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REFRIGERATORS

These days even refrigerators are relatively reasonable in Israel. Unless you’re already making a shipment or want a really high end refrigerator, such as a Subzero, then you could do worse than buying a European/Asian brand in Israel. Though the Israeli brands are still available tax-free for new immigrants and returning residents (more than 6 years out of the country), they are not as good as the other options, since they are less energy efficient and more cheaply made.

Of the European/Asian brands available in Israel, LG and Fisher Paykal are the best. Of the American brands GE and Amana are best, followed at some distance by Maytag/Amana/Magic Chef/Whirlpool which are, as of 2006, all under common ownership.

If you are making a tax-free shipment for other appliances and/or household goods, then it is still worthwhile bringing a fridge as well. Even if you do not have rights, it is still worthwhile shipping over a Subzero or Monogram.

GE is the most highly recommended, factory-original 220volt/50 cycle refrigerator. Along with Frigidaire, Amana, and Whirlpool it is direct 220 volt /50 cycle without a transformer. Subzero brand has a transformer built-in or requires one be added on. Whirlpool is now made for export but not sold widely enough in Israel to have parts easily available. GE is widely sold in Israel.

According to GE factory representatives, the 110-volt models are made for American use in air-conditioned homes. The 220-volt models are made heavier duty with better insulation for use in hot, tropical climates. However, if you just bought a fancy GE, Amana or Whirlpool fridge for use in America and then decided to move to Israel, you might consider using it on a 3-tap transformer. A three-tap transformer is one that can be adjusted to output 100 volts instead of the standard 110 volts. This compensates in large part for the fact the cycles are 60 instead of 50 hertz.

General Electric is recommended for Israel because of their quality and the availability of parts and service. Subzero is a built-in, high quality refrigerator in a category of its own—top of the line and the most expensive. It requires a transformer and a panel to match the cabinets in your kitchen. It is available in top and bottom freezer and side-by-side—all are only 24” deep. Service is available in Israel.

Subzero, Frigidaire, and some commercial brands (such as RWA) make all refrigerator models. Subzero is by far the best. Frigidaire is not so good, and the commercial brands are much less expensive, but make a lot of noise.

A few years back the Israeli consumer program, Kolbotek, hired independent engineers to compare all the refrigerators available in Israel and recommended GE above all the rest, followed by Amcor, Tadiran, Amana, Frigidaire, and Westinghouse. Frigidaire and Westinghouse are not what they used to be: obtaining parts is difficult and we have seen more than one case of a problem in the freezer plumbing.

Features

All GE and Amana refrigerators above 12 cubic feet are no-frost and come with energy-saver switches. These devices allow the energy consumption of the fridge to be cut by 15% in non-humid climates by turning off the coils on the outside of the refrigerator that evaporate moisture. Even without using the energy-saver switch, Consumer Reports recorded the energy use for one year of the Amana at 1,008 kilowatt-hours.

GE and Amana have similar freezer/fridge proportions. The side-by-sides usually have larger freezer space than a similarly sized top-freezer. GE Arctica above 18 cubic feet and Amana above 20 cubic feet, have glass shelves. Both brands have reversible doors, opening left or right, though not on all models.

Both side-by-side and top freezer models are available with through-the-door ice-and-water dispenser or in-the-freezer ice cube makers. These are both expensive to run and delicate—but some people find them worth it. The energy consumption of a large top freezer and a medium top freezer model are quite similar. Note that the water dispenser brings water into the fridge and then out the dispenser. It does not have its own cooling element. So as soon as you take the first cup of water, tap temperature water is already brought in, making the next cup warmer. If you take 6 cups one after the other, the water from the dispenser will be tap temperature.

Widths range from 30” to 36”. Refrigerator doors can be taken off to help the refrigerators fit through narrow doorways. If that doesn’t work...you may have to take apart the doorframes—not an easy job. Colors available: white, black and, sometimes, almond. All refrigerators come with the textured steel leather-look that makes dirt less obvious. The larger fridges can be purchased with a decor-frame that allows you to insert a wood, plastic, stainless steel, or black glass panel that matches your kitchen.

“Arctica” is the higher end of the GE profile series. They are electronic, and so more delicate than the standard profile. They do have a special, quick cooling feature, and excellent finish.

“Tropicalized”

Most refrigerators do feature a switch to supply heat to the outside surface and prevent condensation. The export models also have better insulation.

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

The freezer and refrigerator compartments stretched “side by side” from top to bottom are easier to use. They are wider and less deep, making for easier access to food, but they use twice the electricity of top-freezer models. The side-by-side’s “full-length” freezers on the smaller models can be quite narrow—too narrow, in fact, on models 20 cubic feet or less. Freezer spaces are relatively larger than on top-freezer models.

Bottom Freezers

Subzero, GE, and Amana make good-sized refrigerators with bottom freezers that can be used in Israel on a transformer. Amana makes a bottom freezer on 220 volt/50 hertz. Keidar Sherutim recommends bottom-freezer models for the following reasons: a) most of the parts are identical to those of the top freezer model b) the cold air stays better there than in a top freezer, and c) there is easier access to the fridge which is used more frequently.

Three door fridge/freezers

The latest is to have a freezer on the bottom and two fridges on the top—side by side. Practical and desirable. Still a price advantage to import from the US on the Maytag/Amana.

Israeli Refrigerators

Israeli fridges for tax-free sale are top-freezer models that are smaller than most American fridges. The largest Amcor and Tadiran refrigerators are 550 liters (19.4 cubic feet). Including delivery they sell for about $1,000 tax-free which about the same as importing a similarly sized Amana or GE. The Amcor 19 is 452 liters, or 16 cubic feet (1 cubic foot = 28.3 liters). Tadiran has a 12-year limited guarantee. Israeli fridges are usually 30.5” wide, and some kitchens have spaces pre-cut to accommodate them. They have more shelves, spaced more tightly, than American refrigerators.

