Refrigerators Reviews

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Refrigerators Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Refrigerators. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Refrigerators, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Refrigerators. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Refrigerators prices.

Refrigerators Reviews Reviewed

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Refrigerators Ratings
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1.  Consumer Reports Refrigerators – High Style, Lower Prices

Editors of Consumer Reports


May 2007
reviews rating About twice a year, Consumer Reports publishes large roundups like this one, which includes nearly 70 top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side, built-in and French door refrigerators. No other reviewer comes close to testing that many refrigerators. The editors evaluate temperature consistency and accuracy, as well as advertised capacity versus actual capacity. Noise, energy efficiency and ease of use are also evaluated. An appendage to this article is a chart demonstrating results from reliability surveys. Refrigerators with through-the-door ice and water dispensers seem to be the most problematic. About 20 percent of all models need repairs.
2.  Consumer Reports Refrigerator drawers slide into the home

Editors of Consumer Reports


Aug. 2007
reviews rating This article discusses refrigerator drawers that are installed under kitchen counters. These drawers do not have freezers. They are designed to provide extra storage. Five refrigerator drawers are tested. Overall, editors say they are far too expensive for what amounts to be just four cubic feet of usable space. Models range from $1,800 to $3,200. They are also less energy efficient than standard-sized refrigerators. The editors think you can get the same benefits as a refrigerator drawer by buying a compact refrigerator at a fraction of the cost.
Refrigerators Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Refrigerators Ratings
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3.  Choice.com.au Fridges

Editors of Choice.com.au


Sept. 2007
reviews rating This is the website for the Australian Consumers' Association, the Australian contemporary of Consumer Reports. Editors test 50 refrigerators for energy efficiency, noise, temperature control and ease of use. A large number of manufacturers available in the United States, including Samsung, Westinghouse and Whirlpool, are included. However, the model numbers don't correspond due to differences in voltage and features. Testing is just as thorough as at Consumer Reports, but since few of these models are available in the U.S., it is less useful.
4.  Which.co.uk Fridges

Editors of Which.co.uk


Aug. 2007
reviews rating Which? Magazine is Britain’s answer to Consumer Reports, and if you’re looking for a refrigerator in England, you should start here. In their latest round of testing, editors evaluate 84 refrigerators for ease of use, usable space, noise and temperature stability. Results from a reliability survey are also included. Many brands tested are available in the U.S., but the model numbers are different. Three Whirlpool refrigerators are "Best Buys," but their model numbers don’t correspond.
Refrigerators Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Refrigerators Ratings
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5.  Good Housekeeping.com Six Fabulous Fridges!

Editors of Good Housekeeping


May 2005
reviews rating This is the most current review conducted by Good Housekeeping on refrigerators. Although editors say picks are based on "rigorous product tests," none of these tests are discussed. The Kenmore Elite 04655213 (discontinued) is chosen best for families, the discontinued Maytag French Door Bottom Freezer MFD256OH is rated best looking and the Hotpoint HSM25GFRSA side-by-side receives the best value rating. Other top picks include the discontinued Whirlpool Gold GTISHWXP, the discontinued KitchenAid Superba Counter Depth KSCS231NS and the discontinued LG Bottom Freezer LRDC22743TT. We'd love to see updated refrigerator coverage at Good Housekeeping.
6.  American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings

Editors of ACEEE


Oct. 2007
reviews rating There's some good information on this site about how buying more efficient appliances saves money and energy. There is also a ratings chart of most efficient appliances, summarized from ACEEE's more extensive print publication. Larger units obviously consume more energy, but the differences in running costs between small top-freezer models and large side-by-side models is fairly small, often less than $20 a year. ACEEE notes that this is due to recently upgraded federal regulations and that today's models use one-third of the energy of models made 25 years ago. ACEEE also recommends top-freezer refrigerators over side-by-side models that consume more energy.
7.  J.D. Power & Associates 2006 Major Home Appliance Study: Refrigerators

Editors of J.D. Power and Associates


Nov. 1, 2006
reviews rating In a survey of over 12,000 consumers, Samsung is deemed the best refrigerator brand for customer satisfaction. Samsung earns a perfect score in all categories. Brands are scored on performance, price, features, ease of use, style and feel and warranty. LG and Kenmore Elite tie for second place. GE Monogram models warrant the lowest overall score. Survey respondents are not asked about specific models, however, only brands, so the results are geared more toward gauging brand loyalty and associations than the quality of specific types or models.
Refrigerators Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Refrigerators Ratings
Comments on Reviews
8.  Epinions Refrigerators

Contributors to Epinions


As of Oct. 2007
reviews rating Epinions is often less helpful regarding large appliances than in some other product arenas. Owner reviews typically give their refrigerators high ratings. Most models only receive one or two reviews so there aren't enough write-ups here to give us much confidence in the indication of top models. The LG LRFC25750, a French door refrigerator, gets 16 reviews, but only average ratings.
9.  Consumer Guide.com Refrigerators and Freezers

Editors of ConsumerGuide.com


As of Oct. 2007
reviews rating Consumer Guide offers plenty of information about many refrigerators. There are a number of articles available about how to buy a refrigerator, how refrigerators work and recommended temperatures. Some models get spotlight reviews and a rating for "performance," but we are not told the criteria for deciding how these models are chosen. No testing appears to be conducted and the write-ups are merely lists of features.
10.  ThatHome Site.com Appliance Forum

Contributors to ThatHomeSite.com


As of Oct. 2007
reviews rating ThatHomeSite.com is an addictive place to visit if you have a few hours to spare. There are several posts in the appliance section about refrigerators, but it takes some time to search through the hundreds of topic threads. Several consumers duke it out over the advantages/disadvantages of side-by-side models vs. bottom-freezer models. A recent discussion comparing LG vs. Samsung French door refrigerators is interesting; the positives and the negatives tend to void each other, so we're left without a firm consensus. Many consumers do agree, however, that refrigerators should be measured before purchase.
11.  Sears.com Refrigerators

Contributors to Sears.com


As of Oct. 2007
reviews rating Sears now allows readers to review appliances on its website. This is pretty much the only place to find reviews on Kenmore refrigerators, since this brand is only carried by Sears. Unfortunately, most refrigerators haven’t been rated at all and, of those that do get some comments, only one or two owners have left a review. Still, it’s worth checking here for owner reviews.
12.  Amazon.com Refrigerators

Contributors to Amazon.com


As of Oct. 2007
reviews rating Amazon.com now sells some large appliances, which means that users can leave reviews for these models. However, only a tiny number of models receive any comments from owners. There are some reviews for specialty models such as dorm fridges, wine refrigerators or other compact refrigerators. The Sanyo SR-3770S counter-height refrigerator receives 36 reviews, with a number of complaints that the refrigerator arrived damaged.
13.  About.com Whirlpool 18 Cubic Foot Top Freezer Refrigerator Model ET8FTEXMQ

Mariette Mifflin


Not Dated
reviews rating This brief write-up appears to be a short review for one of the author's own appliances. Mariette Mifflin likes the adjustable shelves and pebbled exterior finish on this model, which makes cleanup easy. No other refrigerators are discussed, but elsewhere in this section, Ms. Mifflin lists features of the Maytag Ice20 French door refrigerator. No performance details are discussed, however. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)
14.  Abby'sGuide.com Refrigerators

Editors of Abby's Guide


As of Oct. 2007
reviews rating Abby's Guide offers a guide on many topics relating to refrigerators, including how to keep your energy costs down, how to clean a unit and brief overviews of refrigerator types. Although some refrigerators are mentioned, none are tested.

Refrigerators Reviews