PLEASE research the purchase of a Viking refrigerator extremely well. We have a Viking refrigerator that's only 9 years old and are going to replace it. We have spent the last 14 months with repair problems. There were so many visits from the service man that I lost count. The refrigerator NEVER sealed with a strong seal but we were told by Viking that that's the way it should be. Besides the closing problem we've had the freezer stop defrosting not once but three times and lost ALL the food three separate times and it was supposedly fixed each time. I read a post on this website where someone wrote that his Viking refrigerator was the most expensive stainless steel bookcase he ever bought ~ now I'm writing that I SECOND that statement !! We're sick that we are now in the market to buy another built-in refrigerator with another expensive price tag because of the shoddy workmanship from Viking. I purchased the cheapest Kenmore for our downstairs that's just as old as the Viking and it seals, defrosts and purrs like a dream ~ what's wrong with this picture. I feel that Viking just doesn't care about customer satisfaction. As for the salesman that is pushing the Viking really check into this ~ maybe the salesman gets a bigger commission for selling a Viking ~ please do your homework !!!!! I learned a VERY expensive lesson by taking the salesman's word for it.

These comments are so helpful, thanks! I think now I am reassured we will be OK with the dispenser inside the fridge. I am surprised no one has mentioned that you are leaving the fridge door open, letting cold air escape, as you fill a glass with water, so I guess it's not much of an energy loss. Mountaineergirl, we aren't so young, but we "play-acted" at the store scooping ice, and we felt fine with it. Even have our ice scoop picked out (the Oxo, looks awesome) :)) Now to pick the fridge - Whirlpool vs. Kitchenaid (we know they are the same company) vs. Samsung vs. Electrolux. DH loves the look of the Electrolux, but the online reviews are appalling. All I ask is that the icemaker is in the freezer section, not the fridge section. But many french door fridges have the icemaker in the fridge section.

Be sure to vacuum under the fridge, that ended the popping noises on my whirlpool...my pets had contributed a generous amount of cast off fur in only a couple of months. Now I have added vacuuming the frdge to the quarterly cleaning list, without pets you could do it less often. I believe this is true for all fridges, not just my fridge.

I have room for a large (~ 5' wide) fridge/freezer in my new kitchen. I found the Frigidaire Gallery 32" all fridge + 32" all freezer combo w/ trim kit but I'm having trouble finding other options in the $4000-ish price range. Can anyone point me towards a particular brand/model I should consider? Thanks!