Same thing as KitchenAid and Whirlpool. It is a solid unit, but the downside is that the icemaker is in the fresh food compartment and takes up a bit of space (which is already limited due to it being counter depth).

Supposedly, Whirlpool will be redesigning their counter depth fridges soon and moving the icemaker into the door like on their standard depth models.

Didn't you, (hvtech42), post something about the icemakers being in the fridge compartment were a lot more "complex" along with the likelihood of poorer reliability.

I recall reading it, but I'm not sure who posted it.

Gary

That is true, but I was comparing this unit to similar ones from other companies. French door refrigerators with the icemaker in the fresh food compartment and thru the door ice do indeed have more problems than those without. However, I do think that this JennAir is one of the better bets reliability-wise.

Thanks for the feedback. I am not a fan of the freezer on bottom, but unfortunately, I don't think they make counter depth side by sides. While I usually have no problem with buying things based on aesthetic appeal rather than practicality, I hate losing the space I have in my current side by side.

Looks like I'm going to have the french-door "sports car" fridge in the kitchen and the reliable and roomy "mini-van" side by side in the laundry room.

Plenty of companies make counter depth side by sides. Whirlpool/KitchenAid, GE, Frigidaire/Electrolux, Samsung, LG...

What size opening or space constraints do you have? Are there any features or functions you would like in particular? How did you find out about this jennair frig?

I have an older Jenn-Air counter-depth side-by-side. I'm trying to think how old it is... maybe 15 years! It's definitely been a reliable fridge :)

All of the other appliances in my kitchen are JA, as well, but quite a bit newer. The 36" 5-burner gas cooktop has been great, but there isn't much to go wrong on one. Dishwasher has been great, too. My double-ovens, however, have needed service once.

I would say that, overall, I'm very happy with the brand.

Very happy to learn of the counter depth side by side option! I haven't seen any on showroom floors and on most websites, once I filter by counter-depth, the side by side option went away, which led me to believe they were not available.

The fridge opening is 38w x 25d x 72h and I would like to minimize the depth since it will be in the main walkway. I saw the Jenn Air model in an appliance showroom and was under the impression that Jenn Air was a superior brand. I need counter depth, stainless steel, and external ice/water.

I've locked in on the JX3 cooktop, so now I just need to decide on the fridge. I've narrowed it down to the Jenn Air french door and the Whirlpool side by side. I'm used to the side by side set up, but husband likes the french door look. Decisions, decisions...

Make your husband happy. The French door is so much nicer. I just replaced a side by side with French door. My produce and eggs no longer freeze due to the proximity of the side by side freezer. Also, you will have room for platters and trays.

I've had my Side by Side Fridge over 8 years now, and nothing has ever frozen in the fridge section, it keeps a nice steady 37F in the main part.

Consumer Reports in their evaluation of fridges, measures different areas of the fridge compartments in their evaluation of fridges, to be sure the temp is the same throughout the fridge compartment. Many SXS fridges get xlnt or very good ratings, and they certainly would not if certain areas of the fridge were below freezing temp.

In fact, it might be interesting to compare Consumer Reports evaluation about French door temperature performance with those of SXS fridges.

Sorry to hear about the problem with yours, HomeChef59, but I suspect yours was an exception to the norm.

Also take the time to read some of the reviews about FD fridges, some folks complain about always opening the wrong door to find something, or having to open both doors for something large, and complaints when you open one door, the other door opens, and some have complained about the closing of the doors.

Just a "different perspective" for the OP from a Side x Side Fridge "Afficianado"!

Gary

Make your husband happy. The French door is so much nicer. I just replaced a side by side with French door. My produce and eggs no longer freeze due to the proximity of the side by side freezer. Also, you will have room for platters and trays.

There is no universal "better". It is all about what works best for each person. Having freezer on the side does not cause things to freeze in and of itself, sounds like something was wrong with yours. I got the sense that her husband wanted the french door for looks, not necessarily function. The person who gets to decide on the fridge should be the one who cooks the most.

I have a french door which I bought because of the bottom freezer. I like that aspect of it, but I'm not fond of the french doors themselves and for that reason I'd probably get a side by side next time. I like just being able to open one door and have access to everything. My favorite type of fridge overall is single door bottom mount, however the ones on the market currently are too small for me.

Single door bottom freezer would be my first choice, as well. I hope they make a comeback :)

Interesting...I'll admit that just about the only reason that I am so partial to the side by side is because I don't think I will like the bottom freezer. I love the 5 upright shelves that let me categorize and organize but I fear that with a bottom freezer, I'll have to dig and remove baskets or bins to get to what I need. Am I over-thinking it?
Yes, hubby does prefer the look of the french doors, but I am the main cooker!

WEll, we are older, and no way would we want to dig into a bottom freezer. Our 48" SXS has plenty of freezer space and we keep the most used items at the perfect height for us.

We pretty much do the same thing with the fridge area, except the meat keeper is at the bottom of the fridge area, but still doesn't take a lotta of stopping to access that which is in the meat keeper.

We pretty much use the fridge and freezer sections equally, so at least to us, this is an important feature, (food where we want it)!

Gary

We have had a Jenn air counter depth French door with ice and water INSIDE for 3-4 years. Love it love the look and the functionality. I prefer the water inside. I think it looks nicer and doesn't get all gunky outside. It had the problem of leaking from the freezer onto the floor (Google it - it's a common whirlpool problem with a fairly easy fix. DH fixed ours and no problems since. ). Have you seen the water inside?

The French door
design of this refrigerator is seriously flawed. If you open the right door
first, which most people will do, then open the left door, a normal next step,
and close the right door, the left door will smash against the glass of the
right door when you try to close it. The problem lies in the fact that the
hinge attached to the left door does not retract far enough to clear the right
door. This is my third French-door refrigerator (other brands) and I have never
had this problem before. Here is what Jennair has to say in their user guide:

“ There are
two refrigerator compartment doors. The doors can be opened and closed either
separately or together. There is a vertically-hinged seal on the left
refrigerator door.

■ When the left side door is opened, the hinged seal automatically folds
inward so that it is out of the way.”

I bought this fridge over a year ago and have had
at least three different repairmen come more than six times to try and repair
it. They have changed the hinge twice, to no avail. They have installed shims
to level the back of the fridge, no improvement. I called again today and they
are sending a new technician to view the situation. I am not holding out much
hope.