Fisher and Paykel : E522BLXFD Refrigerator - Stainless Steel Left Hinge Flat Door Review

I should have known better!My old Kenmore died and I bought this noxious import because ita) fit in a 32" nook; b) I didn't want an ice maker; andc) it looked great.("Sleek European styling") I didn't know that it has a DC compressor and emits a constant whine (or bass hum, buzz or hum, depending on the cycle).At its worst it is like having a truck idling in your kitchen.But you always hear it.The noise kicks in even if you haven't opened the door in an hour, and cycles last from 30 minutes to what seems like hours.The sales rep I finally reached via the escalation dept. confirmed that it's not a question of decibels, but of frequency.As for noise complaints I found after it was too late, he reluctantly admitted that, yes, there are some people who find the noise really disturbing.Or as the repairman told me, "I know it's loud, but that's normal for this thing.That's just the way they make them these days," he said, and showed me how the high speed compressor was attached to the back of the machine with a few screws and with absolutely nothing to soften the sharp whine it makes most of the time.My Kenmore rumbled a bit but it never, ever made that awful shrill piercing relentless whine.I can hear it in my office or bathroom adjacent to the kitchen but not upstairs or in the shower.I can't even imagine what this thing would be like in an apartment!

These new compressors are a known issue, which is something I wish I'd found out before I bought this thing from Albert Lee appliances in Seattle. You'll find complaints about GE, Frigidaire, Kenmore and others.But at 17.3 cf, most of them are half the price of this sleek European mediocrity.

Not everyone is sensitive to noise.If you're oblivious to tv test patterns, dentists drills, high tension wires or a speaker when you leave the stereo on, you might think it was pricey but okay.At least it's prettier than the white molded plastic you usually see.

But if you think that hearing your fridge when you're in another room at twice the price, either buy a mid-priced fridge with the same or more features, or get a Sub Zero for $3,000, and steer clear of Fisher & Paykel products.This is by far the worst appliance I have ever owned.

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Product Description:
Height incl. feet and hinge cap: 66 3/4". Width: 31 1/8". Depth incl. Handle: 28 3/4". Depth w/ Door open 90°: 56 7/16". Depth w/ Door Closed excl. Handle: 27". Minimum Air Clearance each side: 1". Minimum air clearance - at rear (incl. compressor tray): 1 1/2". Minimum Air Clearance on Top: 2". Refrigerator Storage Volume: 12.4 cu. ft.. Freezer Storage Volume: 4.9 cu. ft.. Total Storage Volume: 17.3 cu. ft.. Silver Prepainted Cabinet: Yes. Frost-Free Freezer: Yes. Glass Shelves: 4. Humidity Controlled Produce Bins: 2. Roll Out Center Freezer Tray: 1. Half-Width Door Shelves: 2. Full-Width Door Shelves: 2. Covered Door Shelves: 2. Door Alarms: Yes. Ice Cube Trays: 2. Egg Trays: 2. Freezer Drawers: 2. Front Levelling Feet: Yes. Energy Consumption: 487 kWh/year. Rethinking how to store and preserve your food - Fisher & Paykel was on a mission when it created Active Smart, an advanced refrigeration system. Active Smart uses unique electronic intelligence to continuously monitor and adapt its cooling conditions, adjusting the flow of cold air based on daily use and climate conditions. So it's not working overtime or under par - just smarter and more efficiently. Even the produce bins provide maximum care. Humidity controls keep lettuce green, herbs garden-fresh and fruit crisp for up to two weeks. What about the homemade gazpacho in the refrigerator, or the just-churned ice cream in the freezer? Independent sensors accurately monitor temperatures in both compartments to maintain the safest, most precise temperature.

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Fisher and Paykel : E522BLX 31in 17.3 cu.ft. Bottom Mount Frost Free - Stainless Steel/Left Door Hinge Review

No, I had not heard of this brand either when I went out looking for a refrigerator to replace my 30 year old GE.

Our problem is space. Even though I certainly wouldn't mind a huge Viking or something, the reality was around 18 cu ft. I went all over the place, looked at every brand and found that most companies spent their best efforts on the bigger models.

Then, I saw a Fisher and Paykell. It was the right size, had a beautiful simple design and the use of interior space was better than others in its size range. It had the desired bottom freezer, the controls were simple and made sense, the trays for fruits and vegetables were easy to access and the glass shelves could be adjusted, removed and cleaned easily.

Style-wise, I was drawn to the clean, curved door design made of smooth metal rather than textured plastic. I needed white, but the stainless is extremely good looking. F&P also now offers models with dispensers in the door.

Note that the doors are not reversible so you have to order the left or right door version.

The glass shelves extend from side to side and slide into little slots. It is easy to slide them out for cleaning or adjustment. Surprisingly, the little plastic dams that surround almost all glass shelves these days are absent on the ends of these shelves. I strongly suggest that you get a couple of shallow plastic trays to hold meat or other drippy things. That is probably a good idea for any fridge, actually.

There is no dedicated meat compartment I suspect a special separate compartment would break up the interior and isn't really needed anyway. The wide expanse of shelves is what makes this interior special.

We took out one of the shelves to free up space for big and tall things.

There are two little lidded compartments in the door that we use for butter and cheese. They are not very big and certainly could have been designed to hold more in the same space they occupy.

The fruit and vegetable trays are lidded and separate, with little adjustable vents to control the humidity. They slide nicely, access is good and cleaning is easy.

We like the bottom freezer. It uses a system of separate drawers, rather than one big bin. This is a good high-end touch and the real drawer sliders make it nicer to use. The bins on other models seemed terribly cheap in comparison.

The lighting in the fridge section is fine. The drawer system for the freezer part precludes a lighting system, at least one that wouldn't be impossibly complex. But, the bins slide out and it is easy to see in them under normal kitchen light.

On another site, a reviewer complained that a glass shelf broke. They do look a little vulnerable as they are so long and thin. However, we stored two turkeys on one shelf with no problems. Tempered glass is very strong and I would think problems would be rare.

There were also a couple of complaints about noise. Our kitchen is like astage where every sound is projected into the adjacent living room. Still, I can hardly hear it and it is rarely even on anyway. This may be a princess and the pea situation. In our case, the old fridge was 20x noisier, so this is fine.

Operation-wise, we are very happy. The fruits and vegetables do indeed last much longer than before, the ice cream (even Ben & Jerrys) is hard and the ice doesn't stick.

One oddity is that even when the feet are adjusted to tilt the unit back a bit, the doors will not close all the way on their own. The formidable gaskets hold it back. But not to worry. The door-open alarm will not let you forget. It will probably rid your house of rodents and insects.

We are happy with this fridge. It looks great, has about as much utility as possible in its size range and works well. I am hoping it will be reliable.

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Product Description:
This DCS Refrigerator with ActiveSmart electronic intelligence provides unequaled cooling and temperature performance. Two variable speed fans provide independent control of the DCS refrigerator and freezer compartment. Frost Free. Unique humidity controlled bins in this DCS refrigerator keep fruit and vegetables fresh for up to two weeks. The DCS refrigerator has brushed stainless steel models have EZKleen finish enabling it to be easily cleaned. This DCS refrigerator comes with a full 2-year parts and labor warranty, 5 year warranty on compressor and internal condenser. Additional Info: Total Storage Volume: 17. 3 cu. Ft. Refrigerator Storage Volume: 12. 4 cu. Ft. Freezer Storage Volume: 4. 9 cu. Ft. Energy usage (kWh/yr): 487. Dimensions (in inches): 28 7/8 D x 31 1/8 W x 66 3/4 H.

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