Showing posts with label bar refrigerators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bar refrigerators. Show all posts

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Electrolux Icon Professional E23BC68JPS 36 22.6 cu. ft. Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator

Electrolux Icon Professional E23BC68JPS 36 22.6 cu. ft. Counter-Depth French Door RefrigeratorWe just replaced all of our kitchen appliances. Quite frankly, it was not a pleasant experience. To begin with a conclusion, if your appliances are working fine, think twice before replacing them.

This frig was purchased to replace a 16 year old Amana side by side that was quiet, cooled well but bore the marks of age.

This Electrolux Icon was already 20 months old when it was delivered. We had been told it was being built for us as there were several delays in receiving it. When I called the first time to get service, I was refused warranty due to the age of the product. When I told them I just bought it, I was put on hold for about a 1/2 hour. Then a short return, put on hold again and another 1/2 hour wait. Finally I was able to register the product and begin the process of getting it repaired. Not a good start and the beginnings of my suspicions this frig had been owned, and registered to, someone else in the past.

As delivered:

Large dent in door running from the top of the door to the bottom.

The other door had a large swirl mark in it.

Ice maker was useless. Took about a week to fill the basket.

Custom Temp drawer would alternate between freezing and too cold even at its lowest temperature setting.

Water filter would pop out on it own.

Food stains behind one of the shelves. Filthy (dirt/dust) seals around the doors.

We're European and not used to the super cold temperatures Americans use. The lowest this frig will go is 42. Perhaps ok for many but not at all what we are used to. Trying to store cheeses or good cold cuts means they come out hard as a rock, impossible to separate slices of meats without a lengthy warm-up period and damaged cheeses when the Custom Temp drawer decides to freeze.

Described by Electrolux as normal: The doors do not close flush with each other. One sticks out more than the other. No way to adjust. Flimsy. The box flexes with simply opening a door. Then close the door and hope its aligned reasonably close to the other door.

We've had the repairman over twice so far. My guess is we will be seeing him again.

Pros:

Lots of bling and attractive.

Cons:

Flimsy construction, poor quality, somewhat difficult company to deal with, though the repair people are excellent, noisy.

Compared to the Amana, which cost a good bit less than half what the Electrolux cost, this frig is a major step in the wrong direction.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Genuine Viking Pa010071 Light/motor Controller Knob

Genuine Viking Pa010071 Light/motor Controller Knob
  • Original Manufacturer's Part
  • Not a Replacement Part

The knob broke that was on my Viking hood. The hood was 12 years old. In looking at the old knob the design was not very good around the area where it met with the dimmer shaft. I ordered two new knobs. Good thing because the style changed slightly. But the price I got them for shipped was considerably less then if I ordered directly through Viking, they wanted $15 to ship them. The design also changed on the knobs where they meet the shaft of the dimmer. So if you have an older Viking hood and you have two knobs you will want to order both unless having two different styled knobs do not bother you.

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The part didn't fit, so I basically tossed it in the trash. Waste of time and money. Makes me wonder if part was indeed a "genuine" Viking part.

Read Best Reviews of Genuine Viking Pa010071 Light/motor Controller Knob Here

I really didn't like the hood missing the knob so I paid the price. The part is fine, it may not match your old knob (mine didn't) but it was close. I would have given it 5 stars if the price was about half. But since it is so over priced, they get 3 stars.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Maytag MFF2558VEM 24.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator - Energy Star

Maytag MFF2558VEM 24.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator - Energy StarI love this refrigerator. I have owned it for a year and a half (with no problems). Below is my opinion based on each feature:

1. French Doors. I love them. THe left door has a flap that sort of flattens out as you close the door to seal against the right door. Because of the little flap, the right crisper drawer does not pull all the way out if the left door is closed. Alternatively, you CAN keep the right door closed and pull the left crisper drawer all the way out. Anyhow I usually end up opening both doors when i go to the fridge, so it will take 2 hands, but i still love the french door look.

2. Inside water dispenser. Love that too. THe only bad design is the button to get the water is a few inches above the actual dispenser. it is difficult for me to get a glass of water with one hand; i usually hold the glass with one hand and press the button with the other. But i do like this design much better than the 'outside of the door' water dispenser; i think this fridge has a cleaner look. I didn't even notice the inside water dispenser at first, it takes up VERY LITTLE room which is great!

3. Drawer freezer. I like it enough for what I have (bachelorette food like hot pockets and lean cuisines). I expected it to hold a bit more than it really does. I do like the fact that it's wire baskets that hold my food rather than a solid surface; sorta eliminates cleaning. THe reason i don't TOTALLY love this freezer is simply because if I had a bowl of liquid, i would have to be VERY CAREFUL to freeze it (such as an extra water bowl for my dog). Anything you want to be in the freezer will need to move/slide to get it in there i have to only fill the bowl 1/2 full of water or else it will spill when i close the freezer door.

