|
|
Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Sept 24, 2020 15:31:38 GMT -5
For years I had no problem selecting appliances; I relied on the good and true ones, the brands that performed well over the years. I don't have that level of confidence now, and haven't for a while, for various reasons.
A GE stove that I bought scratched easily, the burner grates also scratched easily even just from contact with a pan, and one of the handles began rusting over, well before any deterioration should have taken place. I don't think it's unreasonable to conclude that it's cheaply made.
A Frigidaire refrigerator my father bought is a lot more noisy than others he's had, or my own long lasting Amana frig (now 40 years old). It bothered him and I think the racket would bother me.
I've read various reviews but many are for the gadget oriented appliances, which I don't want. I just want a simple one that cools and freezes; it doesn't have to provide ice cubes (I still know how to make those with the reliable old trays) or cold water, or sing and dance. I just want something simple.
So I'm wondering if any one has any specific suggestions, not only of frigs that have performed well over several years, but also ones that haven't. I'm still partial to the Amana brand, but I've been told that it's been acquired by Westinghouse, which allegedly has also acquired other brands. I have a Frigidaire microwave which I now realize is poorly designed, with the plastic over the keypad already partially worn off.
I've also been told the Amana brand is not what it used to be, but no details have been given.
Same questions for a new washing machine. My GE was a good machine, but I want something more energy efficient, and it's probably close to 30 years old and I anticipate it soon will be announcing its retirement. Because of back issues, I haven't been using it for a few years b/c of the difficulty of carrying wet clothes upstairs to hang outside. Traffic on the street has now increased dramatically, and I don't want my clothes to smell like auto exhaust, so I'll be considering indoor drying, although I still plan to use the wooden racks to air dry.
I'm interested in others' experiences with both frigs, washing machines, and dryers. And thanks for any suggestions.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wheelgarden on Sept 24, 2020 15:53:14 GMT -5
We recently purchased a Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator with much more space than our old one. Quiet and tight. Pleased so far.
|
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Sept 24, 2020 15:55:26 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, Thanks, I'll check out the Whirlpools. How long have you had it? I'd still be getting an upright; my kitchen is small and couldn't accommodate a side by side, but if the brand is good, I'd think the models would be as well. Whirlpool has to my knowledge always been a good brand.
|
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 24, 2020 16:55:28 GMT -5
I always look at Consumer Reports. They not only give the ratings, but break it down a lot of times into the different aspects, such as easy to scratch! And they often give suggestions on lower priced no-frills models, that rate well, but don't have all the junk that isn't always necessary. And the more electronics in things, the more to go bad!
In 2003 (I think?) I got my DW and refrigerator for a deal - Bosch DW, and Maytag fridge, and only had the pump go on the DW after 11 years, and some circuit board thing went in the fridge after 15 years. Both only cost slightly over $300.00, including the labor, so that was much cheaper than buying a new one, and not bad for all those years! Both work well, and the only problem I discovered with Bosch is that since that brand was that being German made, not everyone knows how to fix them! The first time, I called a local appliance store/repair shop, and they told me that the only guy on their staff that works on those was on vacation! So after searching around places sort of close by, I finally found a guy who worked on them, only about 8 miles away. When the fridge died, I called him, to see if he was still working on appliances, and he was! He said he was semi-retired, and he wasn't taking big jobs; I told him that was glad to give him the work, since he had helped me before, and this was a small job...I hoped. And it turned out to be, fortunately, and fixed the next day.
|
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 24, 2020 17:23:37 GMT -5
The one sitting in my kitchen is from Whirpool. It is a freezer, fridg combo. It has been excellent. Quiet.
|
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Sept 24, 2020 18:12:05 GMT -5
We bought a Samsung french doors, 11 years ago, and have been very pleased with it. Quiet, too.
And when we bought a new front load washer and dryer a year ago we went with Samsung again because the fridge has served us so well.
We look at Consumers Report but also read reviews from buyers at multiple sites, and make sure there are lots of them- like 1000, 2000.
