Fortunately, most refrigerators are designed to last a long time. In a survey we conducted with nearly 2000 respondents, we found that more than 20% owned their refrigerators for more than 10 years, and that Whirlpool, GE and Kenmore led the group for the most trusted refrigerator brands. GE, Bosch, Whirlpool and KitchenAid are the most trusted refrigerator brands with the best reputation and the most affordable parts and service. LG, Samsung and Frigidaire are popular brands, but they are less reliable and it's more they are likely to need repairs.
Samsung is one of the best-known brands when it comes to household products. Samsung is at the forefront of consumer technology, such as smartphones and televisions, but its refrigerators are often unreliable and the parts needed for repair are often not available. Samsung customers who have purchased refrigerators have expressed that they enjoy the spacious design and additional features, such as the sound of a doorbell when the door is not closed. And although it's a trick, the smart screen on some units is pretty good.
However, service professionals often mention Samsung as the brand to avoid due to frequent service needs and a lack of available parts. The most common problems with Samsung refrigerators are temperature control problems and faulty or leaking parts. Models with French doors or icemakers also tend to have more problems, and Samsung customer service isn't always ready to help or make amends. Samsung offers high-tech appliances with a lot of details, but be prepared to pay for repairs and, possibly, wait for available parts to arrive.
LG is another incredibly popular, mass-market consumer goods brand that offers a wide range of home appliances. The sleek design and high-tech features of LG refrigerators are often a sales pitch for users, but in the long run they entail costly repairs. The brand's problems with reliable products and poor customer service place it among the most recommended brands. LG has struggled to improve in these areas after having legal problems over a faulty linear compressor, but service professionals agree to avoid buying LG refrigerators for the time being. LG refrigerators have higher failure rates and the availability of parts is often an issue.
LG has made progress in solving problems and has reduced the annual number of repairs to its refrigerators. The most popular features that consumers enjoy from LG products are their quiet when using them and their sleek, modern aesthetics. Most complaints focus on customer service, the amount of time the refrigerator lasts, and faulty doors. As mentioned, LG is trying to address concerns, so the brand may return, but it's best to avoid that for now. You would think that the brand that created the first electric refrigerator would be way ahead of all the other brands in the game.
This is not the case with Frigidaire because the brand still has some problems to solve with its products. While Frigidaire refrigerators tend to look great and have optimal storage space, these refrigerators can be noisy when in operation and require service more frequently than other brands. Some of the most common problems that require a solution are the icemaker, water leaks, temperature control, and faulty technical functions. Popular features enjoyed by many consumers are fingerprint-free finishes and product affordability.
Some Frigidaire refrigerators may be worth buying if you're cautious during the buying process. Most service professionals will recommend avoiding icemakers and additional accessories, as they may need to be repaired in the future. Staying simple is probably the best advice when buying this brand. This brand is fairly new to the American market, but it has thrived overseas since the 1950s. Beko is known for combining sustainability and unique designs in its refrigerators.
The company's products are often energy efficient and range from medium to high prices. There are fewer models to choose from than other competitors. However, many brands struggle to achieve a balance between being environmentally friendly and including high-tech features, while Beko is making headway in the large appliance industry with its award-winning designs. Beko has received three ENERGY STAR awards as EPA Partner of the Year for its dedication to energy conservation and to offering quality products.
The downside of Beko is that the brand continues to grow in the U.S. UU. Market, meaning there are fewer options to choose from that suit your cuisine in that region. This means you'll also pay a little more if you need a larger refrigerator for your home.
With that said, this is a brand to consider as it grows and adds more options. KitchenAid refrigerators are favorites for their reliability and sleek designs. The brand has a minimalist yet elegant design, and refrigerators receive industry praise for their durability. However, not everything is perfect with KitchenAid refrigerators, and most of their problems center on the cooling system.
Customers have reported that the rubber coating surrounding the door has worn out, causing a lot of cold air to escape through the door. Users have also reported problems with the icemaker and with the uncomfortably placed water filling units. Despite being a KitchenAid product, there is also a surprising amount of plastic in the units. The stainless steel found in the devices also has some oxidation problems.
However, many of these problems are highly dependent on the device you get. KitchenAid offers products in a wide variety of price points, so the brand is a solid choice regardless of your budget. Maytag is one of the most popular refrigerator brands. What's most appealing about Maytag are the various styles the company manufactures, including units with French doors, side-by-side options, and top-freezer refrigerators.
Maytag is an excellent refrigerator brand because of how repairable the products are. Much of the smart technology found in other brands is prone to failure and is impossible or very expensive. to repair. It can replace just about anything in a Maytag unit. The downside is that many consumers report frequent problems, such as turning off heaters and fans.
Some customers have also said that refrigerators can be too loud. However, for something that's going to last a long time and that can be easily repaired when it fails, Maytag is one of the best brands you can find. GE is valued for the reliability of its products; there are few consistent complaints about certain elements, such as some of the other brands mentioned. When it comes to repairs, finding the necessary parts is a breeze, as GE has operations in 46 states and other countries around the world.
Yale Appliance tracks service rates (service calls divided by units sold) for each brand that sells and publishes that data in an annual reliability report. Most new refrigerators only last 8 to 10 years, so it's not worth spending a lot of money on new ones. Whirlpool has a positive reputation among repair contractors because of how simple and repairable its refrigerators are. Whirlpool refrigerators are not flashy, but since they keep the functions minimal, they also have fewer problems. They went on to say: “Electrolux, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG, Blomberg and Beko are the least reliable refrigerator brands.
As you can see, almost all home appliance repair experts said that LG and Samsung are the least reliable refrigerator brands. One downside is that GE refrigerators only come with a one-year warranty, but their products are generally reliable and appreciated by both consumers and service providers. Especially now that many refrigerators have intelligent functions that increase the appliance's luxurious appeal. Recent annual reports from Yale show that Bosch countertop refrigerators have a relatively low service rate.
Of all the service professionals I interviewed, they always mentioned Samsung as a refrigerator brand to avoid. Samsung refrigerators have been cited in hundreds of complaints to the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to malfunctioning ice makers and temperatures that are too high, causing food to spoil. The brand manufactures refrigerators that use cutting-edge technology, such as the FarmFresh system, a complex quadruple system that keeps food fresh for longer. GE sells appliances under several brands, including GE Appliances, Monogram, GE Profile, Hotpoint and Coffee.
