Bottom Mount Freezers -- The Best Refrigerator Configuration

According to homeplans.com, the average refrigerator lasts 17 years, and although the average Californian moves more often than he needs to buy a new refrigerator, Mr. Consumer will probably be faced with this sometime. When buying a refrigerator, consumers have basically three options of where the freezer section will be in reference to the refrigerator section: at the top, at the left side, or at the bottom. Refrigerators with the freezer section at the bottom are referred to as "bottom mounts" in the appliance industry. The bottom mount is, for most people, the best design choice for a refrigerator. And, if you remember reading this, and have a different style refrigerator right now, you will thank me for your decision to get a bottom mount when you must replace your refrigerator.

Generally, having the freezer at the bottom saves the prime, most convenient height location for the refrigerator section, which most consumers use far more often than the freezer section. It then places the freezer in the lower, inconvenient location.

Our twelve year old bottom mount Amana (the only manufacturer then of bottom mounts besides the much more expensive Sub Zero) has some of the drawbacks common to older bottom mounts and the cheaper versions out today. Getting ice and frozen items from the freezer on the bottom can be a pain. Although the door is reversible so that it can swing from either side and the shelves roll out, you just about have to get on the floor to find an item that is under something. We use a lot of ice, so the convenience of the ice situation is important. I did buy a second ice caddy, and that has helped.But, each time I want to take out the ice caddy under the ice maker, I must remember to flip the wire that turns off the ice maker so no ice falls without the caddy below it.

Much better is Amana's current higher end style (which we have in a guest house) with the freezer door sliding out, and the two freezer shelves sliding out, also. The ice maker, in the freezer, has an arm that is automatically tripped when the shelf is slid out. This works well. Still, there is no ice and no water in the door (refrigerated filtered water is available inside the refrigerator).

But, if I had to buy a refrigerator today, I would probably get the biggest LG bottom mount I could fit in my space because it appears that LG has come up with some design engineering that has solved some of the problems for the bottom mounts: 1) Ice and water are available through the door, and 2) A more convenient design for freezer door and shelves. Some room has been sacrificed for the icevmaker (which lets you choose among three different sizes of crescents and crushed ice) in the door. (I hate to give up door space as it is so convenient, but the ice has to come from somewhere!)

It is true that I would prefer one big door rather than the two door (called French doors) model, but I am a big and tall person, and I have no problem opening a 36 inch wide door. Frequently opening such a large, and heavily laden door for, say a 100 pound, five foot tall woman may be more than she would want to do.(By the way, years ago when Frigidaire was still part of GM, they made a large bottom mount with a door that they thought was so heavy that when you pulled on the handle, an electric helper motor opened the door.) And the French doors are half as wide as the full door would be, so they protrude half the distance into the room compared to the same size refrigerator with one full door. Still, I would like to see LG offer the option of one full door with the ice and water in th door.

For the freezer, LG has borrowed from the newer higher end Amanas -- and even some GE designs from the Sixties: The door slides out, as do the two shelves/baskets, the top of which is shallow and the bottom, deeper. I've used both, and this is by far the best. It is easy to see how this is more expensive to manufacture. It should, however, make the freezer gasket last longer.

I just read a lot of user reviews of the LG refrigerators, and I must say that I wish they were better. Some were excellent, but too many were not. The responsibility for this is something that seems to be shared by LG and Home Depot. I have talked personally a few months ago to an LG repairman, and he was very positive about their machines. Where I live, LG is available at Home Depot and Best Buy. The established, locally owned appliance stores carry many brands, but not LG. And, in searching for images, I did see an LG for me: bottom freezer, single refrigeator door, and it looks like it has ice and water on the door!