Freezer & Fridge - Size and recommendations.

[dhutch]

First question; will a 186 cm tall freezer fit into a 1858 mm gap? Obviously they have adjustable feet, but if it doesn't fit that could be a pita.

Secondly; recommendations of brand/spec/etc. Samsung appear to come well reviewed, and my parents have just got a Liebherr which is very nice compared to the rather noisy Lec which failed literately about a fortnight after its 5yr warranty ran out.

We are after a matching, separate, fridge and freezer. Noise is very important, as is build quality, I want to enjoy living with it for the next 20 years. Not overly keen on the big american type, or having a cold water dispenser, but a compact internal ice maker is fine.

So far I have found the Samsung freezer has an ice makes and handles are fixed sides right hinge for fridge left for freezer cost is about £600/620, Liebherr is reversible and claims to be half the cost per year to run which on one level is only £20pa saving but on the other hand has to be commended cost is 800/950.

Samsung
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/freezers/samsung-r...
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/fridges/samsung-rr...

Liebherr
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/freezers/liebherr-...


Daniel

[DanL]

I like my Miele fridge / freezer - nice and quiet...

[hornmeister]

Sizing - I'd say not. Even if removing the adjustable feet makes the fridge small enough, most standalone appliances recommend an air gap all the way round.

With respect to noise and reliability, My Hotpoint frost free, freezes up and sounds like a pizza delivery moped. I've take it apart and improved the situation with some modifications but the build quality is shocking.
I had Bosch for many years which passed on to my parents as back up units in an unheated garage and they're still working and as silent as the day I bought them.

[indigochim]

My experience with appliance sizing is they they post a dimension that they think is what you need to know but what you actually want may be different. I learnt this the hard way when a Samsung washing machine I bought to fit inside a cupboard was way too deep, apparently it's the norm not to include the plastic fascia and door in the dimensions and just the metal part. I'd find the one you like in store and measure it. Keeping in mind what has already been said about air gabs and clearances.

I've previously had a Leibherr that was fantastic replaced now with separate AEG fridge and freezers I'd not recommend these, apparently now owned by the same co as Hotpoint so there seems to be a theme here. The Freezer has been replaced once due to the racket it made but the replacement has started making noises too.

[netherfield]

Read this before buying samsung

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[dickymint]

Top end LG stuff is my choice

[RizzoTheRat]

My Bosch ones are about 12 years old and still going fine, as are the Bosch dishwasher and washing machine I bought at the same time. Of course there's no guarantee the build quality is as good 12 years on, but I've always considered Bosch to be a decent midrange reliable manufacturer for white goods.

[Sticks.]

RizzoTheRat said:

My Bosch ones are about 12 years old and still going fine, as are the Bosch dishwasher and washing machine I bought at the same time. Of course there's no guarantee the build quality is as good 12 years on, but I've always considered Bosch to be a decent midrange reliable manufacturer for white goods.

I thought the same. But last time I went to buy a washing machine at a long established indy, he said they were no longer made in Germany, weren't so good, unlike Siemens, which still was. His opinion, some time ago, fwiw.

What I did notice when I recently wanted a cheap fridge was that all the ones available were clearly the same kit but with different names and some double the price. And John Lewis was as often cheap as anywhere when you added in delivery etc.

I'd opt for one with the longest manufacturer's warranty I could afford.

[dhutch]

Miele appliances seem generally good, but they are also eye wateringly expensive so they have been ruled out I think.

The space has a vent up the back behind the cupboard over where the freezer and fridge will be. It just seems that's a really common size, if also that there are loads of random sizes available. Just trying to match it up after the previous owners took the originals the kitchen was designed around. Sounds like I need to go to a shop and measure some and or chat to someone. Sigh.

That thread on Samsung doesn't inspire confidence, although they appear to do well on Which reviews for reliability. Joined for a few months as we're obviously fitting out a whole house.

Seems to be a race to the bottom more and more, but then I would rather pay £600 than £850 and have ruled out £1200 each for a pair of Miele units.


Daniel

[RizzoTheRat]

There was a thread on here recently with someone moaning that he was having a lot of trouble with a Meilie kit in his new kitchen, so I'm not sure they're as good these days either.

[Skyedriver]

Fridge - we have a Hotpoint, stands about 1600mm high, had it a few years now and despite the occasional poor review in t'internet it's been fine BUT it does continually sing. That is a regular comment on reviews and it doesn't seem to be fixable. Doesn't annoy us unduly in the kitchen BUT when in the dining room and it's quiet it gets on your tits a bit.
Freezer - Last year we bought a Lieberr (spelling) which is about 1500mm high as wife wanted bigger than the usual 850 high but didn't feel a full height one was necessary. Sometimes it is actually full and we are struggling BUT do you really need to store a much as we do? (Well actually yes sometimes if you've two tubs of ice cream, 4 boxes of recently stewed apples off a tree, two tubs of blackberries, 4 or 5 different loafs to save the 20 mile round trip to the shops etc). Nice freezer though.