4. Adjustable "no spill" shelves. These are great. Everything is adjustable which is perfect for me. I adjust them quite a bit actually. Also there is a small lip on each shelf so if something leaks, it won't drip down the back wall of the fridge. I like this idea. Also the shelves pull out a few inches in case you have something in the back you need to reach.

Overall this is a great fridge. It also beeps after a few minutes if you accidently don't close a door all the way. Temperature of both the fridge and freezer are displayed at the top inside of the fridge. Very easy/intiutive to adjust. Those small flaws listed above are very easy for me to live with; i would buy this refrigerator again. And, i love the stainless steel look!

Owned for six months. Worked great until starting running very hot. Stopped working all together. Under warranty, obviously, and replacement parts ordered. The replacement parts they sent me were themselves defective and had to replace the replacement parts. Long story short, Thanksgiving canceled and without a fridge for a month. Maytag, which after doing some research online, has suffered dramatically over the years in terms of quality and simply does not deserve its relatively decent reputation they still enjoy. This brand is garbage.

Buy Maytag MFF2558VEM 24.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator - Energy Star Now

Three month old unit. Made loud noises the evening before the freezer section quit.

After five days , an authorized Maytag technician attempted to repair the refrigerator

only to find that the specified replacement part was too large to place in the

refrigerator.

After working on the unit and talking to a number of people, he called the refrigerator

non-repairable.

He contacted Whirlpool/Maytag and ordered an entire replacement refrigerator (fingers crossed).

Thank heaven we bought an independent extended coverage policy.

By the way, Whirlpool/Maytag has a limited warranty which they were "kind" enough to

cite over the phone that says, even for brand new products, they will not cover "any

food or medicine loss due to refrigerator or freezer product failures". Which just about

says don't put more in their refrigerators than you can eat in 24 hours or so.

Read Best Reviews of Maytag MFF2558VEM 24.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator - Energy Star Here

We purchased a Maytag refrigerator in July of 2012. It quit working in October. Maytag repairman did not have the replacement compressor that was needed. Home Depot brought us another refrigerator 10 days later. That refrigerator worked until the beginning of May 2013 (7 months later). Home Depot brought us another refrigerator 7 days later. We contacted Maytag after we received the new refrigerator and they were not willing to send us any compensation for aggravation or loss of food. Their customer service to say the least is non-responsive. We will never buy another Maytag refrigerator and we tell everyone we know not buy a Maytag refrigerator. Maytag had to know these refrigerators were defective and they should have recalled them. Home Depot Appliance manager told us there were multiple customers who had issues with these refrigerators.

They're are many manufactures of appliances and our advice would be not to buy maytag!

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I was excited to try my 1st french door with bottom freezer at our new house. I was sorely disappointed by this feature--the freezer is VERY easy to leave slightly ajar without knowing it, which happens often with the kids and mother-in-law. The fridge left-side door does not always close completely even with a firm push--you will hear a noise like it is closed, but if you don't check to make sure it is closed 50% of the time it is still ajar. Freezer light socket stopped working after 6 months, not a burnt out bulb. The freezer has pool of water/ice collecting right at the 1-year mark of ownership. Ice melts every day or two and leaks out of fridge and has ruined our hardwood floor. Turned off water supply to ice maker, didn't solve issue. Seems to be an issue with the auto-defrost cycle water leaking into freezer.

If I had it to do over again I would have at a minimum gone with a unit that had an alarm to notify you when the door is left ajar--or I would have gone with a better brand that has a spring loaded mechanism to thrust the door shut every time. I also would not buy a bottom freezer model--even though the freezer is 50% bigger than our last top-freezer model due to the annoying design of the slide out drawers you lost a TON of storage space. Also, the pull out design is horrible for energy efficiency, think of it this way, you pull all the cold items out into the warm kitchen, which removes virtually all the cold air in one swoop. The Energy Star rating likely does not take this into account.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

AquaFresh Replacement Refrigerator Filter for Whirlpool 4396701, 2-Pack

AquaFresh Replacement Refrigerator Filter for Whirlpool 4396701, 2-PackI had read the reviews & was a little concerned with the mixes reviews.

I popped one in & it works great. Very pleased with the price & the prosuct

The filter is very easy to change I have used this type of filter for almost 2years and have never had any type of problem

Buy AquaFresh Replacement Refrigerator Filter for Whirlpool 4396701, 2-Pack Now

I installed this filter on my refrigerator on 5/3/2013. I woke up this morning (5/31/2013) to a flood in my kitchen. Water was pouring out from around the filter. I did not have this problem with other filters that I've installed.

