Your refrigerator is by far the heart of your kitchen. This is the central piece when it comes to storing the most delicious dishes and primary ingredients and beverages. Thus, every person in your family will use the refrigerator multiple times each and single day.
Needless to say that it is worth investing in a fridge that comes from a trustworthy brand and that integrates into your home’s design.
However, the idea of doing days of research on the internet is already exhausting. Still, if you are not concerned enough about what you are going to buy, you risk purchasing a kitchen appliance that won’t meet your expectations and needs.
As a consequence, the refrigerator will be prone to breaking. Because time is the most important asset of the period we live in, I researched for you and created this simple guide to make the purchasing process simple and safe.
Today you will learn everything about refrigerator brands you should avoid from now on, as well as some truthful trade names that are worth your attention.
So, don’t hesitate to check the list below and find more about the worst refrigerator brands. Also, learn to make the right choice from now on.
Red Flags That Indicate A Refrigerator Brand To Avoid
There is nothing wrong with saying that a refrigerator can be the most significant investment in arranging the kitchen. But when people prefer purchasing the lowest price and quality, their decision might cause waste of money and effort. Furthermore, a low-quality appliance might endanger someone’s health too.
A refrigerator needs to work properly so it will keep the foods and beverages at the right temperature. But how can you be sure that you are making the right choice and buy that type of refrigerator that will keep the food all fresh, healthy, and safe?
Well, a good starting point would be doing a lot of research.
But, first of all, let’s move over some of the most common problems that make a refrigerator an unreliable product. Once checking the following points, you will know what to look out for when evaluating the options.
Which Are The Main Red Flags To Help You Identify Unreliable Refrigerator Brands?
When you notice any of the following irregularities, it is a sign you might need to jump over some appliance’s brands:
1. Low-quality construction and materials
Do the refrigerator materials look weak and low-quality? If manufacturers are cutting corners with the fridge designs, it is most likely to have a negative experience over the long haul.
On the other hand, quality materials and accessories will significantly impact the longevity of the fridge. The best test in checking the refrigerator’s construction quality is reviewing the feedback other customers have provided.
Are they satisfied with the purchase and the construction of that particular refrigerator?
Tip! The best and strongest material for a refrigerator’s construction is stainless steel. This timeless material will help the fridge pass the test of time (both in resistance and appearance).
2. Doors are not closing perfectly
One of the main criteria for choosing a refrigerator is thinking about the overall dimensions of this essential appliance. As such, buyers will carefully measure the space where they need to fix a fridge while also measuring the room, so there are no mistakes.
On the other hand, many customers would consider the fridge and freeze capacity. It is crucial to pick a suitable sized fridge, especially for storing beverages and building their wine cooler.
While the depth of the refrigerator is an essential part of this appliance, future customers should consider another aspect: do the doors fit properly? Do they form the perfect tight seal when they stay closed?
If the doors do not fit accordingly and do not seal evenly, there might appear some ongoing problems in terms of efficiency. The repercussions will be cold air leaking out, inappropriate refrigeration temperatures, and extra energy to keep the food and beverages frozen.
3. Malfunctions
Some specific malfunctions can potentially plague and make refrigerators work poorly. While researching the top refrigerator models and companies, it is essential to look for complaints about ice makers, the cooling process, wi-fi connection issues, and water dispensers.
All these are specific features for smart refrigerators.
- Short or limited warranties
Whether you are looking for a single-door refrigerator, maybe a side-by-side model, a retro appliance, or the most modern fridge on the market, it is essential to pay attention to the warranty. Is the contract satisfying your expectations? Or is it constrained for part and labor?
The longer and more comprehensive the warranty will be, the more people understand that repair will need to fall back on it. On the other hand, the more gaps in your coverage, the more expensive it might be a simple service to pay.
Additionally, there are warranties from famous worldwide brands that are genuinely complicated. Those files are hard to read and understand, and the last thing you would want is to deal with expensive costs or a bit of help from the manufacturer.
- Leaks
Leaks are one of the usual issues when speaking of refrigerators. For instance, if you purchase a fridge with a water line and water dispenser, possible leaks can appear daily.
