Samsung RFG237AARS Refrigerator

...since this replaced a 17+ year old General Electric unit that hasn't missed a beat since day one (and continues to serve in the garage). So the bar is set high for long-term reliability: it needs to meet the "zero service calls in 17 years" standard to compete with the unit it replaced!

Pros:
-Appearance: sleek stainless front (non-magnetic...this will cut down on some of our visual kitchen clutter!) and grey sides. The stainless will show fingerprints, so be aware if kids are frequent users.

-French (dual) door refrigerator area. Doors can be opened separately if you know what side your stuff is on.

-Two produce drawers with independently adjustable humidity controls.

-Full width "pantry drawer" with separately adjustable temperature control. Accommodates a deli tray, a pizza box (a Domino's large box fits easily) or whatever.

-Left door exterior has an ice maker (cubed or crushed) and chilled water dispenser.

-Quiet operation.

-Easy to use LED control panel for ice, water and temperature options; also provides notification of water filter status.

-Good volume (23 cubic feet) in a smaller "counter depth" footprint (although it still extends approximately 3" beyond our the edge of our counters).

Cons:
Please note that these aren't inherently issues with *this* refrigerator, but things to consider if your kitchen is smaller or house is older.

-Water line access. Our old refrigerator did not have an ice maker, so the ease (or *not*) of running a water line to it was not an issue. It became one when it came time to prepare the kitchen for the arrival of this unit. Our cabinetry did not allow easy access from the kitchen sink supply, and access in the basement was restricted by finishing work completed several years ago. If you don't already have an established relationship with a reliable plumber: you'll want to get one! You'll also want to add something extra to your budget if yours is going to placed where there isn't already a water line.

-Height: although this is "counter depth", it is a very tall machine. It's 67 7/8" overall (for the hinge enclosures) and 69 1/8" from the hinge enclosures to the rear of the machine. This did NOT provide clearance under our existing cabinets, so the installer had to remove the cabinet and trim the bottom. As with our old refrigerator, the two-door cabinet directly overhead is essentially lost for use. In addition, the hinge enclosures on this extend more than six inches back...even though there is clearance under the cabinet, there is not enough room for the cabinet doors to clear the hinges. Similarly, between the overhang of the cabinet and the extent of the hinge enclosures: forget about putting anything on top of this refrigerator if its under a cabinet. We made our purchase from a local appliance store. They were happy to remove, trim and reinstall the cabinet. They were also happy to take a separate check for this service. Again: not a problem with the refrigerator, but a consideration for your upgrade planning...and your budget.

-Water filters: Samsung replacement water filters are rated for about 300 gallons or six months of service. At around apiece, you'll be spending an additional /year for consumables (in addition to the energy costs).

-Energy: this refrigerator ranks at the upper range of ENERGY STAR ratings for similar sized units: electricity estimates for this unit are 537 KHW/year in a class of refrigerators that consume from 457 to 539 KHW. While it comes at at 20% under the Energy Star standard (673 KHW), I'd suggest that any long term savings from its Energy Star certification will likely be offset by the cost of water filter replacement. This also is not a direct complaint about the refrigerator, but something to plan for in its ownership life cycle.

Nice looking, full featured...assuming it works without problems over the long haul, a nice piece of work from Samsung.