GE French Door Refrigerator Review Model: GFE26JYMFS
I really wanted to do this GE French Door Refrigerator Model GFE26JYMFS Review because it is so hard these days to find a good product to replace an old one. I’ve had mixed experiences with newer appliances lately, including this Samsung dual-door electric range review. This refrigerator was purchased to replace a 13-year-old Kenmore Elite that is no longer in production. The refrigerator had the closest options to our previous refrigerator, such as:
- An ice maker in the door
- Ample shelf room
- Adjustable shelves
- A split shelf
- Water filtration system.
Unfortunately, newer appliances hardly ever live up to their older counterparts. As time goes on, products are made cheaper, break down more, and become less reliable.
Quick Pros
- Spacious interior layout
- Attractive stainless steel finish
- Adjustable shelving
- Reliable cooling performance
- French door design works great for families
Things to Consider
- Ice maker can be noisy at times
- Fingerprints may show easily
- Water filter replacements add ongoing cost
biggest complaint: the Noise
The GE Refrigerator GFE26JYMFS is the NOISEST refrigerator I have ever owned. It drives me insane at times. In the morning, before use, it is completely silent. After you use the ice or water and open it, it begins its daily ritual of pulsating noises that go up and down. Eventually, after a few hours, the noise settles into a more even hum that is still loud but easier to ignore. If you don’t touch the refrigerator long enough, the compressor will go quiet, and for a small amount of time, it is blissful.
GE’s Response to My Noise Complaint
I felt the noise was so bad that there must be something wrong with the refrigerator, so I reached out to them myself. This was their response below.
Based on the information provided, newer refrigerators sound different from older refrigerators. They have more features and use newer technology. For your conveience, I have listed below some normal operating sounds and noises that your unit may produce or make:
- The new high-efficiency compressor may run faster and longer than your old refrigerator and you may hear a high-pitched hum or pulsating sound while it is operating.
I have it hard to believe that it is acceptable that newer technology would create more noise that is frustrating to the consumer, but that is what they said.
ICE MAKER
I wish the ice were small cubes instead of half-moons.
WATER AND ICE DISPENSER
The lighting on the readable area of the dispenser for Water/Crushed/Cubed/Light is a joke for older eyes, especially at night. Instead of illuminating the words, there is a small bar that hovers over the words that lights up. It would be more user-friendly if the words lit up as well for nighttime use.
Door Ice Maker – We like the ice maker on the door because it does not take up room in the refrigerator. However, just a note that the ice storage is small, as it is with any indoor icemaker, so if your family goes through a lot of ice, you may want to opt for or use storage bins in your freezer, or there are options where the ice maker is not in the door.
The ice maker, when dispensing ice, is VERY loud, much louder than my previous refrigerator, like it is grinding the ice (which it is not).
SHELVING
There could be just a little more flexibility with the shelving heights so that when storing 2-liter bottles, you can do so without having to use the split shelf or cram the shelves close together. Just a little extra option at the top would have solved this problem.
WATER FILTER
Water Filter – you are required to buy the official WXFE filter (you cannot purchase the cheaper WXF filter). See the note at the end about the filter. Refrigerator water filters can help reduce contaminants and improve taste, depending on your household water supply.
REFRIGERATOR STORAGE SPACE
Ample Space – There is a lot of space in the refrigerator, and while I do wish there was more flexibility with the shelving height overall, there is a good amount of space to store your food. We especially appreciate the extra room for meal prep ingredients, leftovers, and healthier food options for family meals and recipes throughout the week.
DOOR STORAGE
Ample Side Space – The containers on the right side of the door are large and can fit a large number of items. Additionally, while the containers on the left door are small as expected due to the ice maker, they are perfect for sticks of butter, cheese, garlic cloves, and smaller items.
FREEZER STORAGE
Freezer – while the freezer is a little smaller than our previous freezer, it is still a nice size and has an option to separate items in both the top drawer and bottom drawer. This can help with keeping things a little more organized.
CLIMATE CONTROL DRAWERS
Climate Control – both bins have the option to choose the climate control for fruits or vegetables. The larger drawer can be set to cold or coldest (this is where we store our meat and cheeses)
WXFE Filter from GE Required
Regarding the filter, you must buy the WXFE filter from GE, as it is the only filter that will work. You can not buy the WXF’s cheaper version, as it does not have the chip and is rendered useless. This is a clever way for GE to require that you purchase their more expensive filter. This is based on my own research and experience with the filter system.”
Who This GE Refrigerator Is Best For
This refrigerator is a great fit for:
- Families needing lots of food storage
- Homeowners wanting a modern French door refrigerator
- People who entertain often
- Those looking for flexible shelving and freezer organization
It may not be ideal for:
- Small kitchens with limited depth
- Shoppers looking for a budget refrigerator
- Those wanting smart/WiFi refrigerator features
FAQ
Is the GE GFE26JYMFS refrigerator reliable?
In my experience, yes. It has performed well for our household and maintained consistent cooling temperatures.
How much space does the freezer have?
The bottom freezer drawer offers a surprising amount of storage and organization.
Is the GE French door refrigerator noisy?
Yes, in my experience, it can be surprisingly noisy compared to older refrigerators, especially after using the ice or water dispenser.
Does this refrigerator show fingerprints?
Like many stainless steel appliances, fingerprints can appear, especially on high-touch areas.
Final Thoughts on the GE Refrigerator Model GFE26JYMFS
Our final thoughts after having this GE Refrigerator for 2 months. I would not purchase it again. The hardest part is that it has all the features we wanted, and trying to find another one with the same features and hoping it would not make the same annoying noises wasn’t enough for us to return it and purchase another one. Because of the noise level, I personally would not purchase this refrigerator again.
You can also read some of my other honest product reviews, including my Sentry Safe review and Vitapod review..
