Efficient, Well-Designed Family Fridge
Written: Sep 22 '04
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Pros: Excellent layout. Stout hinges, drawers and shelves. Energy efficient.
Cons: Produce drawers fall off track.
The Bottom Line: Efficient, attractive and well designed. The GE feels large inside buts fits well in smaller kitchens. I strongly recommend it.
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| Cerretani's Full Review: General Electric Profile PDS20MCP (19.5 cu. ft.) B... |
We recently remodeled our kitchen in a 1901 home with serious space constraints. The refrigerator had to be no more than 32" wide to fit into the design but we needed 20 cubic feet of space for a family of five. That rules out most side-by-side models. Top freezers are the lowest cost out of the box, but they use more energy and they don't put the most used items (produce, beverages) at eye level. So we looked at bottom freezer models. GE and Amana make bottom freezers. The low end models are just that - the drawers feel cheap, there are no drip trays to keep spills from roaming all over the place, no ice maker, no filtration, etc.
The GE PDS20 has a slide out freezer with a large main basket, a smaller wire shelf and a fixed storage shelf. Some models have a series of storage containers that stack in the freezer - great if you are an organization nut who doesn't buy odd shaped packages. Finding what you want in the GE is easy because each basket is a manageable size and bright lighting fills the entire compartment.
Ice is a big deal. If the freezer doesn't get cold enough, the ice is wet and sticks together. Some units try to convince you that built in ice trays are similar to ice makers. GE has a great ice maker system that produces an abundance of fully formed, individual ice cubes. The freezer can be set below zero degrees fahrenheit to speed up the process and keep the ice from sticking together.
The refrigeration compartment is bright and well designed. Door shelves hold large containers - half gallons fit very well. Upper door shelves are adjustable for smaller items. A wire rack for canned beverages pulls out - since we do not drink canned sodas, we use the rack to store two egg containers side by side. Two produce bins are deep and right at waist level. Internal shelves are easy to move around and the top right shelf has a quick release feature that allows it to fold up in the event you need to store a tall item.
Controls are right up front. Temperature readings are in green LED displays and setting the temperature is easy for adults, unreachable for most children. The water filter is in the upper right part of the unit.
One of the intangible aspects of any appliance is its feel. Does it feel flimsy or stout? We opened and closed lots of refrigerators at lots of stores and found the GE to feel like an expensive car. The doors, hinges and rails are stout and strong. One complaint involves the produce drawers. The drawers tend to fall off their thin tracks when they are loaded down with fruit or other heavy items. Opening the drawers is no problem even when they are off the track, but it is annoying.
Noise is the final factor. The only time we notice the GE is when it draws water for the ice maker. The compressor is quiet and efficient. Energy Star compliance and bottom freezer design means the unit draws $43 worth of electricity per year - which is second best on the market, best given the size of the unit.
Shop around. We saved $400 by leaving a major department store and heading for a local appliance dealer.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1000
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Epinions.com ID:
Cerretani
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Member: Casey Cerretani
Location: Olympia, WA
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Perpetual project guy - always have a plan to try something new
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