415480 Tue Jun 26 17:24:42 -0700 2007 17 41 Cookware 0 2697357 I am on the cusp of buying a French door, bottom freezer refrigerator with through the door water/ice. We know the through the door feature will cut down on shelf space in the refrig part, we realize it doesn't make buckets of ice. We are fine with this, love the convenience. It is down to one of these: LG LFX25960 White (yup, no stainless for us, won't work in our old kitchen!). This is 27.4 cu. ft. Nice features, don't know anything about the reliability, and more the service should something go wrong. Kenmore Elite 25 cu. ft. TRIO® French Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Sears item #04677572000 Mfr. model #77572 Does anybody have either of these, or comments regarding them? The Maytag is too tall. I never thought buying a refrig would be so complicated. We are losing our old GE rapidly, on its last days. We are sick and tired of struggling getting things in and out of our old side-by-side, so other than the cost, we won't miss our old GE. We have the problem that left door when open is directly against a wall, and no way to get around this. Newer models of side by sides have thicker walls, and make our struggle all the more difficult, if this makes sense. The French doors, and pull out freezer resolve this, and seems worth it. Yes, the FDs are much more costly. Thank you in advance! Tue Jun 26 17:24:42 -0700 2007 23350 Jesdamala 1 2698908 The French door with ice & water/bottom freezer are awfully new. Too soon to have reliability reports by specific model. It does seem like these are far more complicated with a whole lot of motors and switches in places that are somewhat hostile to same -- an extended warranty might be a good idea... Wed Jun 27 07:54:20 -0700 2007 2697357 87093 renov8r 1 2698964 I love our bottom mount freezer and would never, ever go any other way. I cook a lot and enjoy having lots of shelf space to put large cookie sheets and pans. As to the French Doors, we don't have them as I don't care for the look at all. Have you considered having the refrig. door mounted to open in the opposite direction? Water and ice makers are problems waiting to happen, in my opinion and that of Consumer Reports. Wed Jun 27 08:11:28 -0700 2007 2697357 20522 gourmanda 2 2699185 Water and ice through the door have been around a very long time, we have it in our at least 15 year old GE, and no issues. However, these new French Door models are rather new, this I agree with. Yes, we thought about the right hinge type refrig, but the consensus around here is that everybody wants through the door water/ice. I thank you so very much for adding your thoughts. I don't have to run out and buy it today, but by next week will make the decision. I agree with renov8r, an extended warranty just may be in order. I don't think in all the years I ever had to service my old GE. Times have changed, it seems! And yes, they toss in so many features, stuff nobody really needs, whistles and bells to entice us. All waiting to break down! Wed Jun 27 09:02:08 -0700 2007 2698964 23350 Jesdamala 3 2700222 I am pretty sure the ice& water made their debut in top mount freezer-style refridgerators back in the early 70's -- they were simpler becuase gravity was about the only thing needed to get the ice to plop down into the less hostile environment of the fridge. Then the side-by-side added ice& water and the dispenser had to "live" full time on the freezer side. With the bottom mount freezer there are fairly complicated paths for even the chilled water to travel, and in effiect they are defying gravity with motors to lift to ice up -- in short these are "new fangled" and will probably have some bugs. WIth a good dealer they will probably try and help work out the minor bugs, but if things are messed up from the get go... Wed Jun 27 13:09:13 -0700 2007 2699185 87093 renov8r 4 2700620 I hear you! Seems like lots of things that can go wrong! So, perhaps that extended warranty, which I would not normally bother with. Thanks for your imput! Wed Jun 27 14:29:59 -0700 2007 2700222 23350 Jesdamala 1 2700286 We bought the Maytag version of the french door frig, but the ice maker is in the freezer and the water dispenser is inside the door. I needed a shorter door for the space, so it worked for that, but I find it's flexible shelving, it's large draw at the bottom is used for large platters frequently and the two draws in the freezer work for us. We've had the frig for a little over two years and it's been great, and the energy costs went down. I think it was worth the money. Wed Jun 27 13:26:10 -0700 2007 2697357 100890 breakfastfan 2 2701117 A good point you make, breakfastfan. Our 20-year-old GE used a lot of energy. Although it is difficult to tell exactly, our newish French-door one (very similar to your Maytag) is much better. Wed Jun 27 16:59:57 -0700 2007 2700286 14014 liu 1 2720019 Today is the day our old GE just went out..not unexpected. It was hanging in, the temperature in the freezer was somewhat OK, the refrig part miserable, and the freezer just put out its last gasp. The cabinet guy will not be here until Friday to modify our space, and thank goodness we have a small refrig in the garage, so we tossed some stuff and plunked the rest there. As we are simply out of time it will be the LG. Yup, I have read many cons. I decided to order through an independent appliance store, not one of the Big Box type stores such as Best Buy or Home Depot..nothing against them, our small garage refrig was bought at BB...,and take an extended warranty, which is very inexpensive considering. They are a bit more money, $100 plus, but I am going for service, if it will be better. I want to be able to call and get someone on my side should something go wrong. They say their contract for service is through GE for all brands???? Well known in Los Angeles/Santa Monica, Carlson's. We are simply out of time for procrastination. Never thought a refrig would be so complicated! Wouldn't be were it