Getting a frigidaire -- Any recommendations?

[Kenny]

My Mom wants one because they're supposedly really quiet...

She wants just a normal refrigerator that opens from one side, just one door for the fridge and one for the freezer.

Anyone have a frigidaire and can give me a recommendation, or are they all alike?

 

[amdskip]

Our Kenmore is very quiet IMHO.

 

[Renob]

just one door for the fridge and one for the freezer.

Its a good thing she does not want one of the 3 or 4 door models.

And their not all alike, tell her to spend at least $900 and you will get the model with the better water filter and energy saver.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Here is what Consumer reports has to say:

Consumer reports: Very good overall and well priced. No pull-out shelves or freezer light.

 

[mpitts]

We have all Frigidare appliances in our house. We have been very happy with them.

My only gripe is that the oven takes a while to preheat.

 

[Ornery]

Refrigerated food for thought:

Amana Easy Reach Plus Refrigerator

Amana Appliances Launches Easy Reach Plus Refrigerator

• "...Research has also shown that the average person uses the fresh food section of their refrigerator up to seven times more often than the freezer, so it only makes sense to put the fresh food section at eye level. No more bending and squinting to find things like that long lost zucchini you bought six months ago.

I'd never seen one of these before, but the first time I did, I knew it was going to be in our home. I liked the idea of freezer on the bottom, but the swing open doors make it a pain to get at them. This slide out drawer takes care of all that. Pricey, yes, but our last refrigerator lasted over 20 years. If this one lasts that long, I want it to be a great one... and it is!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Refrigerated food for thought:

Amana Easy Reach Plus Refrigerator

Amana Appliances Launches Easy Reach Plus Refrigerator

• "...Research has also shown that the average person uses the fresh food section of their refrigerator up to seven times more often than the freezer, so it only makes sense to put the fresh food section at eye level. No more bending and squinting to find things like that long lost zucchini you bought six months ago.

I'd never seen one of these before, but the first time I did, I knew it was going to be in our home. I liked the idea of freezer on the bottom, but the swing open doors make it a pain to get at them. This slide out drawer takes care of all that. Pricey, yes, but our last refrigerator lasted over 20 years. If this one lasts that long, I want it to be a great one... and it is!

Why, you bastion (even I had to groan) of information!

 

[rahvin]

Don't buy Frigidaire, reliablity sucks!

 

[bernse]

Frigidaire is now owned by the Electrolux group. They make many appliances under the Kenmore, Frigidaire, White Westinghouse labels. As with any other manufacturer, they make many appliances well and others not so well. Electrolux makes a fantastic budget front loading washing machine, and "good" other appliances... including their refrigerators.

Maytag, on the other hand makes "Good" washers and driers, but bloody awful kitchen appliances.

Frigidare makes a good fridge, although for a similar price Whirlpool makes a better fridge. Either way, they are good and you won't go "wrong" by purchasing one.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Refrigerated food for thought:

Amana Easy Reach Plus Refrigerator

Amana Appliances Launches Easy Reach Plus Refrigerator

• "...Research has also shown that the average person uses the fresh food section of their refrigerator up to seven times more often than the freezer, so it only makes sense to put the fresh food section at eye level. No more bending and squinting to find things like that long lost zucchini you bought six months ago.

I'd never seen one of these before, but the first time I did, I knew it was going to be in our home. I liked the idea of freezer on the bottom, but the swing open doors make it a pain to get at them. This slide out drawer takes care of all that. Pricey, yes, but our last refrigerator lasted over 20 years. If this one lasts that long, I want it to be a great one... and it is!

YES!!! Bottom-freezer is very convenient and the drawer thingy is even better.

 

[Ornery]

Notice I'm not making a pitch for it being a Hot Deal. The stainless version isn't cheap by a long shot, but it will be around for a LONG time. These things just won't die. Spread over the length of time you'll own it, the cost of an expensive unit is easy to justify for convenience, aesthetics and general quality.