Read Best Reviews of AquaFresh Replacement Refrigerator Filter for Whirlpool 4396701, 2-Pack Here

Ok now but plastic taste to water for a couple of weeks when first installed. Possibly pre-soaking filter first may help.

Want AquaFresh Replacement Refrigerator Filter for Whirlpool 4396701, 2-Pack Discount?

Easy to replace. Same as factory unit. Price is competitive.

Make sure to frequently check for leaks after installing filter.

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Sunday, June 1, 2014

Whirlpool Part Number ER2187172 : Door Bin, Deep

Whirlpool Part Number ER2187172 : Door Bin, Deep
  • WHITE DOOR BIN Made by Exact Replacement Parts
  • HELP YOU ORGANIZE AND KEEP TRACK OF THE FOOD
  • Exact Replacement Meets or exceeds Manufacture Specs And Quality
  • Approximately 18" W x 6.5" D x 3"H.
  • 2187172, 2187194K, 2187194, AP3046299

This product arrived just as promised. The seller offered very competitive pricing and sent my order to me in a super timely fashion. I would certainly buy from this seller again!!!

Buy Whirlpool Part Number ER2187172 : Door Bin, Deep Now

I was very pleased with the product I ordered, it was promised in 10 days and we received it in only 4 days. They were very prompt and effecient.

Read Best Reviews of Whirlpool Part Number ER2187172 : Door Bin, Deep Here

I loved that I paid so much less for these shelves here, on the other websites I would have only gotten 2 for the price I got 3 here for. Hopefully they are going to hold up better than the original ones which are suppose to hold a gallon of milk and more but started cracking after just a few years. Glad at least I can buy new ones online.

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One of my refrigerator shelves broke awhile ago and I hadn't replaced it due to the cost. I finally looked it up on Amazon, hoping to get lucky. Sure enough! I found it and at a cheaper prize then buying from the vendor. It has worked great and saved a lot of shelf space for me. Yeah!

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We got the stock number off bottom of refrigerator shelf and it was perfect match. It came so fast too.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Samsung RF263BEAESR

Samsung RF263BEAESRWe've done a lot of research prior to getting this one . It had good reviews, and now 2 years using it we are absolutely satisfied they were all true. The design is great: spacious and functional at the same time. All fixtures are sturdy and high quality (compared to similar models by other brands that look the same but are really flimsy using plastic instead of glass for shelves). Interior design is very convenientwe find the retractable and folding shelves are very useful. The water quality is fantastic the filter is excellent, and the dispenser design is clean and efficient. The best is that we got it the very last moment at the Sears on-line special for 1535 including tax and installation, but it is still a great deal even at the current rate . We had to wait a moth for delivery, but it was worth it.

I love the layout of this refrigerator. However, it has had problems. Thankfully we bought the extended warranty and had to use it twice. Our neighbor next door bought the same one a year after us and is also having problems. Water drips down the inside back of the refrigerator and freezes your deli drawer closed. My neighbor is not only having that problem but her ice maker is intermittent. If you love the inside of this refrigerator and have to have it make sure you get an extended warranty because you will be using it!!!

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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Vinotemp VT-KENDALL WB Kendall 42-Bottle Wine-Cellar Credenza with Dual-Zone Thermoelectric Cooling

Vinotemp VT-KENDALL WB Kendall 42-Bottle Wine-Cellar Credenza with Dual-Zone Thermoelectric Cooling System
  • Handsome wine-cellar credenza holds up to 42 bottles
  • 2 separate 21-bottle refrigerated wine compartments
  • Hybrid cooling withthermoelectric technology
  • Storage drawer; 2 open compartments with stemware racks
  • Measures 19-2/3 by 44-8/9 by 35-4/5 inches

I ordered this cabinet on 12/6/10 and still haven't gotten it back since it showed up here completely destroyed (and I'm not exaggerating) it was literally falling apart, it is now 1/11/11. I sent it back with UPS and they are investigating the damage and that they are working with Amazon but I have yet to hear from Amazon about the whole situation. UPS told me that I just needed to wait for them to finish the investigation and they would send back to seller. I'm not sure when that will be and I'm very dissapointed with Amazon for not even giving me a phone call to explain the process. Amazon certainly charged me the $1700 cost from day one though. My next large furniture purchase will be from a physical store for certain.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Haier HBCN05FVS 150-Can Beverage Center

Haier HBCN05FVS 150-Can Beverage Center
  • Beverage center for chilling and storing up to 150 12-ounce cans
  • 4 full-width adjustable vinyl-coated shelves hold both cans and bottles
  • Adjustable thermostat; reversible glass door with recessed handle
  • Removable lower bottle rack; automatic defrost; lock and key for optional security
  • Measures 21-1/4 by 20-1/2 by 31-3/8 inches

My beverage center arrived quickly and we were quite eager to get it up and running as my husband always takes too much space in the fridge with his bottled water, soda pop and beer. Just as advertised, it holds a lot of stuff!