not for space considerations. So, going on pure faith, and hope that should something go wrong this store will back us up in regards to service. I know the French door through-the-door ice/water and all those other whistles and bells are new, so I guess I will be a guinea pig? Yup to renov8r, so many motors and switches, but time has come! I thank all for their advice, but I cannot put another confused second into this! Wed Jul 04 18:43:52 -0700 2007 2697357 23350 Jesdamala 1 2720037 We're also considering a french-door bottom freezer refrigerator. I happened to have our friendly Sears repairman in the other day fixing our dishwasher (don't get me started on THAT thread) and asked him about his repair history with that style of fridge. He recommended the Kenmore Trio, but suggested that I verify who makes it. He likes Whirlpool, not so much Maytag. And said that LG was bad, stay away. Hope this helps! Wed Jul 04 18:51:05 -0700 2007 2697357 24072 Bivalve88 2 2720090 There are these funny little drawers in the front of the bins of the Kenmore I don't like, think they take up space, don't open with ease, great for herbs and very small items I think,but not for us, I think. I am sick and tired of thinking.... but does this guy only repair Kenmore? I think the inside features of the LG are better, for us, than the Kenmore. Thing is, whoever is selling anything is going to suggest them. How bad can things be with a four extended warranty? And seven on the compressor? Not sure these new refrigs last like the old ones, 15/20 years. Hey, not sure I will last this long! Wed Jul 04 19:26:23 -0700 2007 2720037 23350 Jesdamala 3 2971391 How are you liking your LG now? I am about 4 wks away from receiving a similar model to yours. (Mine will be ss, with door water, but not ice in door - ice maker in freezer, though). I'm a bit concerned about everything I've read about LG service! Mon Sep 24 13:18:08 -0700 2007 2720090 129707 DragonMom 4 2972647 The only annoying thing, which has been mentioned on another thread, which I will try to locate and post, is that the outside ambient temperature is taken on the BACK of the unit, so it truly isn't measuring the ambient temperature in the kitchen! I cannot figure out just what is appealing about having this, maybe to guide in adjusting internal temperatures? So far, other than that, no problems. We love the configuration, we love the ice and water!!!! There seems to be plenty of ice for our daily needs. Some have mentioned that it is difficult to get tall glasses in the space for the water/ice, I have not found this to be true. Please, though, take the extended warranty! I did, and hopefully will not be using it...but just in case. OH, think I have to adjust the freezer temp. by a few degrees? Have to look it up in the brochure, but a bit of icing up in the front of the freezer, and I am thinking probably because when opened that is what is getting the hit of warm air, if this makes sense, and not the items in the bottom of the freezer or in the back. So, we are still a slow work in progress with this LG. Also, on the other thread, there was a complaint toward the bottom about LG and how they responded to someone and how it should have been installed. Over the phone to me, and this other poster, when inquiring why the ambient room temp is not accurate and asking why this temp is measured in the back, the other poster and I were both told something ridiculous about four inches in the back, an inch on the sides, I cannot remember. HOWEVER, I opened up my refridg and right inside, on a lable, it says something far different that what I and other poster were told on the phone. Sides something like 1/8 inch, back about 1 inch. It is not worth my going crazy about the ambient room temp. being off. Here is a link to the other subject thread: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/313460 Mon Sep 24 19:09:37 -0700 2007 2971391 23350 Jesdamala 5 2978482 I did read about that, thanks. I thought I also read that newer models corrected that? Mine is on order due to be delivered October 24. Wed Sep 26 10:56:34 -0700 2007 2972647 129707 DragonMom 6 2978623 I read that as well, but mine, about three months old, has the sensor in the back, and the hoot is that LG is saying that clearance should be much more than stated right on a sticker inside of my refridg. When I have the time, I just might make a fuss, but besides this I love it! How stupid to put an ambient temperature sensor in the back, that will be close to a wall! I cannot imagine the stupidity. Do they think we put these things in the middle of the kitchen? Wed Sep 26 11:24:39 -0700 2007 2978482 23350 Jesdamala 7 2978807 So maybe, I should have my island positioned against the wall... and my fridge in the middle of my kitchen! Great idea! ;) Wed Sep 26 12:10:26 -0700 2007 2978623 129707 DragonMom 1 2979685 Our 12 year old GE was about to be put out of it's misery. Compressor sounded like it was about to throw a rod every time it shut down. Noisy as anything besides. Looked and looked around and finally She who must be obeyed decided on a side by side 25.something cuft Kenmore. Actually made by Whirlpool. It is nice but I had to order another shelf and another door condiment shelf thingy. There is extra room and our old fridge had more shelf space. Layout of the freezer odd because of the ice container in the door. Happy with it so far. It had a small (almost not noticeable) dent on the side facing out when it was delivered and the delivery guy called the dispatcher and they said they could deliver another or they would send a check for $175 to make up for the dent. I could not accept the cash fast enough. Wed Sep 26 15:16:24 -0700 2007 2697357 92508 Raymondo 1 4411489 French door has been around for years, but not popular the last 25-30 years, my grandmother had an avacado one in the 70's. I am looking to purchase one now, does anybody know if you can get one that is under 69 inches tall? Thu Feb 12 12:32:04 -0800 2009 2697357 266290 Leaky6