Shared Knowledge

"Amana SZD20MPE Refrigerator - Replacing"

21 May 2012

Summary: depending on the layout of your kitchen, finding a replacement can be easy or difficult because of shallow depth and "short" height of the Amana SZD20MPE.

Background:

Amana SZD20MPE side-by-side refrigerator.

Installed in new kitchen in 1991.

Kitchen cabinet (15 inches tall) installed over top Amana.

SZD20MPE's compressor died in 2012.

Not worth replacing compressor (compressor cost, service call required expense, electric efficiency of old versus replacement, etc, etc).

Amana SZD20MPE had to be replaced.

Replacement depth dimension problem:

Thought width was going to be a problem but most  new refrigerators 35 3/4 inches wide or same as Amana SZD20MPE.

Problem is with depth. Amana SZD20MPE is very narrow or in my case 23 1/2 inches and most new "full size" refrigerators are deeper than this and and would stick up out into the kitchen to such a point as to restrict passage around it.

Most new refrigerators are taller than Amana SZD20MPE but this could be dealt with by removal of cabinet installed above Amana SZD20MPE (rebuilt of cabinet to make it "shorter").

As it turns out, in my case, had to look only at "counter-depth" (actual term in description of refrigerator) new refrigerators as these claim to have a depth close to current kitchen cabinet counter depth.

Internet search revealed some "counter-depth" refrigerators but most had a depth that still would have had door sticking out significantly into kitchen.

Settled on Samsung model RSG257 "counter-depth". (Not suggesting you buy the Samsung and I do not sell them, just what I settled on.)

Leary of Internet published dimensions, went to store with tape measure to confirm published dimensions.

Published was correct but top hinge sticks up another 3/4 inch and thus required cabinet be removed that is over old Amana SZD20MPE.

Samsung "counter-depth" refrigerator:

Ok, new Samsung is delivered.

Very, very tight fit on sides as it must be exactly 35 3/4" wide (tighter than old Amana SZD20MPE) but it does fit.

Wanted to push Samsung as far back into hole as possible to keep handles, doors, out of kitchen traffic BUT Samsung actually sucks in air on the bottom in the back, so could not push as far in as I would have liked, but ok.

The water line to the Samsung takes a 3/4 inch nut line or not the water hose type on the Anama SZD20MPE, so new water line kit going to be required or you will have to cut off old connection and fit with 1/4 inch compression nut arrangement.

For more Amana SZD20MPE click here