Getting the Built In Look Without Pricey Sub-Zero. FAIL!
Kate in Kennett
8 years ago
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Discontinued Sub Zero 736 vs. New Sub Zero IT 36
Comments (11)BK - you are just flat out wrong wrong here. SZ makes their own fridges in their own factories, and about the only thing that is of Whirlpool design is the $50 ice maker unit that 60+% of the industry uses ! They fabricate their own steel and plastic cases, source their own, copper and glass, spray their own insulation , designed their own ethelyene filter, and on and on. Whirlpool wasn't even in the fridge business until a decade after SZ was producing theirs , and the only reason Whirlpool got in it was because of a merger. and, we all know about mergers. SZ has and these units in real homes for twelve plus months already , so they kinda know what is flawed with them. These also aren't just some half baked platform off the drawing board like your Maytag example. Further , Maytag ceases to exist because they were boneheads. Their Neptune debacle blew a hole in the ship, and the Amana acquisition enlarged it. And guess who picked up the pieces folks? Yep, BK's white knight and general do gooder, Whirlpool. Happy, I know it's a tough decision for you right now with this model change especially since they are different sizes. I would go for he new design, simply because that 7xx platform is almost twenty years old now and the 36" one is not the best size anyway. Have you considered one of the 36" ers from one of the Miele, Gaggenau, Thermador cousins? They are all top quality and roughly the same price as that 736. Available now and first of the year no changes, proven platform with nice features, and they integrate very smoothly....See MoreRefrigerator Built-in; Sub Zero, Jenn Air or Monogram?
Comments (8)We've had such a good experience with our Sub Zeros that we just ordered the 42" French door Sub Zero for the kitchen at our next home. Currently I have a 36" all Refrigerator and a 36" all Freezer. They are now 29 years old and going strong. We did have some of the typical problems in the early years - my ice maker worked fine, but every now and then I had ice build up in the back. Since it was out of warranty I used a hair dryer to melt the ice but that got annoying. When I called my local repair company they called Sub Zero from my house and discussed the problem. Sub Zero offered to cover the part and I paid for labor. It's now worked fine for over 20 years. The compressor only had a 5 year warranty when I bought the freezer in 1988. And of course it died in year 7 - again my local repair guy called SZ - and again they covered the parts while I paid labor. My impatient 10 year old son tried to force the freezer door open after it had just shut - anyone who knows SZ knows that when you close it, you have to wait a few seconds for the pressure to equalize before opening it again. Well he managed to break the metal handle. I called SZ and after the customer service rep laughed he asked if I had been entertaining a frat party at my home. I told him it was my 10 year old and that I had witnessed it. He immediately told me he'd send me a new handle - no charge. Well this same kid (who is now an impatient adult) managed to break off the handle on the refrigerator a year later. Again I called SZ - however by this time they had changed the style of the handle. The customer service rep not only send me a new handle for free - he also sent a new one for the freezer so that I would have matching handles. Their customer service has been fantastic. That's the reason we ordered another one from them. I know I'm going to miss my 301 R and 301 F when we move . We're empty nesters and down sizing and I don't need or even have room for those big units - but DH and I both love to cook and we often make large casseroles and freeze meals for our kids. The 42" should work fine for us....See MoreNeed guidance: panel ready SubZero Built-in overlay (flush) design
Comments (24)sageviews... short answer is I have no idea. Longer answer: I'm not familiar with Kitchenaid built-in models, so I can't say for sure, but... It's not so much the depth with a built-in, or the space you allow beside it, as it is the hinges on the refrigerator door. While you could leave a 1/2" clearance all the way around (and please don't let anyone tell you that looks bad, many current refrigerators require that space, and lots of people have them and it sure doesn't bother them) - your doors may still jut out a bit. Depending where you live and your personal tastes, this might be perfectly fine, or it might not suit you. Sub Zero realized a while back that integrated (flush with cabinetry) was becoming popular, so their built-ins, which are not true integrated, had hinges that operated in such a way that the door does not need to extend beyond the cabinetry beside it to open completely. Thus, if someone had the depth and space, they could install the SZ built-ins very similar to an integrated... flush with the cabinetry. I don't think Kitchenaid did this with their built-in hinges. You'd really have to go look at them, and inquire. The easiest way to tell is to take a piece of flat wood (a 1 x 8 or a small piece of plywood - or even a stiff notepad), hold it just beside the door - flush, and open the door the way. Does it hit the wood? If yes, you can't flush install. Is that horrible? If one really wants panels but can't find integrated or it's beyond the remodel budget, no, I don't think so. Just my opinion. It's kind of hard for me to explain the difference in hinges, but the SZ's allow the door to open in place, it does not need side-room. I can't tell by looking at Kitchenaide's site, but I'm pretty sure they require a non-flush install. Basically, the difference is this: SZ built in flush inset: kitchenaide built in flush inset: Hope whatever you decide, you are happy with it : )...See MoreWolf/Sub Zero or Save?
Comments (8)My husband and I cook a lot. COVID made almost no difference in our eating out. We both cherish our excellent appliances. So yes, I do think it's worth it. After 20 years of military moves and getting to try out all sorts of kitchens and appliances, we knew exactly what we wanted and didn't want. **But, we made no attempt to "match" appliances by brand. They are matched by finish, and that's where you'll get the best bang for the buck.** Otherwise, we chose the best appliance for the job where it mattered. - So, the SZ fridge? Worth it. Getting identical for our new build. Produce lasts noticeably longer in this fridge than the standard brand one in our utility room when we've had to overflow. - The Wolf range? Worth it. Although we're upgrading to a Blue Star for the wokking in the new build, we've been able to cook things that would never work on any regular cooktop, such as paella. Getting that perfect crust and perfect rice - no problem. - The Wolf vent hood? No. We're still getting one (required for high power cooking) but less-expensive brand with the necessary CFM for the BS. The joist construction of the home is the limiting factor in this decision though. - The KA combo wall oven (micro/speed cook upper with true convection lower) - great buy and going strong at 15 years, but KA has suffered issues the past few years (enamel chipping like Wolf's issue, uneven temperature control) so we splurged on a Thermador for the new build which had the high temp (550F) requirement for pizza, as many only go to 450F. Saved money getting the BS rangetop instead of full range because we rarely use the range portion of our Wolf now that we don't eat meat. - Bosch DW - yes. We got the cheapest model because we simply don't use it very often and performance of a DW is not a priority as long as it works. Quiet was the only factor because we have an open floor plan. Hope this helps!...See Morewritersblock (9b/10a)
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