- 18.5 Cu. Ft. Total Capacity
- Temp Assure Freshness Controls
- Two Full-Width Adjustable Glass Shelves
- Two Humidity Controlled Garden Fresh Crisper Drawers
- Gallon Door Storage
Shortly before this was available on Vine, we had spent several days actually shopping for a refrigerator, since we recently bought a home, and will need one.
In speaking to a number of representatives, and spending more time than I ever thought possible looking at Refrigerators, I learned a lot about them. This particular model is extremely energy efficient, in part because of the freezer being at the bottom. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it, we learned that heat rises and cold falls our science classes.
Even more, it has a huge, very practical freezer. We have a small (4 ft by 4 ft) freezer we use to store meat and other items, and ALL of it fit inside of this. The best part is that it has a basket you can pull out, in addition to the shelves, so your meat fits nicely in the basket. And I want you to know that it passed my first test, yes, it is big enough to hold a turkey, or two, or even three. I will still need our other freezer when we pick up our meat (we buy a quarter of a beef), but this freezer is huge!
Since this is a smaller unit (18.5 cubic feet) size and space were key concerns for me. But the efficient way that this is designed allowed it to hold everything that my current refrigerator does, with space left over. The door has a shelf large enough to hold gallons of milk (and keep them handy), leaving the other shelves available for other items. The deeper shelf for the milk extends across the entire door, and can easily hold three gallons of milk, with room to spare.
All of the shelves, including the ones in the door are fully adjustable, so that you can design the refrigerator to meet your needs. The only difference I noticed from one of the photos included by included by Amana, is that my shelves are all one piece, and the picture shows the top shelf as two piece adjustable. The door is adjustable too, and we had JB Hunt switch sides, since we needed it to go in the other direction.
The glass shelves are extremely easy to remove and clean, and have been my preference for a long time. They keep the foods on each shelf "cleaner," plus they give the refrigerator a great look.
This particular model does NOT have an ice maker included, BUT it is set up inside and you can easily add one later if you choose.
The temperature controls are digital and easily accessible from the front of the refrigerator. They are clearly marked, showing that the recommended temperature is 4, and that turning it to high (7), turns it to the coldest setting, so that there is no confusion. There are separate controls for the refrigerator and freezer sections. Both drawers have humidity controls, so you can treat your produce correctly. In case you don't know what setting the drawer should use, it has a little picture that shows fruit (low) and vegetables (high). The nice touch, marking things clearly, doesn't cost much, but it shows a concern for the end user that impressed me!
This is my first refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom, but I am already in love with how easy it is to access everything.
I had never considered using Amazon for a major appliance, in fact until I was offered it through Vine, I never would have considered buying one from Amazon. However, my experience with both the product and the installation By JB Hunt made this an excellent choice. We will also need a washer and dryer for our new home, and I have been checking the models that Amazon carries.
The refrigerator is compact, and well organized, energy efficient, and very practical.
Edited ...
I just wanted to update you about this product after using it for a few days.
First of all, the temperatures seem to be very even. The milk stays cold in the door, eggs and sodas (my measurement) stay cold and do not freeze on the top shelf near the back. Best of all, my ice cream (in the freezer door) stays frozen, but not hard. Obviously, the proof of durability of any model comes with age, and I can only report on that aspect in three to five years.
From a practical standpoint, having the controls at the front is a nice feature, but it does limit the space on the top shelf. It is a balance, but since I don't adjust the temperature very often, I believe that I would prefer the space over the convenience of having the controls in the front.
Second edit 1 star removed
After less than a month, both humidity levers have broken off of the drawers with virtually no adjustment. It is still possible to adjust the humidity, but the fact that both broke off, when there is no resistance indicates a weakness in the plastic with which they were manufactured. FYI, the refrigerator itself moved safely and is now in its new location inside of our home. It is very quiet, and fits perfectly in the small space reserved for it in our kitchen. We only have a total of 35 inches, and the refrigerator requires space on each side. Make sure you check measurements carefully before buying.
