American Fridge Freezer vs separate units

randombar

Hi Folks,

Samsung fridge is on the blink (Freezer not working, Fridge ok) have a lad out to look at it but planning for worst case scenario.

Samsung was decent lasting 12 years so far, plumbed with ice which meant there was feic all space in the freezer.

Was looking around today at different machines in curry's, all plumbed versions seem to be the same.

Saw a Haier which had a nice layout Fridge in top double doors, freezer in bottom with drawers, but they seem new to the market so not sure if I'd trust them over Samsung LG.

Saw some sign mentioning buying separate units and just joining them.

Any thoughts? Wonder does it use much more energy? Is it a good idea to have them separate anyway?

Couldn't see a tall Fridge with water dispenser in Curry's, not sure are they available.

Rows Grower

I'd be surprised if the freezer section can't be repaired, I have a similar Samsung for over 15 years now and they are like the Toyota Hiace of fridge freezers, they just keep going with minimal repairs/replacements needed.

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121030845#Comment_121030845

I could be jumping the gun all right, repair lad out tomorrow so hopefully there'll be something fixable.

10-10-20

With an American side-by-side you have a single compressor and the area between the freezer and fridge is combined within the structure of the unit, so the overall insulative properties of unit should be better. I'd guess that there are much less thermal losses with this arrangement for sure, but you also benefit by not having two compressors running with electronics.

Plus, some fridge-freezers use their side-panels as radiators, and if two are installed tightly together this may become a problem. Check for guidance in the manual!

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050168#Comment_121050168

was thinking similar, I don't think it would be twice as much energy but there would definitely be more used.

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121032723#Comment_121032723

It was not fixable.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050342#Comment_121050342

Yes, no way would it be double, but around 30% or there abouts, I'd guess.

Shoog

Bosch do some great A rated fridge freezers. Do you really need a massive American style monstrocity, they are designed for very different shopping styles than Europeans.

Basically there is no way of getting great performance other than increasing the insulation. Our newish Bosch has walls and doors which are twice as thick as our old fridge freezer

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050529#Comment_121050529

Find the freezer in the american small enough as it is, doubt we could go back to a smaller one again.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050529#Comment_121050529

What's not to like about a modern looking, very reliable kitchen appliance that dispenses cold filtered water, ice cubes and crushed ice on tap as well as storing your perishable food items at the temperature you choose at the touch of a button?

Shoog

A small chest freezer is a good compromise. They are intrinsically better efficiency wise than an upright. We find our Bosch freezer to be small enough but if we need more space then a small chest freezer would be our goto.

randombar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050566#Comment_121050566

Ya read up about the great efficiency of a chest freezer, my problem with them is they are awkward to put somewhere, top opening and all that. Will have another think though.