sawman
Premium
join:2002-04-25
BC KS
 ·Mediacom
1 edit | reply to sjprep06
Re: Refrigerator recommendations?
Seriously look at the EnergyGuide. I just did a little comparison and there was a 14.8 cu ft for $450 and it used 479kWh/year while a 18.9 cu ft for $799 used only 393kWh/year. Differences like this are present in identically sized units too. The more efficient cost a little more but you'll make that up in savings quickly.
edit: The blue EnergyStar emblem shows it's better than most in it's class. |
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Alakar
Facts do not cease to exist when ignored
join:2001-03-23
Milwaukee, WI
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to sjprep06
I've had good luck with Amana, Whirlpool and Roper. I would also suggest looking beyond the big box stores. All of my stuff has been bought from local or regional stores. What I've found is while the list price maybe cheaper at Home Depot or Sears, the smaller places usually have free delivery, hook up and haul away of the old appliance. Their delivery/hook up guys are usually better as well.
I found a bunch of places in Philly that fit this bill and alot seem to also sell scratch and dent.
»maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=···lts&cd=1
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX
1 edit | reply to sawman
Let say you pay $.133/kWh. 90kwh/year difference equals about $12/year so I wouldn't get to hung up on that number.
Don't get me wrong, I thinks important to save as much energy as possible but sometimes the payback is negligable or non existant. |
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tahoejeff
join:2001-07-01
Wisconsin Dells, WI
clubs:
| reply to sjprep06
one consideration since you are replacing such an old unit:
refrigerators have been growing in height. make sure you know the maximum height that will fit in your space before you shop.
i've been looking for a larger refrigerator, but mine has a short kitchen cabinet over it, and this severely limits the selection i can look at.
i'm considering chopping a couple inches off the bottom of the cabinet.
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koam
Pink Pecker
Premium
join:2000-08-16
East Puddle
clubs:
 ·Shoreham Telephone
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| reply to sjprep06
Of course, if you want to save, check craigslist or local yard sales this weekend.
Then check the stores for floor models and returns and ask the salespeople when those are going on sale.
I got a really nice Samsung that was sold only at Best Buy about 2 years ago, but it was about $1,100. I might have gotten it on a sale price for a little less.
I would recommend freezer on the bottom. Side-by-sides are too narrow in each compartment. Having most of the fridge at eye-level instead of having to bend down is much more convenient.
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to sjprep06
First off, scratch & dent is the way to go.
I bought my current fridge (another Kenmore) at the Sears outlet off I-95 in Newark, De. The exit for SR 273. If you have access to a pickup truck, and you live south of Billy Penn's hat, I guarantee it's worth the trip.
The fridge I got is a nice stainless steel model with the filtered ice & water, electronic control, etc etc. I paid $1000 less for it because of a few scratches. It has held up well, and I am happy with it. I also have a Whirlpool in my basement that I've converted into a "Keg-orator" with brewmeister parts. My parents bought it in 1982 and it can still freeze water in cold box, let alone the freezer.
Also consider if you drive to the outlet in DE, you will pay NO SALES TAX. On a $1000 fridge, that's a cool $60. No pun intended.
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russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA
| reply to sjprep06
IMO, GE and water don't mix. So if you're considering a fridge with icemaker or water dispenser, stay away from GE.
I had the kitchen cabinet problem as well; top-freezers and side-by-sides would fit but bottom-freezers would not. Fortunately I found one shorter than average LG (no, not the one with the TV!); they probably don't make it any more but they may make a similar model. |
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james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| reply to treetop1000
said by treetop1000  :I do not like Sears. Six months back, [...] a refrigerator that has internet access??? What the hell? So you dont like Sears because they offer a feature that you don't want? Yeah, it's a really stupid feature, but I think it's just as stupid as a TV on a fridge. It doesn't make me dislike the company though.
said by treetop1000 :Someone tell me the reason for this. It's probably pretty useless for now, but I could see it being used to alert you if the fridge stopped working, or keep track of groceries for you and order them automatically someday. You gotta start somewhere. |
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sawman
Premium
join:2002-04-25
BC KS | reply to mityfowl
I'm not counting on my cost of electricity staying the same in perpetuity. If one frig costs a hundred more but is that much more efficient the difference is paid in eight years or less and after that the savings are gravy. |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX
1 edit | My example was for a price difference of about $300 and it wasn't apples to apples.