The honeymoon ended quickly though, when we found that we could not get the temp to go below 49 degrees, which is pretty tepid for any cold beverage and absolutely unacceptable for beer. We tried everything, reread instructions, etc. You can only set it on a dial, there no indication of what the temp actually is...so we bought a thermometer and got the bad news that despite being on the coldest setting possible, we weren't getting below 49-50, which according to the thermometer we bought is actually in the "danger" zone of letting bacteria breed.

So, we call the manufacturer who says that we should have know it is a "cooler" not a fridge and will only keep beverages 20 degrees cooler than the ambient temp in the house. What a crock!!!!!!

So, we're stuck with a piece of equip that barely cools things down.

I suggest anyone interested in purchasing these things, now matter the price, be well informed between the differences of cooler and refrigerator. I have learned an expensive lesson.

Buy Haier HBCN05FVS 150-Can Beverage Center Now

This thing broke in 9 months. Never really got drinks cold anyway. More of a "chiller" than refrigerator. Get something else.

Read Best Reviews of Haier HBCN05FVS 150-Can Beverage Center Here

Reading all the other reviews of this product......you have to blame the error of the customers and not the product itself.

If you have ever owned a Wine Fridge.....you know it is NOT a refrigerator....that is not its purpose. If the other reviewers wanted a beverage holder that was able to keep food in it or keep beverages below 40degrees....then they should have gotten a REFRIGERATOR...not a wine fridge/chiller.

So knowing that....let us give an honest and realistic review of this item based on what it was actually designed for.

This unit while not the highest frills of wine chillers is attractive with a stainless steel trim on the door and a glass front and a black body. The door is reversible and it has an internal blue LED interior light you can turn on/off depending on your mood. It does not have a Temperature indicator with a simple dial for temperature with MIN to MAX indicators. It is simple and attractive.....and given its price....thats to be expected. I purchased a suction cup thermometer that faces out and mounts to the interior of the glass door for like 2$.

It comes with 4 adjustable racks and the nice bonus of a bottom storage area rack that has not been present in other wine chillers I have purchased. It allows you to stack cans on the bottom on their side so they don't roll out.

My unit is new and I purchased it as it is replacing an old Urbina thermoelectric wine chiller that finally crapped out after 2.5 years (It was dirt cheap so no big whoop). We will see if this unit is the exception.

Lets be honest......these units don't tend to last more than 3 years on average so if you are worried about that a higher end unit may be to your liking....but you will pay a pricey premium for actual fridge-like beverage centers like GE's.....or just invest in a long extended warranty so you can be re-imbursed should it fail within 3 years (this is what I did).

This unit unlike my old model has an actual compressor and sealed coolant system which is a luxury at this price range....usually you are getting a thermo-electric cooling system at prices below 200$.

I will update my review in the coming months but so far my unit on MAX is cooling better than expected with an average of 33F below room temp:

(Current Results = Room Temp 75F / Cooler Temp 42F )

* NOTE: Cooler is in a shaded corner away from direct sunlight...and this is also one of the 'newer' models in stores now.

Hopefully this informed and realistic review will help others. This is good unit for the price if you want a beverage chiller. It is similar to units they use at bars and convenience stores on or near the counter. Your beverages will be chilled but they will not be ice cold. Your white wine will be in the perfect temperature range (depending on the temp of your home or room)......which is exactly what this unit was designed for.

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The fridge looks great, would be a perfect for beer, and I thought would be perfect for my bar. Only problem is that it is junk. It does not get cold whatsoever. Might as well stick your beer outside at night to get it cooler. Do not buy unless you know how to rig the thermostat.

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Having read the reviews about the lowest temperature this gets to, I was skeptical, but decided to buy this one anyway. Mostly because of the price and the fact that it fit almost perfectly in the space where the old one was.

Although this is NOT meant for built in spaces, I had a planned workaround. Anyway, my first tests were with the fridge in the middle of an 80F room with plenty of air circulation and no direct sun. Note that this unit does not have a condenser fan (the fan on the back of most larger refrigerators). Instead, the coils are behind the side panels, so they do get very warm. Anyway, because there is no fan, you should not use it built in.