One Year Later ...
Just thought I'd update my review. It is now a year later. We have gone from just two of us to adding my daughter and granddaughter to the household. While the refrigerator continues to work well (with the exception of the humidity levers), it at times feels a bit small with two families using it. Still, we manage to fit everything in for both families, which is a tribute to the way the space is allocated.
I have noticed I don't enjoy the bottom as much when loading frozen groceries when we go grocery shopping, and while the drawer pulls out, I occasionally have to get on my knees to get things from the back of the actual shelf. Since we have loads of stuff with both families, things are more crowded, and we take advantage of all of the space in the freezer.
My granddaughter enjoys opening the freezer to get her own treats out don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
The only other downside I have noticed is that (again) with things being crowded in the freezer, it is easy to miss the fact that we have overloaded it and the door doesn't close correctly and swings back open.
All in all, very pleased with the allocation of resources inside of this small refrigerator and the limitations the space and bottom freezer require.
Buy Amana 18-1/2-Cubic Foot Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator, ABB1921WEW, White Now
The ABB1921WEW Amana refrigerator has a "textured" painted exterior on both the cabinet and doors. This makes it a good choice, appearance wise, in a stand alone application. It is assembled in Iowa, USA. The compressor is made in Brazil by Embraco, the condenser blower motor is made in Thailand by Panasonic, and the evaporator blower motor is made in China by Ohsung.
The refrigerator is relatively quite and relatively free of annoying sounds. The most notable of unexpected sounds is the dripping of water from the evaporator onto the defrost heating element during defrost. This is turns out to be normal because the heating element loops under the evaporator and gets dripped on. Also, there are pops and snaps due to expansion and contraction. I found sleeping 6 feet away from the refrigerator to be not a problem.
Things I didn't like which may not be of concern to others:
(a Clear colored oil spilled on bottom shelf that hangs vegetable bins. Disassembled shelf to wash away oil.
(b Soldered refrigerant tubing joints in compressor compartment had green surface corrosion due to not removing acid flux. Removed with metal polish. Also, acid flux splash was not controlled.
(c Rear stainless steel cover was crunched by over tightening against strip seal. Strip seal was not positioned properly. This was really stupid. Replaced seal and cover.
(d The plastic interior of the freezer compartment had and still does have scuff like scratches on the sides and bottom. Particularly noticeable along the sides of the opening. Removed dirt from scratches with brush and cleaner to make them less noticeable. The plastic interior does not scratch easily and this is a result of careless assembly practice.
(e The evaporator blower motor, which is behind the rear panel in the freezer, made more noise than it should. The motor armature was machined out of round on one end, causing the motor to vibrate too much. It was made in Tianjin, China by the Tianjin New Ohsung Electric Machinery Co, Ltd. Replaced motor with same model by same manufacturer.
I went back to the dealer to see if other Amana bottom-freezer units had the same discrepancies as mine. Surprisingly, they did. Discrepancies (c) and (d) and no doubt (b).
This unit comes with service information (hidden away). This is a real plus for me.
Except for the evaporator blower motor, the refrigerator is assembled from quality parts and after you do your own quality control it should give you good service for years to come. It works very well in controlling temperatures. I down graded it from 5 stars to 4 stars due to poor quality control.
Read Best Reviews of Amana 18-1/2-Cubic Foot Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator, ABB1921WEW, White Here
Overall, this is a very good refrigerator, though it is fairly basic. The aspects that, in my opinion, make it basic are that:
-Shelves are all full-width
-Shelves are not spill proof
-Icemaker is an additional cost and not included in the price
-The freezer bin is on rails vs. being a ball-bearing mounted slide
-There is no "deli drawer" for lunchmeats
What is good about this fridge are the following:
-The freezer door swings open vs. sliding open (personal preference)
-Plenty of door storage with many configurable bins
-Lighted freezer!
