Manufacturers come out with new refrigerators every year and the most reliable company 5 years ago might be just average today. Also, every company will have good models and bad models so instead of focusing on which manufacturer to buy from, it's better to look at specific refrigerator models instead. Here is a list of the best selling refrigerators with good reviews.Of course, best selling doesn't always mean best quality or most reliable. It usually means best reasonable price but what's important are the reviews. You'll see some random manufacturers but see what others have to say about the specific models.When buying a fridge, there are several types to choose from:Top Freezer - Least expensive and has the most storage relative to their size.Bottom Freezer - Freezer is on the bottom and fridge usually has 2 doors.French Door (style) - Also a bottom freezer but usually has 3-4 doors.pact - Small and made for saving space. Usually inexpensive but doesn't have much storage space.A big factor that determines the quality of a refrigerator is how consistent it keeps the temperature.
Another thing to consider is how much energy it takes. The more it takes, the more your electricity bill will be. Now even if you have a good refrigerator, you need to take care of it so it will last longer. Michael already mentioned keeping the condenser coils clean but it's worth repeating.Of the manufacturers out there, Whirlpool and Frigidaire are you best options but again, like most companies, they also have poorly made models. So choose based on the reviews and ratings of specific refrigerator models instead.If you want a cool looking fridge and can drop several grand, maybe get a Sub-Zero fridge.What an excellent question! I am a professional in-home appliance repair technician, and I can tell you most assuredly... it depends. Rule number one: you can't get a more reliable machine by paying more for it. In fact, it's usually the opposite. Computers add hundreds of components to a machine. If one of those components fail, it's new computer time. If you can find one, get a fridge without a computer.
Rule number two: keep the condenser coils clean. These are the black condenser coils under or behind the fridge. This is how your fridge rejects heat. Low airflow causes the compressor to work 2-4 times harder than it was designed, leading to premature compressor failure. Keep the coils clean and you will have fewer fridge problems. Some designs (of several different brands) actually make it very difficult or impossible to clean the condenser coils. Ask your salesman if you can see them before purchasing a machine. You can then determine how difficult it will be to perform this routine maintenance. While you're back there, look for this fan, they last decades:http://www.appliance-parts-liqui...You should know something about the appliance industry: Planned obsolescence. The manufacturers intend for their machines to be replaced every ten years. Imagine a bell curve with the peak at ten years. Some machines will fail sooner, some later. Engineers attempt to keep the peak of that curve as tall as possible and as tight as possible.
Whirlpool is better than the rest at this. Amana used to make a fridge with the coils going up the back of the machine. The omission of a condenser fan (not needed due to natural circulation) means it can't break down, and the coils in that position will probably never get clogged. This machine was built without a computer, just simple mechanical cold controls and defrost timer. You know -- the way all fridges were built 20 years ago. The last one I saw in the wild was manufactured in 2013. If you can still find one, that's the one you want. Keep in mind, you have a "choice" of about five manufacturers, with varying levels of quality from "Poor," to "Awful." Here's my preference, listed in order.Whirlpool (Whirlpool owns Maytag, Amana, Kitchen Aid, Roper, and some Kenmore's are built by Whirlpool.) Frigidaire (Frigidaire owns, or rather is owned by Electrolux, and builds some Kenmore's.)Bosch (Best known for their dishwashers, but has moved into refrigerators and stoves. Used to be excellent quality, but has fallen far.)
GE (Also known as Hotpoint. GE employees are given deep discounts for purchasing GE machines, and many still refuse to buy them!) LG (If they make cell phones, you probably don't want their appliances. Some Kenmore's are built by LG.)Haier, Danby, and all the others you never heard of: Disposable. I wouldn't put one of those in my home if you gave it to me.If money is no object, get a Sub-Zero and keep the coils clean. You'll be very happy. But don't expect it to last longer. Sub-Zeroes have a habit of losing their gas. So plan on a $500 repair every ten years. Ten years ago I could have told you Whirlpool or Maytag has the most reliable machines. But their most recent machines have has some issues. Leaking water on the floor, for example. And failing to defrost. And the relay for the compressor (on the circuit board) that get stuck in the "on" position. These are normal repair issues to come across, but the first repair incident is happening on younger and younger machines. Worst of all, they run the hot pressurized gas line through the condensate drain.
While this might incrementally increase the efficiency of the machine, it also wears it out sooner. The water in the condensate drain pan corrodes the copper of the tubing, causing an irreparable leak in about.... 10 years and 52 seconds. But all brands have issues. GE's like to quit defrosting. Frigidaire's computers go bonkers. LG's have fan problems, and Samsung blows out circuit boards like they're Kleenex. There isn't a "best" brand. Like I said before, "It depends."You should consider a few things:1. Refrigerators with ice makers tend to have more repair problems that refrigerators without an ice maker.2. Refrigerators with the freezer at the bottom are more likely to need repair than top freezer refrigerators.3. Bottom freezer refrigerators of all brands with an ice dispenser are more likely to have problems than bottom freezer refrigerators that do not have an ice dispenser.4. Side-by-Side refrigerators are the most popular models but also the most likely to have repair problems.5.
Kenmore refrigerators are produced by many manufacturers such as Whirlpool, GE, LG, Frigidaire & Others. Depending on who manufactures the Kenmore refrigerator you purchase will have a great deal to do with how likely your new refrigerator will need repair.6. Most new Maytag and Amana Refrigerators are built by Whirlpool but may have a few minor cosmetic differences such as shelving quality and orientation.My favorite one is Wine Captain 1000 Series 24" U Line 1175WC)My Samsung RS265TDRS has been a HUGE disappointment. No comparison to the Kenmore it replaced that would not die and I finally gave away because it was old and ugly. The Samsung suffers from chronic ice buildup in the ducts on the fridge side, if you search Google or YouTube for Samsung refrigerator problems you'll see it's a common issue. The ice buildup can only be solved by defrosting (not very practical). It often causes the condenser fan to fail due to ice blockage. And by the way, you have no front panel indication that the problem is happening because the temperature sensor is located in the ice- encrusted duct and constantly reads 34 degrees on the front panel..