[dhutch]

Skyedriver said:

Last year we bought a Liebherr which is about 1500mm high as wife wanted bigger than the usual 850 high but didn't feel a full height one was necessary. Sometimes it is actually full and we are struggling BUT do you really need to store a much as we do? Nice freezer though.

Sounds good. We eat all our meals in the kitchen, and were both quite fuss about noise from humm lights and the like so quiet is very important and singing is right out!

Point taken about the amount of space, but in short, I expect we will use it. My partner is very in to making double when we need and freezing it, which she then uses when doing a week of nights. I have been known to get half a lamb wholesale. Always like to have a loaf in the freezer, etc. The hope being that with a huge fridge and freezer we can avoid a garage fridge freezer while also filling the large hole in the kitchen units!

I like the price and internal slimline icemaker of the Samsung, but from this thread and the fact my parents are super happy with theirs, leading towards a pat of the Liebherr.

Daniel

[dhutch]

Just need a good independent in the Wiral/Liverpool area.

[-Ad-]

Be aware that Liebherr make Miele refrigeration. Same product, same factory, different badge.

Love our full height Liebherr integrated 600 fridge and 600 freezer, both side by side. Not cheap but really worth the extra outlay. The soft close hinges are ace and internal lightning on both are excellent so you don't need any spots to light them. Silent most of the time also.

Plumbed in ice maker in the freezer is also brilliant and just works away until it fills a draw.

We looked at bargain brands and were not impressed, Siemens ones seemed to be not a lot better than cheap Beko/Gorenje, but had a silly price. We even looked at Gagg, but they were no better than a Liebherr with some stainless steel sheet inside and an electric height adjustable shelf. £7k+ please..............

[Crumpet]

Ill just add that my Samsung managed to last 8 years, which I’d say is pretty poor and I wouldn’t buy one again. Noisy bugger as well!

These days I’m starting to think buying either dirt cheap or top-end expensive is the way to go. I find the middle ground a bit and miss and no better than cheap brands like Beko.

[TooMany2cvs]

(Of Bosch)

Sticks. said:

But last time I went to buy a washing machine at a long established indy, he said they were no longer made in Germany, weren't so good, unlike Siemens, which still was. His opinion, some time ago, fwiw.

We bought a fairly entry-level Bosch washer earlier this year, WAN28201. It's made in Poland, rather than Germany. This is not a difference I can get particularly excited about.

[dhutch]

-Ad- said:

... Liebherr make Miele refrigeration. Same product, same factory, different badge...

Love our full height Liebherr integrated 600 fridge and 600 freezer, both side by side. Not cheap but really worth the extra outlay. The soft close hinges are ace and internal lightning on both are excellent so you don't need any spots to light them. Silent most of the time also.

Plumbed in ice maker in the freezer is also brilliant and just works away until it fills a draw.

.....

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the review. How old (what model?) are your pair of Liebherr?

Thanks

[51mes]

Biggest problem with a fitted full height unit, is the doors, I've found all devices even initially of the same size don't match up 60:40 30:70 etc are only approximations, ended up having to find the latest version of the model we had to be able to reuse the cupboard doors to allow top and bottom opening. Otherwise you would have to separate the cupboard door from the fridge/freezer door...

S.

[dhutch]

51mes said:

Biggest problem with a fitted full height unit, is the doors, I've found all devices even initially of the same size don't match up 60:40 30:70 etc are only approximations, ended up having to find the latest version of the model we had to be able to reuse the cupboard doors to allow top and bottom opening. Otherwise you would have to separate the cupboard door from the fridge/freezer door...

S.

Fortunately these will be 'freestanding' units, with kitchen units to the side and over the top, rather than built in units behind doors.

As a design engineer by trade, I never ceases to amaze as to why these sorts of things don't all come with simple technical drawing of the key dims, including feet adjustment range and the like. Would take the junior designer on the team about 15 minutes at the end of the job! However its something Liebherr appear to do which is very nice.


Daniel

Edited by dhutch on Tuesday 23 October 10:44

[-Ad-]

dhutch said:

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the review. How old (what model?) are your pair of Liebherr?

Thanks

Freezer - SIGN3576.
Fridge - IKB3560

They do an IKBP3560 fridge but it's more expensive and offers nothing other than a smidge quieter. Hardly hear them anyway, unless you put them on super boost (say when you fill them after a huge shop, to get the temp down quickly).

Grabbed them from Cooks and Company (discount appliance center), who were excellent and gave us a good deal there. 2 of the fridges arrived damaged (not sure the packaging was good enough), but was switched out by Liebherr quickly both times!

Can post a pic of them installed if you fancy.