Refrigerator/freezer with the freezer on the bottom

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mycroftt

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Nov 13, 2002
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Anybody have any comments on refrigerators with the freezer on the bottom rather than on the top or the side? I'm starting to look around and my wife wants the freezer on the bottom because she thinks it would be easier on her bad back - you know, you go in the freezer less often, so put the refrigerator compartment up high for easy access.

Also we are looking for one the does not have an ice maker or in the door ice/cold water dispenser. I don't want that water line running across the kitchen.
 
We got one a couple of years ago. I love it! For me, no downsides. How many times a day do you look in the freezer compared to the fridge? The fridge is easier to use since its up higher, easier to clean for the same reason.

The only real downside to a freezer on the bottom is that it does have less space in the freezer. I'm not sure if its actual cubic foot smaller, or if its just that there is a pull out wire drawer in the freezer section to make it easier to get stuff out that reduces the storage space. Not a big deal for us, because we usually only have a few steaks, some ice cream, etc. in there. Might be an issue is you buy and freeze in quantity, but then you probably have a stand alone freezer already.


My appliance guy, a guy who makes my 320 pounds look small, sold me on it by saying "Shannon, get the bottom freezer model. There is nothing sadder than the sight of a fat man down on his hands an knees trying to find the last beer in the bottom of the fridge!"
 
in our last 2 houses we have had slide out bottom freezers. they work well.

our current one has the "french door" style opening. it seems to have less interior space than the traditional single door style. something to consider
 
Sure does save on the back, and they make sense to me, as the refrigerator side is used alot more than the freezer.
 
My first refrigerator was a Kenmore model like this one:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...ttom+Freezer+Refrigerators&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

I loved it! It was brightly lit inside, in the freezer as well, and the freezer was huge. IMO, a hinged freezer door is the way to go. Those slide out freezer doors seem to have less space inside. I really liked this type of fridge because of the wide space inside. I could fit a family size Papa Murphy's pizza inside no problem, whereas with a side-by-side layout it wasn't as easy.
 
After buying one with the freezer on the bottom and having it for a while my responce is I would not get one any other way.
 
I'm the odd man out here. We bought one for the same reason , thinking it would be easier on the wife's bad back. It's worse on her than if we had a side by side. Now she has to get on her hands and knees to get anything out, and if you have it pretty well filled, good luck finding anything in a hurry. I suppose the slide out drawer types would be an improvement. Ours is a Kenmore, and we've had nothing but problems with it since we installed it. It ices up terribly on the bottom, and leaks like a sieve. It has destroyed my kitchen floor. We're going back to a side by side. If you pack them right with the most used items on the higher racks, there's little need for stooping to retrieve stuff...thus easier on the lumbar. Just my .02 cents.
 
99.99% of fridge-freezers you get in the uk have the fridge over the top of the freezer. They work well and you can get some quite large models. Depends what you want size wise, I dont think ultimately you can get such a massive fridge freezer in that style as you can with the side by side ones, but some of the large models are plenty big enough for a normal family.

Just check the specifics of the model, some will have half and half split and some will have a large fridge and small freezer.
 
I've got one and like it a lot. It doesn't have a huge amount of freezer space, but it's great to have the fridge up high.
 
Highly reccomend getting one with the freezer on the bottom. I really don't know why they aren't all made that way.
 
Matteo Escobar said:
Highly reccomend getting one with the freezer on the bottom. I really don't know why they aren't all made that way.
Click to expand...

Because some people don't like them. Me included.

We had one for not quite two years, and my wife cussed it every time she had to get anything out of it. Too low to the ground, and she hated having to empty it to find stuff. Plus, no ice/ water in the door of that one.

We dumped it and bought a large side by side last summer, and all is well. If she's happy, so am I.

Psssst! Check Consumer Reports for the unbiased opinion on these things, and follow their advice. I have yet to be steered wrong, and I use theur ratings ad recommendations an all of our major purchases.
 
We moved into a house with a fridge with freezer on the bottom and I hate it with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns. I think it sucks for your back (unless you are 2 feet tall). Side by side all the way.
 
We have had two Maytag Wide-By-Side units and love them. I am getting to old to get down low to get my ice cream!!!
 
It's practicality depends on your lifestyle. If you eat mostly fresh/refridgerated food (like me), they're the best. I swear by my Amana.
If you use the freezer often (frozen veggies, meat, ice cream, etc.), they're a hassle.
 
I've got one in the basement, and the only rub is using the freezer. You generally have to either squat down low or bring a small stool if you intend to rearrange stuff.

Overall, I think the design makes more sense than the standard freezer on top model and is more efficient than a side by side.
 
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