Home Rooms Kitchen
ByAnthony O'Reilly
Updated: Apr. 22, 2024
We spoke with three appliance experts to find the most reliable refrigerator brands. We also asked them for their favorite models from each brand.
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If there’s one thing all homeowners and apartment dwellers can agree on, it’s that the refrigerator is the most important household appliance. It holds our food, including precious essentials like iced coffee and meats for grilling. That’s why finding the most reliable refrigerator brand is of vital importance for people in large and small spaces.
Like anything else, there’s no such thing as the best refrigerator because different people will have different needs. Some families may require storage space over energy efficiency, whereas home chefs may look for special features like climate control. Regardless of the type of fridge you want, all refrigerators should be reliable, durable and easy to repair when issues arise.
We reached out to professional fridge techs and appliance experts to ask them which refrigerator brands were the most reliable and which models they recommend. Here’s what they had to say.
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Whirlpool
Three of the three appliance repair experts we spoke to said Whirlpool was one of the most reliable refrigerator brands. “In my experience, Whirlpool stands out for reliability,” says Brayden Hazlewood of Rectify Home. He recommends the French Door Refrigerator, a 25-cubic foot fridge with French-style doors, a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel exterior and an on-door water and ice dispenser.
“The dual cooling system contributes to its overall durability,” Hazlewood says, which is especially good considering this fridge’s price tag. Hazlewood and other repair techs, however, note they’re simple and easy to fix, meaning they’ll last a long time before you need to replace them.
Appliance expert Xohan Duran also notes Whirlpool has a large service network. “Therefore, repairs are more convenient for homeowners when and if needed,” he says.
Pros
- Reliable fridges that last many years
- Easy to fix
- Special features like water dispenser and humidity control
- Wide service network
Cons
Expensive
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LG
LG was another brand that all of our experts recommended for homeowners looking for a reliable fridge. “These brands are known for their durability and straightforward designs, making troubleshooting and repairs less complicated,” says appliance expert Rick Sun, referring to LG and other brands he recommended.
The InstaView gets our nod for the best LG refrigerator because of the ThinQ app, which sends maintenance alerts and notifications to a smartphone app so you can nip problems in the bud before they become a bigger issue. The same app can be found on the LG MoodUP Refrigerator.
The instant-view window, craft ice maker, and smooth-touch ice dispenser are also nice touches. Don’t worry; it’s Energy Star-certified, so even though it’s filled with impressive features, it won’t increase your utility bills.
Pros
- ThinQ app sends maintenance notifications
- Energy Star-certified fridges
- Craft ice maker
- Instant-view window
Cons
One-year warranty
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Samsung
“For homeowners seeking reliability, Samsung is a top choice,” Hazlewood says. He recommends the Top-Freezer Refrigerator because the FlexZone sets it apart from competitors. The FlexZone is a section that converts from freezer to fridge temperature settings. It also has TwinCooling Plus technology for less freezer burn and more fresh produce.
Apart from the stainless steel finish, this fridge doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other Samsung models, but it does offer reversible door customization and a slide-and-reach pantry in this Energy Star-certified appliance. Samsung is one of the most reliable refrigerator brands and also tops our list of the best wine fridges.
Pros
- FlexZone drawer with climate control
- Energy Star certified
- TwinCooling Plus
- Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish
Cons
No high-end features
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GE
Sun said GE is one of the most reliable refrigerator brands and has minimal issues and easy repairs. “I recommend these brands for their consistent performance, customer satisfaction and availability of replacement parts,” he says of GE and other companies. He specifically mentions this GE Side by Side Refrigerator as a reliable home fridge.
The 25.3-cubic foot, side-by-side refrigerator has ample storage space, including a shelf above the ice maker and edge-to-edge shelves. It doesn’t have many special features aside from the ice and water dispenser, but it’s relatively affordable and with its easy maintenance should last for many years.
GE also tops our list of the best garage refrigerators due to its durability and reliability.
Pros
- Easy to find replacement parts
- Reliable
- Ample storage
- Relatively affordable
Cons
One-year warranty
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Dometic
RV enthusiast Anthony Smith recommends Dometic fridges for people who need a fridge in small spaces, such as campers and RVs, college dorms and studios. He says the brand is known for making high-quality and durable refrigerators. The Dometic CRX Pro 65 comes with a newly designed compressor for increased durability, a removable freezer compartment and weighs 40 pounds, so it’s easily portable.
This is a three-in-one fridge that can be used as a fridge, freezer or both, depending on what you’re chilling. It comes with a three-year warranty, which is better than most full-sized fridges.
Pros
- Durable compressor
- Lightweight
- Can be used as fridge, freezer or both
- Removable freezer compartment
- Three-year warranty
Cons
No color options
What to Look for When Buying a Reliable Fridge
Compressor: The compressor is your fridge’s lifeline, so make sure you’re buying one with a compressor that can do the job. Compressors are evaluated by the cooling capacity, which is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) or cubic feet per hour (CFH). This number indicates how much space the compressor can cool within a given time—a higher CFM or CFH indicates greater cooling capacity.
Ease of repairs: When looking for a reliable fridge, look for ones that have easy-to-reach compartments for simple and quick repairs and troubleshooting information on the website or in the manual. If you get a smart fridge, make sure you’re able to fix the technology on your own if needed or if you’ll have to rely on tech support.
Service network: Before checking out, check to see if the company you’re buying from has service technicians in your area. This allows you to get expert help straight from people who have direct experience with your product.
Replacement parts: Things happen, so make sure it’s easy for you to purchase a spare compressor, motor or other fridge part if needed. Some companies make specialty parts that can only be purchased through them, though most brands’ replacement parts can be found on Amazon, home improvement stores or third-party sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Warranty: Lastly, check to see the fridge’s warranty. To be honest, most fridges only come with a one- or two-year warranty, though you can purchase additional coverage if desired.
How We Found the Most Reliable Fridge Brands
As a former New York City doorman, I researched many high-quality appliances for my tenants. This included refrigerators, washers/dryers and eco-friendly dishwashers. For this roundup, I did what I did back then—spoke to the experts. Appliance experts Rick Sun, Brayden Hazlewood and Xohan Duran told me about the most reliable fridge brands and gave us examples of some of their favorite models from these brands. The experts explained that their top brands had minimal service issues, and when fixes needed to be made, they were simple and quick. I also spoke with Anthony Smith, an RV enthusiast who provided his pick for fridges for RVs.
FAQ
Which refrigerator brand is most reliable?
All three of the appliance experts we spoke to for this roundup said Whirlpool and LG were the most reliable refrigerator brands due to their durability, reliability and ease of repairs. Samsung and GE were also mentioned by our experts as high-quality fridges.
What shortens the life of a refrigerator?
Things that can shorten the life of a refrigerator include not doing regular maintenance and cleaning, keeping it too full, not changing filters and setting temperatures too high or too low.
What is the average cost of a good refrigerator?
A good refrigerator often costs around $1,000, if you want one with a high-quality compressor and motor. Fridges can cost up to $2,000 if you want special features such as an on-door water and ice dispenser, climate control or see-through panels.
Originally Published: February 14, 2024
Author
Anthony O'Reilly
Anthony is an award-winning writer who grew up in the Big Apple but always dreamed of being closer to the mountains, and that's just one reason he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He writes shopping content and in-depth product reviews and is always on the hunt for a good deal.
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