So how did it do? I used a temperature logging device with my laptop and a power meter. On the maximum setting, it cycles on for 30-45 minutes and then off for about 30 minutes. It uses about 80 watts when on (0 watts when off, unless you have the LED's on so maybe a watt) and the temperature ranged from 35F to 45F with a median temperature of 41 (that's what a can of beer or soda would be at any given time because of its thermal mass).

80 watts seemed like a lot of energy for such a small unit, but since Amazon doesn't provide energy data for these, there's no way to compare.

Just for grins, I tried putting the unit in the cabinets (with 1/2" side clearance, 2" on top and 4" in the back) with no modifications. While it did cool about as well as in the open, it ran almost continuously, turning off only for about 5 minutes every 2 hours. That would be a huge energy hog so what I did was put a ~5" diameter muffin fan in the side of the cabinet such that it drew cool air from an adjacent area (the drawer section) and exhausted it into the area where the fridge is. Since the only openings were towards the front, that gave good circulation all around. I had an old Sears Craftsman power switch that I wasn't using (the kind normally used to turn on an accessory when a tool is turned on) that now turns the fan on whenever it senses the fridge is running. The added fan draws 10 watts, but it keeps the fridge from running constantly so it will save electricity. In fact, it may actually may run less than when it was in the open because of the added air circulation.

I find the unit is quiet (sorry don't have a decibel meter), but it is in the family room where the TV is and is not objectionable. Even when it was out in the open and not in the cabinet, it wasn't too loud.

I wish it was more energy efficient, but considering the price it is a good buy.

UPDATE 8-9-12:

I found that having the blue LED lights on affects the temperature inside. That's because the power supply for the LED is in a section of the housing where the thermostat is. If you have the lights on all the time, they generate a small amount of heat which makes the thermostat think the whole fridge is warmer. Thus it will run longer and get the inside about 5 degrees colder. This could explain why some people say the temperature inside is too warm. If you want to get it colder, try turning ON the blue LEDs!

I lowered my initial rating from 4 to 3 stars because of poor Haier customer service. I needed to get a new plastic plug that covers the hole in the door left from reversing the hinges (it was jammed in so tight and it is soft plastic so it got mashed up when I tried to remove it). The manufacturer basically said too bad, you have to buy a new one! This is for a part that couldn't cost more than a quarter.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Hamilton Beach 80674 Replacement Water Filter

Hamilton Beach 80674 Replacement Water FilterHamilton Beach really ruined their reputation with us. These filters are so outrageously priced and hard to find. They could save money by selling just the filters.... without the plastic reuseable filter holders.

The filters come as a 2-pack which includes the plastic holder... the cost... $8$12 !!!

The unit does not fit into the resevoir as indicated. The factory said this is the way it is supposed to fit. The problem is the filter sits about 1/2" above the area it is supposed to fit in. Therefore it does not filter in my opinion. There is a 1/2" gap with no filter. I got it to work but cutting off 2 of the legs and pushing into the seat. It then fit.

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product works great and much cheaper than at hamilton beach website for obtaining replacement parts and products. the filter is hard to find in stores or elsewhere online so price is quite reaonable and you get a bonus of the filter holders in two different sizes. i use the filter to cut the bitter taste from the tap water as the water here is very alkaline.

Read Best Reviews of Hamilton Beach 80674 Replacement Water Filter Here

We received this item on Feb 8th. Good price after shopping around. Only problem is that the handle is TOO short. When you put it into the water well, the handle sits about half way down the well. Had to use the old handle that came with the coffee pot. Should be able to buy just the filters themselves..

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If you are living where the water is hard and full of minerals, you will want to filter your coffee water as I do with these replacement filters for the Hamilton Beach coffee maker. The hardest part has been remembering to replace the filter every couple of months.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Select WF-LC400V Kenmore, KitchenAid, Thermador and Whirlpool Compatible Refrigerator Water Filter

Select WF-LC400V Kenmore, KitchenAid, Thermador and Whirlpool Compatible Refrigerator Water Filter
  • The Select Replacement Filter fits all refrigerators that use Whirlpool / KitchenAid/ Thermador 4396508 & 4396510 water filters, or Kenmore 46-9902, 46-9908, and 46-9010 water filters.
  • Retains the flouride in drinking water. Filters out chlorine, turbidity, sediment, dirt, and rust

Quick delivery, easy to install and had good directions. Make sure you run the water through the filter as the instructions say or the dispenser will leak until the water line is flowing smoothly.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Kitchenaid KBCS24RSBS Freestanding or Built-In Architect Series II

Kitchenaid KBCS24RSBS Freestanding or Built-In Architect Series II
  • Offers 3 zone chilling for personalized use
  • Contemporary design flatters decor
  • Removable racks provide custom storage options
  • Capable of storing up to 22 bottles of wine
  • Adjustable thermostat allows for complete temperature control

First, this has been a great addition to our kitchen/bar area. The kids love the easy access and my wife and I use it nearly every day as we store coffee creamer and other 'morning beverages'. She loves the separate wine storage areas, which do work great for parties.