Anything you buy is going to have negative reviews. There will always be some who were not happy with their purchase or got a lemon, perhaps, but you can get a good sense of a product if you read a bunch of reviews
|
|
|
|
Post by Wheelgarden on Sept 24, 2020 18:29:23 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️ we've had it for three months (small sample size) but we're tickled with it. Time will tell. desertwoman good advice. We always check out the product reviews before a major appliance purchase. The internet is so useful for that kind of thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by gardendmpls on Sept 24, 2020 21:25:15 GMT -5
I generally get Whirlpool. They seem to last forever. My refrigerator has the bells and whistles, but my dryer is the simplest they make. My previous one, not a Whirlpool, had the motherboard go out. The repairman said they position it over the hottest area so that it will die right after the warranty goes and it is too expensive to be worth replacing.Never used most of the computerized settings anyway. I had a White Westinghouse refrigerator a long time ago. It's gasket curdled up before the warranty expired. Usually they are designed to fall apart after the warranty goes, but they couldn't even do built-in obsolescence right.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Sept 25, 2020 4:38:42 GMT -5
The best fridge we ever had was a Kenmore, with a bottom door freezer. The thing lasted nearly 30 years. Then Amana, which served us well. That one is a side by side and is in the basement now. We have a Frigidaire Gallery side by side with bottom drawer freezer now, countertop depth. We have had issues with it and it's only 5 years old. We have a warranty/service thing through our gas company that covers appliances, affordable plan and we have more than used up what we pay for it over the years. Also have Frigidaire Gallery gas range, love that, except the coating on the control knobs is wearing off, guess I am not expected to remove them and clean them frequently which is no doubt the cause. For the price of that range it should have had stainless steel knobs.
We also had a Kenmore chest freezer, biggest one made. It lasted nearly 40 years.
Maytag Neptune washer and dryer, had that set for over 25 years. Thanks to the above mentioned warranty/service plan. Several issues, the motherboard went out, both control panels went out, drum bearing went bad (it was not meant to be repaired when it fails), but the guy fixed it! It trucked on. And this was when they were made in Newton, IA. We finally sold it for cheap and then bought a Samsung set. No trouble whatsoever with it, we have had it 4 years.
Things are just not made to last anymore. Off subject, but we once had a JC Penney lawnmower, the thing cost $69 way back when. The thing ran for 16 years on the same spark plug and no oil changes, just added oil prn! The handle arm did break once though. LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by breezygardener on Sept 25, 2020 15:47:38 GMT -5
We've always had Kenmore appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher) & they've all performed admirably. I think ours are well over 10 years old now & still going strong (fingers crossed). Unfortunately, due to the fact that our house was originally built as a "vacation house" by the original owners, the kitchen is very small & thus unless we eventually expand the kitchen, we can only go with the most basic appliances size-wise. You have no idea how much I drool over those commercials showing huge refrigerator/freezers with room for everything.
|
|
|
|
Post by gardendmpls on Sept 26, 2020 20:05:49 GMT -5
The best fridge we ever had was a Kenmore We've always had Kenmore appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher) & they've all performed admirably. Kenmore was made for Sears by Whirlpool. It was sold for less by Sears as their brand, but just as reliable, which is to be expected. |
|
|
|
Post by shadetree on Sept 26, 2020 21:07:59 GMT -5
We had a Kenmore dryer my entire time growing up and never had to replace it. I think the washing machine may have been a GE, which was the only one we used, also, although once a terrible lightning storm hit a tree near an electrical wire outside that affected oddly enough the timer on it, but we just kept using it and turned it manually. lol. We had a GE refrigerator, never replaced, that I absolutely loved. Never knew anyone else that had one like it. It was this kind. retrorenovation.com/2013/04/08/ge-wall-refrigerator-freezer/ Miss that thing! I currently have a very basic no frills Admiral refrigerator that has never given me any trouble in 20 years. It does not have an ice maker or a water dispenser, but I don't need them. The freezer compartment is on top. Very happy with it. |
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on Sept 27, 2020 2:36:52 GMT -5
shadetree, I've never seen anything like that fridge! I would think you need a really large kitchen though, to sacrifice so much cabinet space.
|
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Sept 27, 2020 9:02:11 GMT -5
I've never seen those wall fridges either, shadetree, Was this already in a house that you moved in to or was it something your parents/grandparents purchased? I suspect these weren't too popular and you just happened to luck out? |
|
|
|
Post by James on Sept 27, 2020 9:23:30 GMT -5
The one sitting in my garage is from Whirpool. It is a freezer, fridg combo. It too has been excellent. Quiet.
|
|