 

[bernse]

Amana used to make a fantastic fridge. However, Maytag bought them out a year or two ago and they have gone downhill something fierce. They are a mere shadow of themselves. In the past I would have heartily recomended an Amana fridge, but now I heartily caution against them as Maytag has taken firm control over them.

Best fridge in North America for the money now is a Whirlpool. That being said, I own a Frigidaire and it has given me nothing but flawless service.

 

[bernse]

Oh, RE: Kenmore

Kenmore labels are both rebadged Whirlpool and Fridgidaire units. It really depends on the model.

 

[Shockwave]

I own a Frigidaire. Nothing but coolness all the time. And come to think of it, I've NEVER heard it. Course, in a house with 3 kids I sometimes feel lucky to hear the damned phone so.....

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

we bought a new Frigdedaire Gallery series (mid-model) side x side model. We both like it a lot. Only negative is that hte water dispenses slowly. BUT its a great fridge so far.

 

[Ornery]

"Amana used to make a fantastic fridge. However, Maytag bought them out a year or two ago and they have gone downhill something fierce."

WTF, are you saying Maytag now MAKES Amana appliances? I'd like to know how bad Maytag is in the first place. All manufacturers build high and low end stuff. I think refridgerators are pretty well perfected at this point!

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: bernse
Oh, RE: Kenmore

Kenmore labels are both rebadged Whirlpool and Fridgidaire units. It really depends on the model.

Thanks for the info.

Our family have been loyal Kenmore brand aware consumers for the past 20 years. Their chest freezer, fridges, ranges and washer/dryer's just will not die. Year after year they're reliable and trouble free.

Is there anyway to find out if a particular model is manufacturered by Fridgidaire or Whirlpool?

Who makes the best and most reliable front loading washer's and dryer's?

 

[Ornery]

These are copy and pastes from the past, Ross, so it may be a bit disjointed:


Best bang for the buck I've come across:

Fisher & Paykel Ecosmart Washer
"America?s Most Energy Efficient Top Loading Washer"

• Matches the performance of its front loading competition at half the price and half the moving parts! (That's my own personal review! )

Fisher & Paykel DE06/DG06 Dryer Ecosmart GWL10 - Autowasher

• Brush-less DC motor
  
  Fisher & Paykel did away with the belt & pulley drive by directly attaching the motor to the shaft of the agitator. Windings are located in the motor stator rather than on the rotor. The rotor turns around the outside of a centrally mounted stator rather than inside it. This configuration allows for the rotor to be attached to the shaft driving the washer's spin and agitator movements or wash profile.
  
  SmartDrive System
  
  We've connected the DC magnetic motor directly to the agitator by a single stainless steel shaft. The SmartDrive System incorporates no belts, pulley's, or transmission, and as these are the first things to wear down and break in a conventional washer, the Ecosmart delivers greater reliability.
  
  However, the benefits of the SmartDrive System go even further. Again, by connecting the agitator directly to the motor and the motor directly to the "brain" or electronics of the machine we are able to deliver the proper wash profile for each load by giving an almost infinite number of agitator actions and water levels.

It's an engineering marvel for only $699.00.


If you really want to see awesome dryer performance, get a washer that wrings the clothes almost dry before they go in the dryer: Maytag's $1,300.00 Neptune, Frigidaire's $ 662.00 Front Loader or the one I bought, Fisher & Paykel's $700.00 Top Loader, "America's most energy efficient washer!" It spins more water out than any other consumer grade washer. Here's the rest of them.

The gas is cheaper to operate, but more expensive initially. You also can't optionally vent into the living space, like you can with electric.



I stumbled on to the Fisher & Paykel by accident. The specs impressed me. Further study put it at the top of my list and the low price didn't hurt! From the moment it was installed and started, my expectations have been surpassed, and that's VERY rare! Wish someone had told me about them when I was shopping for a washer. I shudder to think that I may have spent $500.00 more for comparable performance.

Speaking of the other side of the world. Our washer is from New Zealand! :Q

All the advantages of a front loader, yet it's a top loader. America's most energy efficient washer! Quite a bargain at only $699.00 instead of $1,299.00

 

[RossMAN]

Question about front loading washing machines

They don't have those annoying agitators in the middle so they're more gentle on clothing, right?