US refrigerators	Israeli tax-free fridges
Up to 30 cubic feet	Max 21.5 cubic feet
Larger spaces between shelves for viewing and air circulation. Choose between wire or glass shelves.	Tightly spaced glass shelves.
1 year service contract included	3 year contract
Available with frame kit to put cabinet wood or stainless on the front	No frame kit or stainless.
Available in side by side, top, or bottom freezer	Top freezer only.
Very energy efficient.	Uses more electricity.
Lasts 25 years (at least the GE profiles)	Lasts 12-15 years

One time fees per shipment (not per item) are ~$620 including US and Israel documents, devanning, port fees, communications, terminal handling charges, customs clearing, delivery, and vat.	Base US price in $	Including shipping, insurance, installation, 1yr service contract, and Israel taxes
Maytag GB2225 PEKW Bottom Freezer White	1210	1,719
Maytag GB2225 PEKW Bottom Freezer White With Ice Maker	1320	1,876
Uli 75wc 60 bottle wine fridge in black (220)	1155	1,884
GE GTG-22JBM-WW 22cft, top freezer, split shelves, 83.2 cm wide	1104	1,906
Marvel IND 50 Bottle wine fridge Glass Door Black Cabinet 61wcbsg	1193	2,042
Whirlpool 22 cf Top Freezer	963	2,308
GE ptg25sb 25 cubic foot top freezer arctica profile, Stainless Steel	1392	2,326
GE Monogram wine fridge with transformer #ZDWC240NBS 57 bottles	1250	2,348
Amana A2526 White bottom freezer	1433	2,386
Marvel IND 54 bottle wine cellar 6 CF 6swcbsg	1494	2,470
Amana Top Freezer 21 CF (Standard Model)	1194	2,636
Whirlpool 5VES3FHGRSS, side by side refrigerator, ice/water in door, stainless, 83 cm wide 171 cm high 70 cm deep, incl svc	1650	2,681
GE PSG27ngsf 27 cft side by side White, with Kiosk	1903	2,704
Amana AB2026 WH 2 door specify left or right swing 20 cf	1793	2,884
RWA commercial refrigerator, 2 door, 1400 liter, Model GN1410tn, stailness steel 304 inside and out, w 1.450, d.830, h 2.01, forced air for uniform circulation		3,075
Maytag 26 CF (Largest side by side), white, with kiosk GS2625	1931	3,080
Whirlpool Side by Side Side by Side 6GD25DCXHS Features: In-Door-Ice Ice Dispensing System Contour Stainless Steel Door Design	1980	3,150
Amana A32026 WH French Door bottom freezer	2140	3,376
Amana AB2026 SS 2 door specify left or right swing 20 cf	2151	3,392
Maytag G32026PEKS SS French Door bottom freezer	2151	3,392
Maytag Side by Side GZ2626GEK in stainless	2197	3,458
Maytag bottom freezer, butterfly top fridge 25 CU. FT. G32526PEK stainless	2211	3,561
Frigidaire All Refrigerator plru1778 (Same as 1778) and Matching Freezer plfu 1778 (Same as 1778) Stainless Steel 16.7 CF (each)	1862	3,587
GE 29 cub ft refrigerator #PSE29MHTCSS/ Stainless	2365	3,697
Maytag bottom freezer, butterfly top fridge 25 CU. FT. G32526PEK stainless With internal ice maker	2327	3,725
GE Profile psg29shsc ss Stainless Steel with Black Trim Side by Side	2336	3,739
Amana A32026 SS French Door bottom freezer	2404	3,752
GE Profile psg29shss Stainless Steel with refreshment center Side by Side	2357	3,768
Viking outdoor undercounter refrigerator Vuar 140trss 24" wide	2040	3,828
Subzero 24" Wine Fridge 424g/SRH Glass Door S/ST R/Hinge	2501	3,901
KitchenAid direct in 220v w/internal chilled water and ice maker kbfa20erss (for export)	2530	3,906
Jenn-Air JFC2089HES (French door fridge) with Keidar Service and transformer	2312	4,237
GE monogram 27 220 V in Stainless zsg27sgss w/GTS Service	3465	5,304
GE monogram 110 V all Refrigerator, integrated # ZIR36NMRH 36" , panels required, 21.9cft	3295	5,622
GE monogram 110 V all freezer, integrated #ZIF36NMLH 36" panels required, 21.9cft	3438	5,825
Subzero Refrigerator only 601r stainless 36" wide (Specify Hinges)	4399	7,329
Subzero freezer only 601f stainless 36" wide (Specify Hinges)	4611	7,630
Subzero 650 Ready for wood panel	4,882	8,015
SubZero #661 , overlay	5109	8,288
Sub Zero #650, 36", bottom freezer, FRAMED, service category is for 1 yr. Service and includes transformer (there is no wider SZ bottom freezer than this)	5,161	8,412
Sub Zero #650, 36", bottom freezer, FRAMED, service category is for 1 yr. Service and includes transformer (there is no wider SZ bottom freezer than this) With WHITE GLASS PANELS!	5,317	8,635
Subzero refrigerator 632 FRAMED	5555	8,971
Subzero 650 stainless bottom freezer 650SRH (Right Hinge)	5,560	8,978
Subzero overlay (unframed)  model 632o OVERLAY, requires incredible carpenter, since it comes with neither frame nor handles	5661	9,250
Sub Zero #661 in stainless steel	5842	9,444
Subzero 642 stainless	5997