Best ice making with dispenser refrigerator for under $1600 usd? Samsung slow ice making

[markm75]

Our old fridge of nearly 30 years with a built (inside) ice maker finally died. It always made a ton of ice in one day. It was roughly 21cu ft of total space, so we wanted something a bit bigger because space was limited for a family of 5.

We decided to get this fridge from Lowes: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Samsung-27...gerprint-Resistant-Stainless-Steel/1002238294 Samsung 27.4

It has fantastic space, but in realizing things now, with samsung issues and the ice maker issue, i think maybe a bad idea.

The ice maker barely made any ice on the first day, maybe 20 cubes i swear.

Overnight however, the bin does look half full. But considering how small the bin is, thats not much ice. We go through probably a "bin full" of ice per day i'd say, especially in the summer.

I think spec wise, its supposed to make 8 cubes (tiny) every 90 min, maybe 120 cubes per day max.

Is there any other brand/model that produces ice quicker or has a larger bin?

I was considering this 25.3 cu ft GE assuming it did better
https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-25-3-cu...tor-with-Ice-Maker-Stainless-Steel/1000225785But its price is technically a bit higher.

Or this insignia from Best buy at 26+ cu ft, but lacks features like rollers/adjustable shelving etc:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insign...de-refrigerator-white/6385807.p?skuId=6385807
To top it off the fridge we just bought has a dent below the dispenser, so far management said they give us 200 back (frankly i'd rather it be 200 and the door replaced best case, if we even keep it, they also crimped my copper line going to the fridge but i replaced it with a new line).

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks in advance

 

[herm0016]

cheaper fridge and separate ice maker. and never a samsung... have you not seen the threads about them here?

personally, i but used sub zeros and get them fixed if they need it. i end up with a subzero that runs great, will last a long long time for less than your new samsung.

the only reason i have bought multiple is because we have moved several times.

 

[markm75]

cheaper fridge and separate ice maker. and never a samsung... have you not seen the threads about them here?

personally, i but used sub zeros and get them fixed if they need it. i end up with a subzero that runs great, will last a long long time for less than your new samsung.

the only reason i have bought multiple is because we have moved several times.

Well, i had thought id seen bad reports in the past, but hadnt really dove in till now, we were in a hurry old fridge died, needed something quick and size for dollar at 1300 this was the one.

I see there are cheaper ice maker units out there too. Alternatively can add an extra bucket of ice in there to have more.

Downside of switching to that GE would be that its a pia to swap and lose space and costs more technically. So stay the course and get 3 year warranty ext. on samsung and add a bowl for extra ice or swap and get the $150 more GE and lose 2 cu ft. Sounds like the samsung might not make it past 3 years though.

 

[Micrornd]

When we remodeled the kitchen, we went with an all-refrigerator refrigerator and matching upright freezer along with a standalone undercounter icemaker.
Best decision we ever made 😉

 

[bbhaag]

When we remodeled the kitchen, we went with an all-refrigerator refrigerator and matching upright freezer along with a standalone undercounter icemaker.
Best decision we ever made 😉

Man that's pretty intense. What does something like that set you back? I can't imagine it's cheap going all in on an individual refrigerator then a sperate freezer and separate ice maker. On a side note how big is your kitchen space? I'd imagine it has to be pretty spacious to accommodate all those appliances individually.

 

[Micrornd]

It was the wife's "dream" kitchen and it's only 14x18 with a 3x4 island.
Truth is, the icemaker cost more than the frig or freezer.
We already had Whirlpool Sidekicks (frig and freezer 17.7 cu' each) that we purchased in 2005 ($1000 each then).
The Whirlpool icemaker set us back $1500 in 2014 when we gutted the kitchen and built her "dream".
So $3500 for frig, freezer, and icemaker.
The frig and freezer together need 66 3/4" width and the icemaker 15" width.
The Sidekicks have been super dependable, no electronics, just a "dial" type thermostat.
I did have to replace an evaporator fan motor on the frig last year ($35) because it became magnetized and started making noise (but still worked fine), but that's the only expense to the sidekicks in 15 years of ownership.
The icemaker holds 25# of ice and it will make almost twice that in a day and it has it's own water filter.
I know there are many other varieties of frig, freezers and icemakers, and we looked at all the high dollar stuff too, we just didn't see the advantage in it for the two of us.
And since they have been trouble and maintenance-free (with the exception of that evap fan motor that took a whole 15mins. to change out, and changing the icemaker water filter when needed),
We think we made the right choice for us 🙂