They take special kind of soap, is that available at CostCo? I don't wanna give up my Kirkland brand clothes detergent.

 

[Ornery]

They have paddles around the perimeter to "agitate". The best quality consumer models cost well over $1,100.00 and are NOT up to the durability standards of their commercial brethren. The GE is a little cheaper, but the loading door is "annoyingly" small.

 

[richardycc]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Question about front loading washing machines

They don't have those annoying agitators in the middle so they're more gentle on clothing, right?

They take special kind of soap, is that available at CostCo? I don't wanna give up my Kirkland brand clothes detergent.

I use regular liquid detergent on my front loader, you just don't use as much. I'd say the front loader soap is 90% marketing.

rich

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: richardycc

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Question about front loading washing machines

They don't have those annoying agitators in the middle so they're more gentle on clothing, right?

They take special kind of soap, is that available at CostCo? I don't wanna give up my Kirkland brand clothes detergent.

I use regular liquid detergent on my front loader, you just don't use as much. I'd say the front loader soap is 90% marketing.

rich

Everything I've read seems to indicate otherwise, that it really is energy efficient and better for your clothes.

Hopefully by the time we buy new washer/dryer (~4 years) there will be more on the market including reliability/repair history data.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Ornery
"Amana used to make a fantastic fridge. However, Maytag bought them out a year or two ago and they have gone downhill something fierce."

WTF, are you saying Maytag now MAKES Amana appliances? I'd like to know how bad Maytag is in the first place. All manufacturers build high and low end stuff. I think refridgerators are pretty well perfected at this point!

According to my local repair shop Amana Fridges were made by Frigidaire until recently. The sharp decline in quality over recent years and the corresponding drop in consumer confidence in the brand resulted in Amana making their own Fridges again recently with the same quality from days of old. In fact the local repair shop recommended Amana only for Fridges due to the sturdiness of the units in production currently.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: richardycc

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Question about front loading washing machines

They don't have those annoying agitators in the middle so they're more gentle on clothing, right?

They take special kind of soap, is that available at CostCo? I don't wanna give up my Kirkland brand clothes detergent.

I use regular liquid detergent on my front loader, you just don't use as much. I'd say the front loader soap is 90% marketing.

rich

Everything I've read seems to indicate otherwise, that it really is energy efficient and better for your clothes.

Hopefully by the time we buy new washer/dryer (~4 years) there will be more on the market including reliability/repair history data.

Reliability history TODAY!

• On 7/5/03, the washer wouldn't spin water out of the clothes. The door was not locking, preventing the washer from being able to spin. I had to handwash my sopping wet clothing. On Monday, 7/7/03, I called Customer Service. The representative told me that I would have to pay $95 for a Maytag repairman to come out to service the washer. My call was transferred to the Warranty Department. I was informed that parts would not be covered, even though the machine is less than 3 years old. On 7/9/03, my machine was repaired for a cost to me of $368.54. The repairman had to replace the whole latch asssembly and the circuit board.
  
  To need a major repair on such a new and expensive washing machine was unbelievable to me. I went to the internet to check for information on this repair. I was shocked! On numerous web sites, I read about the design flaw in the Neptune model that I own. Water gets in front of the washer drum which shorts out the wax motor in the door latch assembly and then shorts out R-11 on the circuit board. Thousands of people have reported the same problem as me. Worse, it appears the repair lasts only a month to three years.

Front loaders may be very slightly more efficient than certain top loaders, but their claim is to clean clothes better, not be easier on clothes. They actually give clothes a pretty thorough workout. The Whirlpool Calypso is efficient and VERY easy on cloths, but it's a top loader, expensive and complex.

rahvin, honestly, what can go wrong with a refrigerator these days? I know the bells and whistles units can be problematic, but a simple fridge from any manufacturer will likely work fine for the next twenty years.

 

[rahvin]

Ornery,

According to the service guy the Frigidaire compressers were breaking after a few years, considering the compressor is the meat of the fridge and parts alone can run in the hundereds I would say that's a pretty big deal. *shrug*