Similarly, in our reader survey, just 2.5% of respondents said that their current (or most recent) refrigerator had suffered a cooling failure. We don’t have perfect information about the best brands or models, but we do have a few leads. LG’s customer ratings on big retailers’ websites tend to be slightly better than other brands’ too, and other major appliance reviewers generally rate LG fridges at or near the top of the pack. Freestanding full-size fridges can be as cheap as $650 or cost thousands of dollars like some built-ins.
What happens is the top shelf is kept coldest because that’s typically where its air vents are. Then, because colder air sinks under warmer air, it drifts down to the bottom of the fridge, rising back up to the middle as it warms. Some fridges do have technology that helps circulate air in a way that avoids a warm spot like this, but such features are invariably tied to a price hike. If you have an available water hookup, we recommend getting a fridge with a through-the-door dispenser. These are relatively inexpensive ways to always have access to filtered water and a ready supply of ice (plus, it frees up whatever space you would’ve dedicated to ice trays and filter pitchers).
Problems with core functioning, like an inability to maintain cool temperatures, or with compressors, matter more, but relatively few CR members report them. The dispenser switch is located behind the control panel, directly behind the dispenser lever. When the lever is depressed to dispense water or ice, the switch activates the water inlet valve, allowing water to supply the dispenser. If the dispenser switch is defective, it won’t signal the valve and water won’t flow to the dispenser. If the Frigidiare water dispenser switch doesn’t provide an accurate reading with multimeter testing, it should be replaced by a refrigerator repair service.
Electrolux has received 185 reports of the ice level detectors breaking, including one report of gum lacerations. The following model numbers and their serial number ranges are included in this recall. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS is new to the market and still doesn’t have many user reviews available.
Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections. Different brands have slightly different looks to their stainless—some are more reflective, some have a more pronounced brushed-metal look, some are more fingerprint resistant. Writer Liam McCabe has covered home appliances whirlpool mini refrigerator since 2011, including a stint at Reviewed, and has worked on versions of this Wirecutter guide since 2014. Your wall oven’s serial number is typically located along the interior side trim of the oven and visible when the door is opened. Your dishwasher’s model number may vary, but is most commonly found in one of two places.
Some upscale fridges even have specialty ice features, like LG’s Craft Ice clear spheres (38% of the owners of one model whose reviews we analyzed cited Craft Ice as one of their favorite features). We don’t have “official” recommendations for specific refrigerator models. If this were a typical Wirecutter guide, we’d highlight a handful of the “best” refrigerators that, based on our research and testing, would make the most people the happiest. Earlier versions of this guide took that approach, but it never felt like the optimal way to tackle the topic, so we’re trying something different these days. This is a somewhat common issue with side-by-sides, because their compartments are so tall.
Frigidaire’s lineup really has no standout trait, except that some of its top-freezer models offer stylish pocket handles and glass shelves for lower prices than other brands’ top-freezer models with less-nice features. So, even if a deeper, standard-depth fridge fits your space, we think a counter-depth refrigerator is worth considering. Counter-depth fridges are also arguably easier to organize and look better in most kitchens, plus they tend to use a bit less energy.
In other words, today’s fridge might not be exactly the same product as last month’s fridge, and there can be bad batches. Other high-end brands may make fridges with above-average reliability and longevity, too; we don’t know. And we do not think it’s possible to predict which major brand makes the most reliable fridges.