The unit looks excellent installed, and the two pull-out shelves shown in the pictures are stain-grade wood. I haven't stained mine to match our cabinetry yet, but it is on my to-do list! Using the fridge is as easy as setting the temperature dial, deciding what units you want the temperature displayed in (centigrade or fahrenheit) and loading it up.

So far the unit has kept temperatures right at the design spec at maximum cool. The cold section remains 37 (98% of the time), the white wine drawer (there's only one of these) stays at 48, and the red wine section which is one pull out shelf and one crappy wire shelf at the bottom that comes out but not easily stays a nice 57 degrees. I have not put in my own thermometer to check the accuracy of the displayed temperatures, but by going on feel alone the wines and beverages are at the correct temperatures.

The bottom shelf design is what keeps me from giving this unit 5 stars. It would have been so nice had Kitchenaid designed the fridge so that the bottom shelf pulled out like the two wood-front shelves shown in the picture. The two wood shelves slide out nicely on rails. The bottom shelf rests on the bottom of the unit, has rubber pieces on the sides, and is a pain in the rear end to pull out when loaded with wine bottles. There are two 'stops' on each side of the bottom that have to be overcome to get the shelf out far enough to read the bottle and/or get the wine out easily. Bad design, and really one of only two things I can find fault with.

The second issue, which may or may not be by design, is that the temperature will rise on it's own (without using the fridge or adding room temperature beverages to it) to approximately 43 degrees in the cold section. It does this periodically almost as if it's a normal cycle to remove moisture. It doesn't stay at this temperature for very long, but it does do this on a somewhat regular basis. That being said, 98% of the time the cold section is 37 degrees plus 1 or 2 degrees occasionally.

When loading the unit with canned drinks, wines or other beverages after a store run, it really doesn't take very long to cool things back down. The temperature will noticeably rise for a short time with the warmer items, but not for long.

As I stated above, we're going on almost two years, and the fridge has been a wonderful, useful addition. I waffled back and forth about getting a wine refrigerator or beverage center, and I'm very glad we went with the beverage center option.

If it keeps going another year or more without needing repairs I'll be happy. I have read a lot of negative reviews on wine refrigerators. Reliability does seem to be an issue, even with some Kitchenaid models. However, not even Viking or $3000 brands are without their share of negative reviews. Crossing my fingers that we'll get many more years use out of this great little unit.

I'd recommend this to anyone refinishing a kitchen or simply adding an area for a bar. I would not use this outside even under a covered porch. It's simply not designed to withstand the elements in that way.

Good luck in your search, and if it ends here I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Update: December 3, 2012. The Beverage center is still performing well. The temperature of the cold section stays between 37 and 39 most of the time, but still rises to 41 for a short time every few days. Still pleased with the purchase, and I'd still buy it again.

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Friday, January 3, 2014

Select 9915 Whirlpool. KitchenAid and Kenmore Compatible Refrigerator Water Filter

Select 9915 Whirlpool. KitchenAid and Kenmore Compatible Refrigerator Water Filter
  • The Replacement Filter fits many Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Kenmore refrigerators that use a water filter.
  • Retains the flouride in drinking water. Filters out chlorine, turbidity, sediment, dirt, and rust

No problems, fits easily, water taste great, didn't notice any residue even on the first day. I would definitely recommend

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This product fit very snuggly in the slot. No leaking or other problems, water tasted fine, meaning it had no taste. Would buy again.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Water Sentinel WSS-2-3 Refrigerator Replacement Filter, 3-Pack

Water Sentinel WSS-2-3 Refrigerator Replacement Filter, 3-PackI bit the bullet and ordered this based on the part number of WSS-2-3. They ARE WSS-2 filters. See bottom of this review for WSS-2 specifications from Water Sentinel. The listing part number is correct, however the listing description is incorrect.

The description in the listing is as follows:

"From the Manufacturer

This Water Sentinel WSS-2 Replacement Water Filter for the Samsung WSF-100 contains a compressed carbon block which provides tremendous capacity to remove and/or reduce impurities and sediment that may be present in your drinking water. The carbon block has millions of active sites on its surface and within the structure which can absorb impurities like a sponge, and can adsorb and hold other types of impurities on its surface like a magnet. Additionally, this filter can catalytically breakdown other impurities very similar to the way a catalytic converter works in your automobile. These processes ensure that you are getting the cleanest and best tasting water possible. The WSS-2 filter will fit Samsung Refrigerators that use an external refrigerator water filter.

