Household Appliances - Which Brands?

[kbarrett]

Well, since this is the "off-topic" thread and I'm getting ready to buy some appliances, I thought I'd tap into the collective wisdom around here.

Need a refrigerator (side-by-side big one with ice maker etc.)
Over the range microwave
Free standing Gas Range.

Looking at all Amana at this point. Any other suggestions?

 

[beenthere]

Amana is what I would pick. I have had terrible luck with GE over the years, and good performance with Amana. Maybe GE is over and done with putting out trash, but I won't take any more chances with them. On the other hand, I just bought an Amana over the range microwave, and it looked IDENTICAL to the GE that was beside it. Go figure. I still bought the Amana. For years, had an old Amana microwave that finally gave out, but it had much better touch pad controls than the new one has. The new one isn't a touch pad, but is more like a punch pad.

 

[rancar]

Kevin,

We have Amana frig for past 14 years...no problems with it. Also have Kenmore washer and dryer. These have worked well for us and I believe Whirlpool holds the contract with Sears in the manufacture of Kenmore. Also have GE above the range microwave. First one we had burned out in 1991 but wasn't fault of GE...it got zapped by lightning during a severe electrical storm we had in which I lost half the appliances in the house. I replaced it with similar GE unit and it has worked fine for 11 years. Hope this helps.

Bob

 

[Richard]

First off, Whirlpool makes Kitchen Aid.

That said, I bought my wife all Kitchen Aid appliances. Having been a biology major, she's a stickler about germs, maybe a touch on the retentitive side (but I never said that /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif )

Her (our) dishwasher is one of those that are stainless steel lined. Not only is it in fact very quiet and does a very good job, she absolutely LOVES the stainless. Looks much cleaner to her.

Microwave over range.. Here we got the Whirlpool "Gold" brand. Not only is it a microwave, it doubles as an exhaust fan..and TRIPLES as a regular convection oven. Yes, the "bake" your bread in rather than microwave.

The convection/microwave/exhaust fan combo we got has got to be one of the nicest touches we did. We use the oven part of it all the time. When company comes over, we use it as a warmer while the regular oven is cranking away.

My vote is to at minimum investigate the convecion/microwave combo and make your own mind up.

We love ours.

Richard

 

[DVerbarg]

We've had good success with frigidaire and kitchenaid, maytag, and Amana. The kitchenaid is just a stovetop and not a stand alone stove. Frigidaire for the wall ovens and refrigerator. Maytag on the dishwasher. The oldest appliances we have are the washer and dryer, both Amana and now going on 8 yrs with no problems (except the time that a nail came out of my pocket, jambed the agitator on the washer and burnt the belt.) My parents have had Amana products for years and have had very little problem with them.

 

[kbarrett]

Whirlpool Gold series is our second choice. It appears that you get a little more bang for the buck with AMANA. We're going reuse our trusty Kenmoor washer and might get a new dryer.

Whirlpool does have that ACCUBAKE feature in their ovens that is pretty cool. Kind of a poor man's convection oven.

Feeling pretty domesticated these days, shopping for appliances no less! Who would have thought I'd find this to be fun. Am I really becoming that dull?

 

[RanchMan]

Whirlpool Washer - 11 yrs - no problems
Whirlpool Dryer - 10 yrs - no problems

GE SxS Frig - 5.5 yrs - no problems
GE OvrHd micro - 5.5 yrs - no problems
GE Elec. Stove - 5.5 yrs - no problems

The washer/dryer are toward the "low end" side - simple, not a lot of whistles/bells. Basic functionality...

Frige has in the door H20 & ice, (crushed & cubed).
Micro has fair # of features, but not "top of the line".
Stove is pretty basic.

Maybe I've just been lucky....

 

[DVerbarg]

Re:<font color=blue>Feeling pretty domesticated these days, shopping for appliances no less! Who would have thought I'd find this to be fun. Am I really becoming that dull?</font color=blue>

No, appliances are just getting that much better.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[PaulinSD]

My wife and I picked up a Hotpoint (GE) fridge this morning at Home Depot. Side x side, water and ice in the door for our move Thursday into our new home. We've had excellent service out of GE appliances. Washer/dryer is mid line Kenmore, again, no problems in 7 years. We currently have a smaller (18cf) fridge in the kitchen, it's a Kenmore, and a fair amount of trouble with the ice maker. It is demoted to behind the wet bar in the family room. My folks have had many Kenmore appliances through the years, with little or no problems. Our last home had a Whirlpool fridge, the best I've ever had.

Paul

 

[JJT]

I'm slightly biased, I get an employee discount on GE appliances, (Profile, GE, Hotpoint).

Washer and dryer - We've had Kenmore, GE and Amana, I'd NEVER buy another GE washer or dryer, they were both problematic. We went with Amana 6 yrs ago, with stainless steel tubs - they're great. I just did the math, in 6 years these units have seen 4000 - 6000 loads of clothes.

Fridge - GE Profile, We have the 30 cubic foot side by side model with ice and water in the door. It's 6 years old with no issues. Prior to this We've had GE, Hotpoint and Kenmore. We truely like the Profile the best.

Dishwashers, We had a Maytag, it was a lemon, had it 3 years and had it serviced 3 times under warrantee and once off warrantee. When the high pressure pump went we swapped in a Profile, it's been problem free for the past 3 years. We've had Kenmore and Hotpoint with no problems, but the Profile is the quietest DW we've ever had.

Cooktop and double ovens are Profile, at the time GE was the only manufacturer of a double 30" oven. Their 5 burner halogen cooktop is awesome.

The Appliance businesses are starting to pick back up. GE is running some great discounts.