Now you also have to take into account the life span of a product. In this case 8-14 years. I think 8 years to get even for a $100 is meaningless in this example. »repair2000.com/lifespan.html Ya, I usually get a longer life out of my products too but this is what people think.
Basically I'm just saying it takes a long time to make up a big price difference just for some energy efficiency.
Edit. Here's a little different take on appliance life span that I put more stock in: »www.theinspector-home.com/life.html |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| reply to sjprep06
When everything else is equal, I always liked having Kenmore appliances because they include a blow-up parts listing of every single component part, and they are generally available (though not necessarily cheep) at the Sears parts outlets. this lets you do the minor stuff (broken handle, cracked shelf, etc) without having to engage a repair man. |
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cyclone_z
join:2006-06-19
Ames, IA
·Qwest.net
| reply to sjprep06
I have a whirlpool in my apartment and it is a real piece of sh*t. It makes all kinds of clanking and banging noises. It also causes electrical interference that, when I'm listening to music on headphones, makes me immediately take them off. zzzzzzzzzt.
Whirlpool sucks. |
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sawman
Premium
join:2002-04-25
BC KS
·Mediacom
| reply to mityfowl
My comparison was to show the range in efficiency, I should have spent more time looking for two apples to compare.
The OP's original unit lasted 40 years. The frig in our kitchen was made in Sept 1990. I just extended the life of an old range with a $30 heating element. Interesting that $100 is meaningless to you. CFL light bulbs and driving slower probably aren't worth the savings to you and the environment either, eh? |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX | Actually I was going to say that 2 $3.00 CFL's would save you over a $100 during their lifespan.
Now that's an investment. |
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sawman
Premium
join:2002-04-25
BC KS | Good point. |
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8744675
join:2000-10-10
Decatur, GA
| reply to sjprep06
There are only about 3 manufacturers who make all the name brand appliances. The same goes for hot water heaters.
Whirlpool and Roper are the same, just sold under different names. Kenmore brands are made by other major manufacturers. As stated, currently Whirlpool.
Magic Chef, Jenn-Air & Hotpoint are also made by the same manufacturer, just different names.
When you buy replacement parts, that's why 1 part fits many different brands and models. |
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sjprep06
join:2008-04-01
Philadelphia, PA
| reply to sjprep06
Alright, so we did a little in-store research at Home Depot and Best Buy and we found 2 possibles. One was a Hotpoint w/ 18.2 cu in of space (HUGE for our needs) for 450 and another was for a Frigidaire w/17.2 cu in of space for I think about the same price at BB. I didn't see any Whirlpools at HD and the ones at BB were top-of-the-line models.
As for space, that is not a concern as I have 10+ feet of ceiling where the new fridge is going.
We haven't bought anything yet and probably won't for at least another week or two so I'll keep looking but if it came down to it, is either of those brands that I listed better than the other? |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·Speakeasy
| I don't know about brands specifically. I know when researching ours, Whirlpool had a lot of recent negative comments on their products. On the other hand, so did Maytag, and that's what we ended up with!
BUT don't only consider your ceiling height but if you have any width restrictions too...including space to open the door beyond 90 degrees if needed/possible.
KM |
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sjprep06
join:2008-04-01
Philadelphia, PA
| said by KoolMoe :I don't know about brands specifically. I know when researching ours, Whirlpool had a lot of recent negative comments on their products. On the other hand, so did Maytag, and that's what we ended up with! BUT don't only consider your ceiling height but if you have any width restrictions too...including space to open the door beyond 90 degrees if needed/possible. KM Width isn't a problem either. I have about a foot to play with and our current fridge is 28in wide. The two fridges that I saw were about the same width give or take a couple inches |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX
2 edits | reply to sjprep06
I'll take the Hotpoint for 1 reason.
Maybe 15 years a ago GE (which is Hotpoint then and now)made an incredible run of something like 2 million refrigerators with bad compressors that didn't fail right away.
For over 5 years they tracked down every owner and replaced the compressor. I'm not saying that they would do it now, but they did.
Any other company would have bankrupt them. Needless to say many guilty and innocent people were fired for that snafu.
I don't know who owns Frigidaire now. I think it's that Norwegian group (Electrolux?). Since the early '70's Frigidaire has been owned by more people than Madonna.
Hotpoint is the stripped down GE (cosmetically)and that sounds like what you're looking for. GE will be sold in the next year or so to someone because they want out of the appliance business. The appliance group no longer fits GE's business model. Still the #1 appliance seller in US but Whirlpool is neck and neck now. |
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