Product Description

This Water Sentinel WSS-2 Replacement Water Filter for the Samsung WSF-100 contains a compressed carbon block which provides tremendous capacity to remove and/or reduce impurities and sediment that may be present in your drinking water. The carbon block has millions of active sites on its surface and within the structure which can absorb impurities like a sponge, and can adsorb and hold other types of impurities on its surface like a magnet. Additionally, this filter can catalytically breakdown other impurities very similar to the way a catalytic converter works in your automobile. These processes ensure that you are getting the cleanest and best tasting water possible. The WSS-2 filter will fit Samsung Refrigerators that use an external refrigerator water filter. "

This is not a replacement for the WSF-100, nor is it for use on refrigerators that use an external water filter.

From the Water Sentinel website

"Replaces: Samsung DA29-00020A, DA29-00020B, 04609101000, 09101, 46-9101, 469101, 9101, DA-97-08006A, DA-97-08006A-B, DA-97-08006B, DA29-00019A, DA2900019A, DA2900020A, DA2900020B, DA97-08006A-B, HAF-CIN, HAF-CIN-EXP, HAF-CINEXP, HAFCIN."

I got these to replace Samsung DA29-0020A/B and they are as advertised by Water Sentinel.

Ordered on Friday evening, on my doorstep today (Monday).

I purchased these to replace DA29-00020B for a Samsung RFG297HDRS French door refrigerator. They are about 60% of the price of the Samsung equivalent. I've had the filter installed for a week and it works great. It installed easily, without leaks.

They are made in USA, unlike Samsung's which are imported. Also, they use compressed charcoal, which I believe is a better filtration method than Samsung's which is a particle filter only. Charcoal filters absorb organic impurities, so the water tastes cleaner. I can't comment on the 6 month life expectancy yet. The instructions note to run 3 gallons of water before using, or until the water runs clear, but in my case the water was clear from the start (I still ran a gallon through it).

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I have a Sam Sung model RF4287HARS and the filter works although not perfectly. As another reviewer pointed out, the diameter of this filter is slightly smaller than the original filter. Therefore the filter floats within the mounting area. The mounting end (gasket and mount) are identical so it does lock and seal perfectly. I cannot detect any difference in the taste/quality of the filtered water so if you can sacrifice perfect fit for equal performance then this one's for you.

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This review is to point out an important fact: This filter ONLY removes/improves taste and odor, and removes some particulate matter (like rust or other small debris). Therefore, it is not a equal replacement for the Samsung Aqua-Pure DA29-00020B that ALSO reduces the following contaminants: 99.00pct of Asbestos 96.70pct of Benzene 97.40pct of Chlorine Taste & Odor 99.99pct of Cysts 99.30pct of Lead at pH 6.5 99.90pct of Lead at pH 8.5 98.00pct of Particulates (Class I) 99.10pct of Turbidity 94.60pct of Atrazine 99.00pct of Lindane Fluoride is not reduced.

So if your water source has been tested and is free of these contaminants (especially lead), this would in my opinion be an acceptable cost effective replacement.

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Much cheaper than the Samsung brand but I should have been wary from the start when the filters diameter is a bit smaller than the Samsung filter. It twisted in and felt like it sealed ok but about 3 days later the freezer drawer was having issues closing. Turns out I had about half an inch of ice covering the entire bottom of the freezer cabinet that the drawer ended up scraping against. So I blamed the only thing that had changed and that was the water filter. I then remove the filter and checked the rubber gaskets, they looked fine so I put it back in carefully. I checked for leaking and did not see any.

That night at around 2am my mother in law calls upstairs saying the kitchen is flooded. Flooded might be a bit much but it soaked 3 beach towels.

I have two more filters and am debating on if I should try those with the assumption it was a bad filter. The problem is that going cheap with something that can leak is generally a bad idea. What if I went on vacation and came back to massive water damage. Even a few days would have caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage. We had a plastic quick connect break on our old fridge and that is what is cost. Good thing insurance covered it but what a pain to fix.

Do yourself a favor, if you go with these filters, keep an eye on them for a week or so. If you do go away for a while it might be a good idea to turn off the water anyways. Oh and NEVER use plastic connectors on water lines!