Watch for potential leak issues from the very beginning so you will avoid possible worse problems.
- Pricey fridge elements
Let’s go back to the warranty points. What if it happens to the refrigerator and freezer parts to break? Is the warranty covering the replacements? If the answer is yes, reconsider buying a particular type of refrigerator and look for a better brand in terms of the contract.
- Long wait times
Another aspect that will tell you more about the quality of a refrigerator is the waiting time and talk with customer service. The easier the customer service will solve a problem, the more trustful the fridge brand is.
How much time did the customer service take? Ten minutes? Half an hour? Maybe more? While some companies are notorious for their lengthy customer service, others excel in solving customer problems fast and efficiently.
On top of that, the very last thing you want is to wait a very long time to receive that replacement piece. Imagine some fridge features once broken; the appliance won’t work anymore.
Moreover, what if you need someone to come over and fix the broken refrigerator and they are late?
If it happens for you to be stuck waiting for weeks, the freezer or fridge will be out of service, and food will spoil.
So people should consider the huge quantities of food they will end up wasting.
- Bad customer service
Last but not least, one of the worst things that might happen when buying a refrigerator is terrible customer service. Always check what people say about their experience and be stuck dealing with lousy customer service.
As such, look for brands with quick, knowledgeable, helpful, and polite customer service. If customer service is poor, especially when it comes to critical solutions, your stress will be considerably high.
Refrigerator Brands To Avoid: Stay Away From These Models
Now that we have better understood the main ref flags regarding refrigerator features, it is time to move on to facts. Here is a comprehensive list of possible worst fridge and freezer brands people should look twice for.
So let’s talk about some of the least performant brands that are out on the market:
Frigidaire (FGHB2866PF – French Door)
Although Frigidaire is one of the top-rated US commercial and consumer home appliances brands, things sometimes don’t go as well as expected. Their portfolio is comprehensive and combines different refrigerators and freezers in various sizes and designs. As such, people can choose from column freezers to French doors and top freezers.
However, the Frigidaire model FGHB2866PF has been this brand’s failure. Customers have not been happy with their purchase and encountered many issues. Here are some of the features that the manufacturer has promised:
- Adjustable interior storage
- Digital temperature control
- Crisper drawers
- Quick freeze
- Mark proof stainless steel
Despite the many advanced features the brand comes with, there have been many complaints; customer forums talked about the quality and warranty of this refrigerator brand. Check out the troubleshooting that some users have been experiencing:
- Poor warranty and customer service
- Doors that were misaligned
- Problems with cooling feature
- Malfunctioning ice makers
- Costly and long waiting time to call for a repair person
- The water and handle dispenser is very sensitive
KitchenAid Refrigerators
The following brand people should pay more attention to when it comes to refrigerators is KitchenAid. Although this is also a popular name among the appliances domain, the brand had some issues with some fridge models.
The company makes side-by-side bottom freezer, counter-depth, and French door refrigerator models. However, although the quality has been lower than expected, the KitchenAid fridge types are pretty expensive.
Some of them jump over $9,000. Customer forums have given little under 4 out of 5 stars as an overall rating. There have been different complaints regarding the KitchenAid products, such as:
- Water leakage issues
- Terrible customer service
- A peculiar snoring sound after some months of usage
- Design flaws that lead to icemaker issues
- The material starts rusting after some time
Most of the complaints have been around fridge features like lights, doors, or ice makers. I bet you don’t want to buy from a brand that has similar issues to their products. However, most of the bad reviews stay around long wait times for repairs.
Whirlpool (Fingerprint Resistant)
Who has not heard about Whirlpool products so far? This is one of the top refrigerator brands in the market, with a rich history and reputation in the home appliances industry.
Whirlpool produces a wide range of refrigerators in different sizes and styles at genuinely reasonable prices. The top Whirlpool refrigerator models are the French door and freezers.
