bottom freezer french door Kenmore. The main thing that bugs me is you can't open drawers on the left side because there is a door flap in the way. You have to open both sides to open left side drawers.

Edit: mine is a bit of a pain to clean. I kind of wish I could "season" it all over with fingerprints so that it didn't look so obvious.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2015 08:33PM by Filliam H. Muffman.

I've had my LG for a few years and I do like it far better than the old side by side and freezer up top models. When I've had frosting happen in the freezer area it usually meant I didn't have a good balance between food in the upper drawer and the larger lower bin. Once evened out the frosting stopped. Or I didn't have enough in the freezer. I haven't seen any evidence of rust.

Mine does have water and ice through the door. No failures. If it's a feature you won't use much then I wouldn't worry about failure. Get the model that otherwise meets your needs. Since most want ice and water you're likely to end up with the added feature. But you don't have to use it.

We have a Kenmore with the dispenser in the door. We love it although the water part doesn't dispense cold water like we expected. But always having ice is great.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

I have had a Samsung for about 5 years and have no real complaints. The ice is a bit loud, but frankly - who cares. It was a Black Friday deal from Sears for around $1500

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I recently bought a Samsung French Door refrigerator and we are very happy with it. It was a big and welcome upgrade when our 20yo fridge broke. 4.5 stars sounds about right.

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Buck
I recently bought a Samsung French Door refrigerator and we are very happy with it. It was a big and welcome upgrade when our 20yo fridge broke. 4.5 stars sounds about right.

[forums.macresource.com]

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Buck

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Buck
I recently bought a Samsung French Door refrigerator and we are very happy with it. It was a big and welcome upgrade when our 20yo fridge broke. 4.5 stars sounds about right.

[forums.macresource.com]

That is one of the ones I have been looking at.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Love ours . LG cabinet depth, meaning a tad shallower as we need the extra floor space. Both kids are out of the house and it's plenty big enough. Super quiet, it's 8 or so years old, around the 3 yr mark, we had the compressor replaced under warrantee. Otherwise, quiet, energy efficient, no other issues.
I would buy again if we were to do it over.

Dave

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Welcome to Dave's BBQ!

Many have eaten here....

Few have died

"I can tell you that Whirlpool is generally a good brand with good service. I could name other brands that I know for a fact have consistently bad and slow service." - bik

Would you mind naming them?

Any particular reason French door is more better for you than side by side?

This is the only side by side that does NOT have in-door ice and water. Made by whirlpool, rebadged as Kenmore, $769 currently, quite a deal IMHO. If you look at lowes and home depot you'll find the same thing branded whirlpool for $200 more. [www.sears.com]

We have a Samsung French door fridge 5 years and still running. With both water and Ice in door.

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thermarest
Any particular reason French door is more better for you than side by side?

I have only used it once so far, but you can put huge platters in it, and it doesn't need a lot of space in front to open the doors all the way like an over/under.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

Samsung here, too. Love it.
Ours has ice/water through the door. Didn't think we needed that feature either, but we do use it a lot now.

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Central VA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/2015 05:46AM by CJsNvrUrly.

Look at Sears Outlet also. We just got a $3400 top of the line LG for $1700. It does have some scratches and dents, but they are on the sides. You can't see them with it pushed in and surrounded by walls and counter. I got the SquareTrade appliance warranty for more piece of mine as well. Much cheaper than the Sears extended warranty.

[www.searsoutlet.com]

Thanks all.
I will look at the Sears outlet. I have not looked there.
As far as a side by side, I just don't like that layout. I like the idea of the big open area that will take a platter or large plate. I also like the idea of not having to stoop down to get stuff from lower shelves, since we are in the fridge much more than the freezer.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

We've had an earlier version of this model Samsung for three years and have been quite happy with it. The freezer is quite large and has a sliding tray for often used items. The shelves are adjustable. We decided not to get ice/water in door because it takes up room inside the fridge. Water is dispensed from a side wall and it generates a lot of ice in the freezer.
It's now on sale from Samsung for almost half price.
We bought ours from Sears three years ago and got a 5-year service contract. Never had a problem with it and just did annual PMs.

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richorlin

Didn't think we needed that feature either, but we do use it a lot now.

Little known fact-

Samsung stole this idea from a very young Steve Jobs when, as a child, he envision french doors on a refrigerator/freezer he was going to call the iBox.

Dad wouldn't let him patent it, saying it would never catch on.

"But if one day you ignore me, Steven, make sure the inside looks as good as the outside."

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.....does it FRENCH kiss....or does it do it the american style......wet and drooly......???

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Side by side are very cramped. My wife had one before we met. It is our backup fridge in the garage. I see it more like a locker fridge. Very small compartments. The only plus on that fridge is the huge ice dispenser.

I love the slide out freezer of my Samsung French door fridge.