Message Boards

I have been following the comments on the stainless steel finish post since I am in a quandary as to which finish to use next. My refrigerator is getting old & I would like to be prepared for replacing it before the time comes. I have no clue about where brands stand when it comes to reliability. What is your opinion? Thanks!!

Well my favorite brand is Maytag. Hands down.

Washer 45 years old, dryer 41 years old. DW 30 (?) years old.

However since they are so old, I don't know if the new ones are as reliable as the old.

We recently purchased 5 new appliances for our kitchen (fridge, dishwasher, cooktop, built-in microwave, and wall oven). When first researching brands, I was so disappointed to learn that no brand has a clean reputation. In fact, there are vehement complaints on numerous websites about EVERY brand in every price range...parts falling off, leaks that ruined floors, exploding glass doors, electrical shorts starting housefires, crappy customer service, you name it.

Based on the reviews we read, we wished we didn't have to buy any appliances -- it just felt like we were going to buy a headache no matter what brand we went with. However, our existing appliances were beyond broken, so we had to make a purchase.

We finally arrived at the appliances we purchased based on: a) the sizes fit in our
cut-out/space; b) the appearance, price, and functionality met MOST of our requirements; and c) the complaints seemed less severe for this brand than complaints for other brands.

We ended up going with all GE Profile products. The appliances were installed in April and all is well so far.

Our front-load washer/dryer are by LG -- five years, no problems.

My oldest (refrigerator, 21 yrs.),
newest (washer, 1.5 yrs),
and
in-between (dishwasher, 6 yrs.)
appliances are all GE. Microwave (14 yrs.), too. I'm a fan. I think they've been and continue to be reliable, well-designed, and reasonably priced. It's the first brand I'll check out if I need to buy again. I always look at others in order to compare, but I almost always end up with GE.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nettiejay,

No favorite brand, tend to look at all for features, price, warranty, and most important reputation with a local appliance repair guy. He has usually given us info on things to be aware of (it changes year to year as new models come out). Interestingly different from the other posters, I nearly always avoid GE. Probably because it was often used for builders grade appliances back 10-20 years ago (read cheap models?), and friends had them with issues soon after warranty ran out.

I think the middle of the road as far as model features is the safest place to be. Don't go for the bare bones nor for the top of the line appliance that has every possible feature one could imagine, for the least amount of repair issues?

We recently bought a washer....Whirlpool...made in the USA. It is far superior to the old one not made in the USA. We got a Whirlpool dishwasher and it does a really good job since I changed to the gelpack detrgent. Our refrigerator, stove and mirowave are GE Profiles....also good. The refrigerator had to have the ice maker repaired while it was still in warranty but otherewise all are fine.

Love Kenmore (Sears brand, built by Whirlpool) generally for most appliances, especially refrigerators and washers & dryers.

But, when we remodeled our kitchen in 2007, ago, we wound up buying Bosch for the dishwasher (love their stainless steel tub and quiet operation)and for the gas cooktop. And, a GE double wall oven unit with microwave. All work great.

Many years ago, in a small condo, I had a small but mighty Miele brand washer/dryer all-in one unit installed by the previous owner. It was all stainless steel inside and a real powerhouse. Miele brand, which is made in Germany, is known for its compact versions of large appliances. They are expensive but also last forever.

I'm with aychihuahua, Sears Kenmore brand. We had a Kenmore washer and dryer set we bought when we got married. We had them both for 20 years when we decided to get new. They were still working great when we sold them. Also had a Kenmore fridge that lasted 22 years. I always try to stick with Kenmore. We also had a Kenmore microwave that lasted for 23 years and was still working when we moved.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GypsyDancer52,

Buy the store warranty. I read that not too many months ago. See above--as to problems with most brands.
Be aware most are still made out of country.
LG--South Korea
GE--back in the US.
Bosch--German
Amana--no longer made but China
Frigidaire washer/dryer.
I like Bosch dishwasher.
Do the research. Buy features, warranty. Dutch door top with freezer drawer on bottom--highly recommended. Side by side---no way--all that cold air pouring out?
We bought all new appliances six years ago. I/We spent over a year on-line or in stores that sold appliances--we learned a lot. I asked questions here--great info on front loads, at the time.
Finish? I think stainless is on the way out. Think resale.

Thank you!! Please add new comments as they occur to you...

Like LOS said, who knows, when replacing something which lasted 20 years, if the same brand is still reliable today - as with Singer sewing machines...

No offense to Singer owners!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: KG in CA,

Year after year--_CONSUMERS REPORTS who do not accept advertising and test products in every way anyone would ever use them---

Say KENMORE (Sears) is top rated and right up there with all the more expensive Name brands. I have all Kenmore except my dryer (15 yrs old) is a Whirlpool Gold (service man said keep it as long as possible).

But nothing I own (everything is over 10 yrs old)---ever has needed a repairperson!

Consumer's Reports is a great source with no prejudging by brand favorites.

Here's an interesting link for your review. It shows which company makes the appliance versus the company that brands it.

http://www.appliance411.com/parts/sears.shtml

As already said, I'm not loyal to one brand, I look at each feature and what I want for each appliance.