-Reversible door handles
I noticed the previous model, Amana 18.5 cu. ft. Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator, ABB1921WEW, White, had many complaints about the noise. I've not found this fridge to be loud. In fact, standing next to it while it's running, I could barely hear it. I used a decibel meter app on my phone and found less than a 5 dB difference between running and non-running, and that was standing right next to the rear of the fridge. I know that's not the most scientific test, but more than just "It sounds quiet". Also between the two models, this one loses the split shelves, the shelves are no longer spill-proof, but gains digital temperature controls that are conveniently mounted. The temperature controls have 7 settings each, with the default set at "4". You can control humidity for each of the two bins separately. The gallon door storage only applies to the bottom shelf on the door, as that's the only one wide enough to accommodate a gallon jug.
This fridge is best suited as an extra fridge rather than a primary one because the two large full-width shelves don't lend themselves to holding lots of items of different sizes. This makes it great for storing a party platter, cases of pop, or other things that wouldn't normally go in your primary fridge.
I looked at similar fridges in this price range to see how they compare, and found that you can always find one that is bigger, a different style, includes an icemaker, or is just as energy efficient if you're not brand specific. Therefore, I'm not sure what would make this fridge stand out from the pack. If you primarily need an energy efficient fridge, with lots of fridge space at eye level, and tend to store larger items vs. needing lots of shelves of different heights, then this would be a good contender.
At the time of this review, several of the pictures on the product page are incorrect, and I've used the feedback feature to notify Amazon of the errors. Notably, one picture shows the top shelves that are split down the middle, as well as a deli drawer. This model only has two full-width shelves and doesn't have that drawer. One picture shows full width shelves and no deli-drawer, but shows the dairy drawer in the upper-left of the door. This model can only house the dairy drawer on the right hand side of the fridge as the door shelves are two different widths and therefore can't be swapped from side to side. Lastly, one picture shows spill proof shelves, which this model doesn't feature.
Want Amana 18-1/2-Cubic Foot Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator, ABB1921WEW, White Discount?
This Amana is efficient, handsome, and very, very, quiet. It comes in any color you want as long as it's white (ours has a subtle, textured finish that looks nice). After the first shelf spill, it was easy to clean. And, after realizing we didn't like where we put the door shelves, it was easy to rearrange. Milk and wine store equally well!
The bottom roller feature, like our old Kenmore, makes it easy to readjust the unit's position in the kitchen.
Having a bottom swing door freezer fits our kitchen perfectly.
The Freezer basket and shelving work well. We did not choose to install an ice-maker, but it looks simple to do should we change our minds (I recommend not bothering with one unless your need for ice is constant).
Some guests have politely shared that they feel this one is too small for them. If you entertain a lot or have a lot of residents, it might be. But this is a perfect fit for the four of us.
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Based on a detailed comparison by a major Amana vendor--see link in Comments section below--this new model (ABB1921WEW) is very similar to the old model (ABB1921DEW). However, I think Amana has cheaped out a little on this model change, especially evident in the types and quantity of shelves.
One of the other notable differences is the door finish. The old model offered a textured finish while the new model is smooth. Or rather, *should be* smooth. Curiously, my fridge (identified on both the back and inside of the machine, as well as the warranty card, as ABB1921WEW) has a textured door. Perhaps Amana is using up parts inventory early in this transition?
My own preference is smooth but your mileage may vary. In my opinion, smooth looks better when new, but textured is more forgiving down the road when your fridge may have picked up a few nicks or scratches. Still, it must be said: If I had spent a thousand dollars on this fridge expecting the door to be smooth, I'd be hella P.O.'d.
Another change is the lack of split shelves, which is unfortunate because I find them very useful for tall pitchers. Sure, I could lower an entire shelf in this case, but that leaves me with wasted height everywhere else. The lack of spill-proof shelves is also another bummer. (Please note that the manufacturer-supplied photos on this listing above are apparently for the older model.)
