>"Tom Royer" writes:
>
>"CJRA" wrote:
>>
>> We're completely renovating.
>>
>> My question involves recommendations for appliances.
>>
>> Refrigerators- we want bottom freezer, and only 18-20 cu ft. Been
>> looking at the Amana ones.
>
>We have the Amana bottom freezer and wouldn't buy another one.
>I don't think it's insulated well between the freezer and the main
>compartment. While nothing thaws in the freezer, items in the crisper
>(which is directly above the freezer) frequently freeze. We've
>lost a lot of lettuce in celery over the six years +- that we've had it.

Bottom freezer units scream in the face of basic physics... the unit needs to
work so much harder to pump cold air *up* to the fridge compartment. Also,
because of how the entire freezer section needs to slide out it's the worst
case scenerio for proper sealing/insulating of the compartment... all else
being equal bottom freezer units are definitely not as energy efficient as top
freezer units, and due to the slide mechanism are more prone to malfunction and
therefore misalignment of the seals. But you should be able to regulate the
temperature balance so that the veggie bin doesn't freeze, if not there could
possibly be a partial blockage in the air ducts, sometimes a misplaced piece of
insulation, or a sticking divertor flap... it's always a good idea to call for
service within the first year with any major appliance, even if you need to
make up some malfunction, like you're hearing strange noises. I bet some of
yoose hear strange noises all the time, so you're not really lying. I called
the service tech to check out my clothes washer recently, only had it nine
months (Whirlpool), nothing was obviously malfuntioning, but it did seem rather
noisy and I found myself contantly rearranging clothes due to excessive
vibration... I kept chalking it up to my overloading the unit, but actually as
I found out later I wasn't. But since it was still under the free in-house
service warranty the tech came to check it out. He removed the back panel and
made some adjustments, tightened a few bolts (they were obviously loose), and
said while he had it apart he'd change the drive belt even though it was still
okay but rather loose... the machine did run much more smoothly and quietly
afterwards... very few appliances get tested at the factory. I learned to do
this many years ago from a neighbor who was a Sears appliance serviceman...
always call for service on new appliances before the first year, might catch
something just before it's about to fail. This also documents that the unit
has "some" pre-existing condition, essentially lengthens your warranty. If
that drive belt broke after the first year (but before 5 yrs) the manufacturer
would supply a new part at no cost but after the first year I'd pay at least
$100 for the service call and labor. The service tech that changed my belt
said the belt had been strained due to those loose mounting bolts and and had
stretched, it would probably have lasted a couple more years but eventually
would fail prematurely... and probably in the interim cause damage to the drive
mechanism.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````