While people usually love and buy Whirlpool products, the Fingerprint Resistance fridge is of poor quality. While features like stainless steel finish, dual evaporator sensor, or automatic deforest are pretty tempting, there are some critical issues our readers should be aware of:
- Inside space distribution issue
- Drawers handle that is not sturdy enough
- French door alignment issues
- Terrible customer service
- Unfortunate inside space distribution
- Leakage in the icemaker
Maytag Refrigerator
Another brand that people should avoid or think twice before purchasing is Maytag. This brand does different models, like the French door, bottom freezer, or side by side.
Although their overall rate is 4 out of 5 stars, there might be some issues to be aware of when going o shopping.
Customers have been complaining about the filters for this company’s fridges, which might be a bit pricey.
Other issues were referring to cooling or the fridge doors and the brand’s policies and warranties. Moreover, customers were annoyed by the company’s support team.
Bosch (800 series refrigerator)
Bosch is by far one of the most trustful and innovative brands for home appliances in the market. The brand has a rich portfolio when it comes to goods, with innovative features in its product line.
However, some of the future customers will be happy to see Bosch’s name on the worst refrigerator list. And here is why- the Bosch 800 series are not that fascinating as people used to think:
- Poor design for the shelves, which translates to less inside space
- Water leakage issue
- Problems with icemaker
- Some of the components are low quality
LG (LRMDS3006S)
LG is by far one of the most reliable brands when it comes to refrigerators. Yet, even they have problematic products. For instance, their LRMDS3006S model should not be on people’s buying lists. The reason?
Well, they promise innovative technology such as:
- Stainless finishing for the doors
- Smart wi-fi control feature
- Elegant internal layout
- Bright LED lights
- Consistent indoor temperature
- Dual ice maker
- LG SmartThinkQ App Compatible
But many people found themselves having the following problems:
- Bad compressor
- Freon leaking
- The ice maker stopped working after 3 months
- Bad client support
Look For These Trusted Brands Instead
Since buying one of the previous refrigerator types would not be wise, you should go for a more trusted model instead. Don’t worry about the daunting research, as we have made the exploration for you already and found the most durable fridge brands and models.
As in this guide, we have mentioned some brand names and models to avoid; it’s time to tell you about the most reliable fridge types.
Kenmore 36″ Side-by-Side Refrigerator
This is a slim model that has the freezer and the refrigerator side-by-side. Furthermore, it has an ice maker dispenser that works perfectly, offering you ice cubes whenever you need to make yourself a nice cocktail.
It has more than enough storage space and it’s super easy to clean.
Pros:
- Energy efficient
- Compact size
- Suited for depositing taller objects
- LED lighting
Cons:
- Kind of expensive
Galanz GLR10TBKEFR
This retro-looking model is very environmentally friendly, comes at a very good price, and allows you to manually control your item. This means that you can keep your food at the exact temperature you want.
Pros:
- Comes in many colors
- Controllable temperature
- Low-energy consumption
- Cools fast
Cons
- It is smaller compared to other models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last but not least, let’s see what people looking for a new refrigerator want to know before making a purchase.
Q: How Long Do Refrigerators Work?
A: On average, a refrigerator will perfectly work for around 10 to 15 years. However, this depends, and the US Department Of Energy claims that a fridge will work for 12 years. After this period, the refrigerator might decline efficiency, and the result will be high maintenance costs.
Q: What Are The Top-Rated Fridge Brands?
A: The most reliable refrigerator brands available on the market are LG, Bosch, GE, or Beko. However, many other brands on the market deserve people’s attention, but they might need to do some research first.
Q: What Are The Signs For Replacing The Old Refrigerator?
A: After exceeding the average of 12 years, the freezer might start showing signs of declining. Here are some of the indications of replacing the old fridge with a new one:
- Snoring sound
- Fluctuation of freezing temperature
- The backside of the refrigerator is hotter than before
- The food spoiling even if it is not the expiration date already
- Frost or condensation signs
Q: What To Do First When Refrigerator Stops Working?
A: As soon as the freezer stops working, people should stock it with plenty of ice coolers so the food won’t spoil.
Last Thoughts
These have been the refrigerator brands that did not score so well this year. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to try and store the food properly. Select the best models in 2021 and enjoy the top appliances brands.
Also Read:
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10 Worst Dishwasher Brands to Avoid at All Costs!
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