The Digital Temperature Control sounds great on a features list but in reality it is bare bones and counterintuitive. Why does a *higher* number (1 to 7) equal lower temperatures? My trusty analog thermometer confirms consistent temp in both the refrigerator and freezer compartments*, so the important thing is that the cooling mechanism works. However, and in my opinion, the temperature control feature should be reversed, so that a lower setting results in a lower temp, or else improve it altogether to display the actual temperature, as many refrigerators do.
*The manufacturer's suggestion is temperature setting 4 in both the fridge and freezer compartments. Even on 5, however, the fridge compartment measures just over forty degrees. That's slightly warmer than optimal, so I will be bumping the temperature control up (again, that makes it colder) to 6. On the other hand, the freezer measures just under zero even on 4, so I think I can save a bit of energy and dial that down to 3.
This unit does not offer a water feature but that's fine for me. One less thing to go wrong! An in-freezer icemaker is an available accessory from Amana (and here on Amazon, of course), but you know what? It was easy enough (and cheap enough) to pick up a couple ice cube trays at the store. TIP: some ice cube trays don't rest comfortably on the freezer's wire rack. So just use a flat plastic tray (a cheapo cutting board works fine) and put the ice cube trays on *that*.
The freezer section is one of the main selling points on this model. Traditionally, freezers were located *above* and not below the main refrigerator compartment. In practice, people spent much of their time bent over, since the majority of trips to the refrigerator were for refrigerated (and not frozen) foods. Then side-by-side refrigerators became popular, but the usable space in the freezer was often very tiny on a per-shelf basis. So now we see this bottom-freezer model, which is much closer to having a dedicated chest freezer. The space seems large here but I think my concern will be using it intelligently and not forgetting what is buried at the bottom.
The front door of the fridge is reversible, as is the freezer door. You cannot choose to open Left with one and Right with the other--not that you should want to, anyway--since the hinge apparatus shares a post. Most people, being right-handed, will continue to prefer opening both with their right hand. I noted with some displeasure that the screw holes on the front of the door (for relocating the handle to the right side) are filled with ugly plastic screw heads which don't match the textured surface of the door. This is a small aesthetic gripe but it is obvious and ugly. The delivery guy agreed. Apparently, Amana previously used textured screw heads but those probably cost fifty cents more. Finally, the pull handle for the freezer compartment is very large and very ugly: it looks to be designed for handicap accessibility.
Like most new refrigerators (other than cheapo models), condenser coils are no longer prominently located on the back. It looks better this way--not that you look at the back of your fridge very often--but it also means you need to be vigilant in periodically cleaning underneath. Otherwise, the cooling ability of your fridge may be compromised. You can snap off the plastic cover on the bottom front and vacuum the dust that will assuredly accumulate there. There's a brush you can buy here, but in my experience, using a vacuum with a narrow attachment works well. Either way, preventive maintenance should keep you from needing (another) new fridge sooner than later.
The fridge was delivered by Amazon's new Delivery service through J.B. Hunt. My corresponding review is here. Suffice to say, it was as easy as any appliance or furniture delivery I have ever arranged through a big box store.
Conclusion.
In my opinion, and after several weeks of ownership, this is certainly a usable fridge. Even without the split and spill-proof shelves of the previous model, it has enough shelves and door pockets to hold a variety of food products; the gallon door storage is a nice bonus. It maintains a consistent temperature (on either side of the factory settings, mind you) and runs quiet. It is also energy efficient, or so the ENERGY STAR placard tells me. The not-too-tall height means it is easy to stack a cooler or fondue pot up on top and maximize storage. The fridge *does* offer more internal space than the exterior appearance would belie. But to me, this fridge is not worth a thousand dollars. I would rather spend a few hundred more and get a stainless model with french doors, like this other Amana model.
4 stars. (3 stars for the price.)
