Does anyone have a refrigerator with french doors with the freezer on the bottom? What are the pros and cons?

Answer 1

The pros: It looks good.
The cons (this will take a while): None of the manufacturers have perfected the refrigerator French door closing system. As long as it's room temperature (showroom temperature) the plastic liners won't contract. However, when the plastic gets down to 40 degrees (optimal refrigerator temperature) its characteristics and tolerances change. Latches shift fractions of an inch, as do hinges. They all eventually close 'oddly', but most customers say nothing.
This design forgot one basic physics principle: Cold air falls, hot air rises. Taking into consideration the fact that ALL cold air is made in the freezer (located in the bottom), any and all cold air that ends up in the refrigerator section (located upstairs) has to be blown upwards by the evaporator fan motor that is located downstairs. Since cold air normally wants to drift downward, this means that the evaporator fan motor will be required to work longer and harder and be a larger fan that will require more power to work. Remember, more power means more electricity used.
After having to bend down, then inside, to scrape out several ice cubes more than once, everyone quickly realizes that having the ice maker located 1 foot off the floor INSIDE an enclosed area is a lousy idea. Forget using outboard ice dispensers such as what's on the door of most side by side refrigerators. No such thing on those bottom freezers.
When the freezer door is pulled out to get anything, the hot air from under the refrigerator streams up into the freezer section, causing terrible icing problems. This, in turn, causes the slides to coat with ice which, in turn, causes constant sealing problems with the freezer door. Note: The hot air that streams out from under the refrigerator is constant and will shoot into the freezer section no matter how quickly you close back the door.

Answer 2

Odd that you inquire. We are just beginning a major home renovation, and that is exactly what we intend to purchase.
Our only experience (not personal) is that my wife's brother and his wife have one and absolutely LOVE it.

Our reasons for selecting this version are that we are getting up in years a bit (early Boomers) and simply think that we will be into the freezer far less than we are into the refrigerator, so why bend DOWN to the refrigerator when we can have it at eye level ?

The notion of two doors is appealing, since it takes less space to open French doors than it does one big door. (Open one big door wide and it's going to block the full kitchen walkway)

We're leaning toward a specific LG model, only because the bottom freezer not only slides out, but the door tilts out as well, if needed.

Answer 3

It really is a preference in style. The french door refrigerators have a more modern feel and have much more refrigerator room, but they also take up more space. I think they're great for those who have large kitchen and large families. This way you can fit everything you need into your refrigerator, which may be difficult in a traditional-style refrigerator. Here's a resource where you can browse and compare styles:

http://www.refrigerators.com

Answer 4

They suck if you have a bad back. Lots of room in fridge but the freezer is low and everything has to be stacked on top of everything else. Trying to find anything can involve removing most of what's in the freezer.

Answer 5

The biggest drawback is for the technicians that have to work on it, as all the main stuff is in the freezer.

Answer 6

Do you mean getting on your hands and knees every time you want something out of the freezer?

Answer 7

I have one and like it...kinda pricey and you have to have a larger than standard size space for the fridge(older homes won't accomodate). Be careful not to overload the freezer, the seals are sensitive and we broke our fan after only 14 months.

Answer 8

We have one of those. Mine doesn't have ice on the door, just water, but it isn't a big deal. Ours is Kenmore.