Journal
Sub-Zero & Wolf has been a leading manufacturer of home refrigeration and cooking in America for nearly 80 years. Their appliances are still meticulously crafted and expertly engineered in Wisconsin, USA, bringing professional quality to domestic environments. It was one of the first to pioneer the freestanding freezer design, and it has gained quite a reputation for quality and advanced technology.
Their brand in the UK has flourished in more recent years, and while many of Guild Anderson’s country house clients prefer European brands (Miele, Everhot and Aga in particular), some of our London clients, many of whom are from the USA, are preferring to take the Sub-Zero & Wolf route.
Sub-Zero Refrigerators & Freezers Overview
Inside and out, a Sub-Zero refrigerator looks and feels very high quality. Sleek stainless accents trim the interior, matching the sophistication of the well-engineered crisp exterior.
Dual Compressors – A key to the brand’s success has been that their fridge freezer models use dual compressors; two independent cooling systems which maintain the temperature and humidity within both the freezer and fridge compartments separately. This approach maintains interior temperatures within one degree, so your food lasts longer and you waste less.
Air Purification – To assist in keeping food fresh, Sub-Zero also has a computer-driven air purification system which works to circulate fresh, moist air more effectively in your fridge. An antimicrobial air purification system built into the appliance also automatically cleans the air every 20 minutes. Many fresh foods emit ethylene gas causing other foods to perish much faster. By filtering out these gases, along with the bacteria and mould spores found on some fresh produce, Sub-Zero claims your groceries will last longer. We have tested this claim out with citrus fruits in our design studio showroom in Tisbury, and they lasted significantly longer that those fruits kept at ambient room temperature in a fruit bowl.
A patented vacuum door seal system also helps to maintain optimal temperature; all four sides on the unit vacuum seal when you close the door.
PROS of Sub-Zero:
Sub-Zero offers an extensive selection of models and configurations, with more than 30 options available, offering different installation, configuration, dimension, and finish options. The company is also known as one of the best wine fridge manufacturers in the world. Their fastidious approach to the environment within their fridges as well as a special dampening system to minimise micro vibration means the best red and white wines can be stored in confidence.
Built to Last – Built with premium grade materials, Sub-Zero products are designed to last a minimum of 20 years (in comparison to Miele’s 15 years). Major components are subjected to extreme stress tests prior to going into the final design, and every major function is tested before shipping.
Customer Service – The company claim one of the highest levels of service and customer support in the industry, although anecdotally we feel that this is truer within the M25 than rural England where our clients mainly live.
Sub-Zero Warranty – The company offers a full five year warranty from the date of original installation.
Energy Efficiency – They are on a mission to make sure their appliances aren’t only the highest quality, but are also the most energy efficient in the industry. Over 30 of their appliances have already earned the USA Energy Star rating for outstanding energy efficiency, meaning they use about 15% less energy than non-certified models, and the average Sub-Zero product uses less electricity than a 100-watt bulb.
Sustainability – As a company they promote sustainability across the board, from using recycled materials and minimising wastewater to significantly reducing paper consumption and championing returnable shipping containers.
CONS of Sub-Zero:
Being the highest quality fridge freezer brand out there, finding fault with Sub-Zero is hard. One might argue from a country house designer’s perspective that their models are sometimes hard to integrate into the confines of an historic building, but great strides have been made with their hinging systems and these legacy issues are now less of a problem.
A key issue is that with all this technology, there comes a requirement to look after it, and Sub-Zeros can be quite sensitive and needy. This means the air filter needs changing regularly, and the compressors often need cleaning out. If you have a dog which moults, then this is likely to be required more often, and let’s face it, we have lives to live, and hoovering out the fridge compressor filter will come down low on most of our priority lists.
Be warned though; if their compressor filters are not cleaned out, they will overheat and shut down, and sod’s law will dictate that this happens just as your plane takes off for your two-week holiday.
So, is a Sub-Zero fridge worth the price?
In the USA, a Sub-Zero fridge has more brand recognition than any other kitchen appliance, and it is often mentioned in estate agent listings when selling a home.
With so much to consider when designing a bespoke kitchen, we believe the flexibility in design in the Sub-Zero range in combination with its amazing quality really does set it apart. However, like buying a car, how much do you as the client really value the features on offer? Do you need a Rolls Royce when a BMW is still excellent. This is a call only you can make. As a registered Sub-Zero dealer we have a fridge freezer and wine cooler at our showroom in Tisbury. For the wider range of appliances their Knightsbridge showroom is well worth a visit.