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Wine Enthusiast EuroCave SoWine Home Wine Bar

Wine Enthusiast EuroCave SoWine Home Wine Bar
  • Preserve wine for 10 days
  • Chill unopened wine
  • Holds 2 bottles
  • No stoppers, pumps or gases required
  • Silent Cooling Technology

I carefully researched the product prior to purchase and was concerned about some of the negative reviews that I read. However, the ability to store AND preserve a couple of open bottles was all too tempting to pass up! I was well aware about the "condensation" issues many reviewers complained about. I was NOT prepared for problems a mere 5 months after purchasing the system.

It started with the power cord and charger malfunctioning. There is no means by which to contact Eurocave directly. There is no phone number on their web site. I was not able to get assisstance through the vendor I bought the product from since they are not a distributor. I ended up calling the Wineenthusiast for help. They were wonderful and fixed the issued by selling me a new charger and power cord.

Now the indicator light on the control panel is flashing red continually and the oxygen vacuum extraction system no longer works. The Wineenthusiast has no solution except for buying another one to replace mine. Another $400 some dollars for a potentially malfunctioning system??? I am still in shock that there is no recourse to address the problem. I DO NOT recommend this product, nor the vendor as they have non-existent customer service.

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I bought this item for my husband for Christmas 2008. It works great and extends the life of wine enabling you to have a glass of white or red or preserve two reds. The "malfunctioning" of the air seal mentioned is not really a malfunction if you push one of the tops down. It will continue to try to suck the air out of a bottle that's not there. Also, you need to remove the foil at the top of the bottle so it can seal properly. I'm surprised that one customer had a hard time with Wine Enthusiast. I had some questions for them regarding this unit and they were very helpful. Very satisfied with this product.

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Bought this for my husband for Christmas and loved it for 10 days until it malfunctioned. Thus far I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to reach Wine Enthusiast. I have been left on hold indefinitely and no one has responded to my e-mail. Customer support has been more disappointing than the actual wine bar itself. Still stuck with a broken expensive product.

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Bottom line Don't buy this!

You can imagine my excitement the day I opened my EuroCave SoWine wine preserver. I could now safely store open bottles of both red and white wine in an attractive, boastful mechanical marvel. The gift was for Christmas 2009 and showed a manufacturing date of 9/2008. Coming from a small wine shop, I guess that they did not sell a lot of these.

I plugged the unit in per the instructions, and immediately I heard a loud clattering noise and the indicator lights began flashing in error. I understand how products sometimes are defective, especially when they are imported from faraway locations as France.

It went back to the wine shop in January 2010. Of course they did not have a replacement on hand, but ordered one for me. The new one arrived in March 2010, again with a manufacturing date of 9/2008. They must have made a lot of these back then.

It worked great! My white wines were chilled to perfection, the reds kept at room temperature. Three months later the indicator lights started flashing in error again, the vacuum pump refused to turn off and the chiller stopped working.

I went back to the wine shop in June 2010 for another replacement. This time it took 4 months for the new one to arrive. As I unpacked it, I noticed the manufacturing date again 9/2008!! This one seemed to do the trick, but only lasted 3 months. The left hand indicator light stays on the white wine setting, the left on the red wine setting. They both flashed and could not be changed. It didn't matter as the cooler and warmer didn't work anyway. The pump continued to run and the sound of the machine was annoying.

When I returned to the wine shop, they were out of business. I tried contacting the manufacturer in France without success. There are no service centers in the United States. The Wine Enthusiast company (The name appearing on the box) are only retailers and offered me a discount on a new one.

I unplugged this piece of crap and now store red wine in it as it does keep it at room temperature so does my kitchen counter for that matter.

My advice: If you are thinking about buying this, you would be better purchasing a $334.78 bottle of fine wine, knowing in advance that you will be pissing your money away the next morning.

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This product is great until it stops working. Mine has been repaired twice and still does not work properly. It is evidently a very delicate product that does not stand heavy use. Better buy a regular wine fridge and a manual pump..

Monday, July 29, 2013

Whirlpool Part Number 35-6465: PUMP-ASM

Whirlpool Part Number 35-6465: PUMP-ASM
  • maytag

This pump was listed as Whirlpool Part Number 35-6465 it is NOT!, it is an aftermarket equivalent (copy) with different markings, the impeller teeth are reversed in the housing from the OEM. And the same pump can be bought for $12 plus shipping elsewhere. It is an ER21001906 washer pump or LP123, by ERP (Exact Replacement Parts) not whirlpool part as described in advertising. This is exactly why you see one review that it works fine and one review it lasted a couple of days or weeks.

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Item was just as described, worked great. The price was a lot less that most sellers.I Would definitely buy again.

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Easy to use website to find the exact piece I was looking for. Easy to track and was exactly what I was expection to receive.