Whirlpool side by side refrigerator without ice maker

Icemakers and water and ice dispensers are popular, but they’re also consistently the source of the two biggest complaints owners have about their refrigerators, according to Consumer Reports member surveys.

In the most recent surveys, covering just over 125,000 refrigerators that members bought new between 2011 and 2021, we learned that 15 percent of models had trouble making ice, and 15 percent of models with a dispenser had problems dispensing water or ice.

The most obvious way to avoid these pitfalls is simply to choose a refrigerator without either feature. That can be difficult because most refrigerators on the market, particularly wider ones, have at least an icemaker. But such a move does have another advantage.

“Icemakers and water dispensers take up a lot of space inside the refrigerator,” says Larry Ciufo, who oversees CR’s refrigerator testing. “If you get a model without them, you’ll be able to maximize your storage space.”

In CR’s refrigerator lab, our engineers wire up models with thermocouples and monitor the refrigerators for more than a month in a climate-controlled chamber. They collect more than 5.4 million temperature readings for each model to detect warm and cold spots—for CR’s temperature-uniformity test—and determine which refrigerators keep food fresh longer.

In addition, Consumer Reports’ member surveys allow us to create predicted-reliability and owner-satisfaction ratings. All this data informs our overall refrigerator ratings, which include more than 200 models.

CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of the best refrigerators without either a water dispenser or an icemaker from our tests—two top-freezers and bottom-freezers, and a French-door—from Haier, Ikea, LG, Samsung, and Whirlpool. (CR hasn’t tested any strong-performing side-by-sides or built-ins without a dispenser or an icemaker.)

Correction: On May 31, 2022, this story was updated to reflect the correct overall scores for the products listed. A prior version included overall scores that inadvertently drew on older predicted reliability and owner satisfaction data.


Whirlpool side by side refrigerator without ice maker

Daniel Wroclawski

I'm obsessed with smart home tech and channel my obsession into new stories for Consumer Reports. When I'm not writing about products, I spend time either outside hiking and skiing or up in the air in small airplanes. For my latest obsessions, follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@danwroc).

Whirlpool side by side refrigerator without ice maker

Whirlpool side by side refrigerator without ice maker

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Is it better to get a refrigerator without an ice maker?

“Icemakers and water dispensers take up a lot of space inside the refrigerator,” says Larry Ciufo, who oversees CR's refrigerator testing. “If you get a model without them, you'll be able to maximize your storage space.”

Does a fridge need a water line if there is no ice maker?

Of course, if your refrigerator doesn't have an ice maker or water dispenser, or if it has one or both features but you prefer not to use them, there is no need to install a refrigerator water line.

Will Whirlpool refrigerator make ice without water filter?

With the filter removed, the water system will continue to operate, bypassing the filter, and the clogged filter will not cause slow water dispensing or low ice production. However, in order to have filtered water, you will need to install a new filter.

Why is my Whirlpool side

First, make sure your water filter is up to date to help avoid clogs that reduce water flow. Next, double check that the fridge water line behind the refrigerator isn't kinked or twisted. Lastly, use a leveler to ensure that your refrigerator and ice maker are level so water distributes evenly throughout the ice tray.