 

[herm0016]

It was the wife's "dream" kitchen and it's only 14x18 with a 3x4 island.
Truth is, the icemaker cost more than the frig or freezer.
We already had Whirlpool Sidekicks (frig and freezer 17.7 cu' each) that we purchased in 2005 ($1000 each then).
The Whirlpool icemaker set us back $1500 in 2014 when we gutted the kitchen and built her "dream".
So $3500 for frig, freezer, and icemaker.
The frig and freezer together need 66 3/4" width and the icemaker 15" width.
The Sidekicks have been super dependable, no electronics, just a "dial" type thermostat.
I did have to replace an evaporator fan motor on the frig last year ($35) because it became magnetized and started making noise (but still worked fine), but that's the only expense to the sidekicks in 15 years of ownership.
The icemaker holds 25# of ice and it will make almost twice that in a day and it has it's own water filter.
I know there are many other varieties of frig, freezers and icemakers, and we looked at all the high dollar stuff too, we just didn't see the advantage in it for the two of us.
And since they have been trouble and maintenance-free (with the exception of that evap fan motor that took a whole 15mins. to change out, and changing the icemaker water filter when needed),
We think we made the right choice for us 🙂

and spent less on that stuff total, over 15 years, than junky equipment that does not last.

 

[deadlyapp]

Standalone fridges and freezers are actually quite reasonably priced. It's just hard to find the space in most kitchens to fit it unless you have designed the kitchen from the ground up.

My next house I'll make sure is set up like this.

 

[bbhaag]

It was the wife's "dream" kitchen and it's only 14x18 with a 3x4 island.
Truth is, the icemaker cost more than the frig or freezer.
We already had Whirlpool Sidekicks (frig and freezer 17.7 cu' each) that we purchased in 2005 ($1000 each then).
The Whirlpool icemaker set us back $1500 in 2014 when we gutted the kitchen and built her "dream".
So $3500 for frig, freezer, and icemaker.
The frig and freezer together need 66 3/4" width and the icemaker 15" width.
The Sidekicks have been super dependable, no electronics, just a "dial" type thermostat.
I did have to replace an evaporator fan motor on the frig last year ($35) because it became magnetized and started making noise (but still worked fine), but that's the only expense to the sidekicks in 15 years of ownership.
The icemaker holds 25# of ice and it will make almost twice that in a day and it has it's own water filter.
I know there are many other varieties of frig, freezers and icemakers, and we looked at all the high dollar stuff too, we just didn't see the advantage in it for the two of us.
And since they have been trouble and maintenance-free (with the exception of that evap fan motor that took a whole 15mins. to change out, and changing the icemaker water filter when needed),
We think we made the right choice for us 🙂

Wow ok so it was a pretty solid investment but I guess if you're building your dream kitchen then that makes sense. Spending $3500 for just three appliances is a drop in the bucket when one takes into account the costs associated with building a dream kitchen. IDK if it makes sense for everyone especially considering the additional costs and space required but I can see why some people would do it.

 

[Micrornd]

Wow ok so it was a pretty solid investment but I guess if you're building your dream kitchen then that makes sense. Spending $3500 for just three appliances is a drop in the bucket when one takes into account the costs associated with building a dream kitchen. IDK if it makes sense for everyone especially considering the additional costs and space required but I can see why some people would do it.

At that time the largest "reasonably" priced frig was 28cu' (an 18/10 split). We felt for our lifestyle (approaching retirement), we were better served with a larger freezer, but also wanted it to actually look like it belonged in the kitchen, hence the choice of the Sidekick models, that, and their mechanical simplicity. Plus we absolutely hated the conventional icemakers in the std. frig/freezer combos. They just don't make adequate ice for Cent. FL, summer OR winter, much less is you have company over. I guarantee you (at least in the south) once you have an undercounter icemaker, you'll wonder how you got by without it before. 🙂