Abby Brown wrote:

Hi,

We are about to replace our 28 year old Kenmore with a new refrigerator. An
ice maker is a given. I've looked at similar looking refrigerators that
range from $800 to $2500. I would assume the more expensive units are
better built but otherwise don't have a clue what I am paying for.

Thanks,
Gary

In general the mid-upper priced units will be better built, fit, finish
and durability than the lowest end units. The highest prices units
usually only differ from the upper middle priced units in the foofy
brand name badge on them.

The first thing to determine is what style you prefer as this is very
subjective and based on your typical use and will drive your other
decisions.

The top freezer models are typically the most efficient from an
operating cost perspective, but in my opinion horribly inefficient from
an ergonomic and daily use perspective since they force you to bend down
constantly to get routine stuff from the refrigerator.

The bottom freezer models are ok, however I find that since the bottom
drawer requires stacking items on top of each other, they can be pretty
inefficient organizationally, and also problematic when you have a pan
of something you need to chill, can't find a flat surface in the freezer
drawer, or have slosh issues trying to close the freezer drawer.

I prefer the side by side configuration since it eliminates most of the
stacking and flat space issues, eliminates slosh issues, and allows you
to organize both the refrigerator and freezer sections to avoid bending
for commonly accessed items.

Once you get past the style selection, you look for operating cost
(energy star rating), durability of the construction, functionality of
shelves, bins, etc., warranty, parts availability, operating controls (I
prefer digital with real temp displays vs. arbitrary numbers), and
serviceability.