Conrad, GE makes appliances in at least two, perhaps three, price categories. There is a "low end" line which might be the builder's grade you mentioned, the Profile line, and (I think) a fancy-dancy all the bells/whistles line. I buy Profile and am always pleased.

I've written here before that I was always Whirlpool loyal when it came to laundry machines and dishwashers. After wearing out two of their dishwashers, I bought a third. It didn't work straight out of the box and was so poorly designed that dishes wouldn't even stand up in the racks because the prongs were too short. After three service calls in the first month, they wanted to replace the computer motherboard. I refused, said I wanted my money back. That's when I exchanged it for the Profile I mentioned above. Am so glad I squawked and got rid of that horrid lemon of a machine.

The problem with Consumer Reports as I see it is... They test one-maybe-three models in a company's entire product lineup. Model X gets a gold star; model Y and Z are complete duds. CR finds results like that all the time. How is it a valid conclusion to say ALL of Acme Co's products are gold stars, just because CR found one that is? Is the gold star the fluke, or are the duds?

Another problem is that, that very same gold star model X has a very good chance of being discontinued and unavailable at the time you need a replacement for your broken whatchamathingy. CR's test and gold star award for that one model is absolutely no guarantee that the "new" replacement for model X is going to be as reliable as the tested model X.

Yep, I know what you are saying about GE nettiejay, DD has top of the line model range and microwave. Just one really old pre-judge that I still seem to have.
And I do agree that Consumer Reports was never that helpful with large or small appliances in my book either. The testing is complete about the same time that new models have come out...and there are so many different ones they never seemed to test the ones that are available at the time that I was looking. Frustrating and time wasting for me.

GE, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Sub Zero, Thermador

I like my Electrolux dryer and refrigerator. Wolf makes great double ovens and cooktops. I have an Asko dishwasher. I bought my appliances depending on sizes and features that I wanted. I stopped buying Kitchenaid when they were bought out by another concern. Last dishwasher was the top of the line and had major problems. I had a lot of problems with a Whirlpool washer and when it finally dies, I will replace it with an Electrolux washer.

When it comes to replacing major appliances, your trusted plumber or electrician (if you're lucky to have a trusted plumber as we are) may be your best unbiased referal person. I have also asked re. what brand of faucet to install when doing a semi kitchen remodel. Consumer Reports has failed me in the past. Retailers and advertisers are out to sell you the most expensive when lesser costing appliances can be more cost effective and just as reliable. Judge too if you truly need the extra bells and whistles you're paying for. Also, some european brands may be difficult to get repaired (ex. inexcessibility to areas, shortage of authorized repairpersons, long time wait for parts, etc.) and thus prove very costly. When it comes to built in appliance replacements, I almost always buy the extended warranty. Service calls can add up quickly even for the easiest of repairs. We homeowners should do as much troubleshooting as possible and make inquires if manuals (on line or in print) don't cover our dilemmas to save a service fee. Sometimes it's a matter of readjusting feet on a washer that makes the spin cycle balanced. Mind you, I'm not suggesting you tackle an electrician's job or a plumber's job if it's out of the realm of your expertise, invalidates the warranty or endangers you.

LOS & others, the trusted brands we once were loyal to and served us well are most likely inferior products that have long tarnished their predicessor's reputation for reliability/longevity...sad to say. Some companies have merged and many are no longer manufactured here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

quote:

Originally posted by Froo Froo:
................LOS & others, the trusted brands we once were loyal to and served us well are most likely inferior products that have long tarnished their predicessor's reputation for reliability/longevity...sad to say. Some companies have merged and many are no longer manufactured here.

Boy is THAT ever a true statement! I once moved into a house that had a 50 year old Frigidare stove with those big fat electric coil burners. That stove was great. Now, I would NOT except a Frigidare if someone gave me a new one for free.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: zone9alady,

z9lady, Sounds like you have the same feeling about Frigidaire that I have had about GE appliances.

We bought a SS Frigidaire electric smooth top range and SS Frigidaire refrigerator and a Frigidaire smaller chest freezer a few years ago. (Planning on selling in near future and did not really care except for price and SS look for possible buyers)

So far they have all been excellent performers. (The ss looks great when clean, but ss will never be my choice again, however)

Conrad, I have found that SS varies tremendously by price and manufacturer. The Wolf and Electrolux appliances that I have bought have a SS finish that is easier to keep clean and fingerprints don't show as easily as they do on some older SS appliances. I also use a water based spray that the Wolf installer gave me that is tremendous. Some of the less expensive brands have SS that is not so easy to clean.

You are no doubt right, 16 paws. I just personally feel the gray of stainless not that attractive with many natural wood finishes.
That said....(again, personal preference) I still prefer a stainless kitchen sink over other types, but that is a small concession to the gray metal.

I am just pleased there are many other choices. We have white that came in our mountain home, and find it easy to deal with and REALLY easy to match when replacement time comes.

I've had good luck with Kenmore- the fridge has been great- have had it 2.6 years..a bottom freezer model.
You can up the reliability factor by leaving off ice makers. I also have a Kenmore induction cooktop that's probably 7 years old by now.. no problems.
I have a frigidaire front load washer-dryer set that's a year old this Thanksgiving - love it.
I would not buy a refrigerator by frigidaire tho.. I had one and it was cheaply made.