djgeiger's Full Review: Whirlpool EV187NYRV/EL87TRRRV (35.4 cu. ft.) Side ...
The Whirlpool standalone or side by side refrigerator gave me the first clue that something wasn't right when I reached for the milk and it was not ice cold. I am really picky about my milk I want it ice cold and not a degree more! We stuck a digital thermometer inside the refrigerator to see what the temperature was exactly. It read a tepid 52 F degrees. I also noticed the beginning of furry bad haircuts on some pasta that was stored in the refrigerator. I felt the anger beginning to rise! This appliance was less than two-years old and something is wrong with it already.
I swear as I closed the door in the stainless steel surface I saw malevolent dark eyes looking back at me. It certainly gave me a creepy feeling. At one time Whirlpool meant something to me. The last Whirlpool appliances I have had sputtered out at less than two years.
A safe temperature for a refrigerator is between 32 F and 40 F. obviously you would not want it below freezing. I looked for the user guild to find information on the warranty. Doesn't that just figure - a one-year limited warranty? "For one year from the date of purchase when this major appliance is operated and maintained according to instructions attached to or furnished with the product warrantor will pay for factory specified parts and repair labor to correct defects in materials or workmanship. Service must be provided by a designated service company". Oh well, that seems to be the case the majority of the time. I truly believe appliances are made to combust after warranties are expired.
We had bought a home in Huron, South Dakota. It will be four years January 2010. We moved from California. The house we purchased was a historical 1885 home that had been made into a duplex. We had since turned it back into a single family home. When we bought the house we were told that both kitchens had a refrigerator.
We had already moved across country four times and have tried something different each time. The first time we moved everything. The time we moved to California we brought nothing except for personal treasures and business stuff we needed to keep. Both moves were horribly expensive. The last move we hired a moving company but only brought what we had to move.
A couple of years after we moved in we discovered that the refrigerator on our side of the house had to be replaced. We knew we had to refinance the house at the end of two years. We did not want anything financed on our credit report. We wanted a picture perfect credit score so when we refinanced we could get a very low rate. We were cash strapped at the time but also knew we would have additional funds in a couple of months. So we elected to buy the side by side refrigerator from Loves Home Store in Huron South Dakota. It was kind of a rent to own situation except for the owner knew the circumstances of why we didn't want to finance and couldn't pay cash for a couple of months.
We didn't want a refrigerator with a freezer on the top or bottom. I have a pretty serious injury to my spine and any selves that are not in the middle I have difficulty seeing. Plus, the advantage of having clear glass shelves I could see through helped with finding items that were not exactly in the middle. Besides, we had a new freezer we elected to move from California so we didn't need additional freezer space. The black enameled and stainless steel, Whirlpool EV187NYRV/EL87TRRRV (35.4 cu. ft.) side by Side Refrigerator cost us around $1200.
The description of the incident above was the first time it wasn't functioning. correctly. That was maybe four months ago or less. We just got the refrigerator returned again from its second malfunction. Every time it has broken down we have had to pay $50 to have it picked up and delivered. The first incidence cost $190. I am still not completely clear on what was wrong with it the first time. The work order simply states that the system was tested for leaks - none found-separate HI_LO sides, lost pressure @ HI side, by pass yoder loop evac, and recharge, replacing filter/dryer. That is just about as clear as mud. The second repair a condenser and a drier was replaced. The total came to $147. So far we have paid $337 in repairs for a two-year old refrigerator.
Karls in Huron, South Dakota repaired the refrigerator both times. In all honesty though I was irritated that the refrigerator had to be repaired in the first place Karls' certainly had nothing to do with that.
They seemed to have had it much longer than was necessary. The first time a couple of weeks the second time about a month. In addition, they left the door opened while it was sitting in the shop and it was dusty and dirty inside. They could of cleaned it out before returning it since they left the doors open. I don't believe the repair bills were in excess.
I am glad there is a second refrigerator in the kitchen on the other side of the house. Though, it was horribly inconvenient going back and forth while baking or cooking.
What I do like about the refrigerator is that it has lots of space and as I mentioned before the crystal clear shelves that makes it easy to find things. There are two crispers and a meat drawer that are also clear. The meat drawer has since become a miniature hot house for starting rose cuttings. It is great for keeping the humidity inside. I have been salivating over the crispers but my husband gives me an evil eye when I do. I don't think he appreciated me heisting the meat drawer.
The main part of the refrigerator has four shelves. It has a ventilation system that flows up the back of the refrigerator and the shelves have to be watched so that they stay out away from the back wall. The door also has four shelves that are quite deep. The bottom shelf is a full door length while the other three split in the middle making two separate side by side shelves. On the top left side is one door bin I have always call a butter tray. All the shelves are adjustable.
The crispers have a humidity control on each one. When crisper is set on low (opened) it lets moist air out for fruits and veggies with skins. Set it on high (closed) for leafy veggies for example, spinach. The refrigerator does have an automatic defrost. The capacity is 17.7 Cubic feet. Though I don't care what size the refrigerator is because there never seems to be enough room.
I like the stainless steel finish, though it scratches pretty easily. I have to use a soft cloth to keep it looking nice. The door is in stainless steel while the back is enameled black. One feature that is a pain in the neck is that there is a very unbendable drip hose that hangs inside of the bottom drip try. When the refrigerator broke down the first time we pulled it out to see if we could see what was wrong with it. We could not get the drip tray out because the hose was holding it in. It wasn't possible to hold the hose up to pull the drip try out. We also discovered when it was delivered and set up that the packing material was never removed.
The Whirlpool refrigerator is an Energy Star refrigerator and uses about 372 KWh per year. Energy use of similar models ranges between 318 and 438. We could have done better and we are usually pretty conscientious about energy usage especially living in a Northern Plains state. It is cold in South Dakota in the winter and heating costs can soar. Purchasing in a small town doesn't always leave a lot of options or choices.
I am through with Whirlpool. My mother-in-law has a refrigerator that is many years old. The old rounded top ones with glass drawers that weigh a ton. That little gem is still working. Appliances have steadily gone downhill since that little refrigerator was produced.
Operate more efficiently than federal minimum efficiency standards require. Provide significant savings in energy costs. Provide safe food storage wit...More at AJ Madison
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