You were not embarrassed by the somewhat provocative title of the article with the question: “Is it worth buying?” Of course it's funny! After all, Liebherr is not a newcomer to the refrigerator market; for more than 60 years, it has been producing equipment that is constantly at the forefront of technology development. Although its holding is located in Switzerland (owned by the Liebherr family), the "backbone" of the enterprises is located in Germany.
Her German solid refrigerators made of stainless steel, aluminum with innovative ergonomic "stuffing" traditionally deserve the highest reviews from consumers. A Liebherr refrigerator is always a premium class! It has quite a decent volume, suitable for a real family refrigerator. And, of course, the price of such a reliable and convenient refrigerator starts at $1,200.
Types of refrigerators
Company "Liebherr" is actively working in the segment of two-chamber refrigerators. They are the most in demand. Speaking about macroeconomics, it should be noted that at present, in the conditions of intense competition in the marketmore than a thousand models of "two-chamber" are sold by various manufacturers. Liebherr is one of the leaders in this market. The latter is evidenced by both analytical reviews and customer reviews. The Liebherr refrigerator is produced in two fundamentally different designs: according to the European type (both compartments are located vertically) or according to the American type (side-by-side: on the left is the freezer, on the right is the refrigerator).
To clarify: for a large family of five or more people living in a spacious cottage or apartment, the American design of Liebherr products, 1210 mm wide, is ideal. Liebherr SBS 7212 and SBSES 8283 models (two doors: freezer on the left, refrigerator on the right) traditionally receive the best reviews. The Liebherr refrigerator for a relatively small family (up to 3–4 people) assumes a European two-chamber design (where the freezer compartment is at the bottom). By the way, as ergonomics advises, the location of the freezer below is preferable for tall refrigerators (178 cm - 210 m). Note that the Liebherr models CUN 3033, 3956, CES 4023, CN 3033, CN 4003 of the European type meet these criteria.
Main refrigerator compartments
Obviously, the internal space of the refrigerator is always of fundamental importance for the client. It has been established that the average volume in our time is assumed to be between 250 and 350 liters (in practice, it is achieved with a refrigerator height of 178 cm or more).
What are the main functional compartments of refrigerators most in demand by users? There are onlythree: freezer, refrigerator compartment and zero chamber. Moreover, it is possible to implement such a separation both in a 3-chamber and in a 2-chamber version. An example of a three-chamber device is the Liebherr 3956 refrigerator (height 2010 m) with a total volume of 325 l, which contains a refrigeration compartment (157 l), a zero chamber (79 l) and a freezer chamber (89 l). In the 0-chamber, as is known, the temperature is close to 0 oС.
Two-chamber units have only two compartments: freezing and refrigeration. However, inside the refrigerator, the designers successfully modeled the zero zone. This design is recognized by customers as successful, and it is bought more often, as evidenced by the reviews. The Liebherr refrigerator, as follows from the surveys, is chosen according to many criteria (we will touch on them in this article). However, the average buyer in 80% of cases starts with the criterion of the volume of the freezer. If the family practices freezing a sufficiently large amount of food, then it is advisable to have an increased volume - up to 150 liters. If family meals are based on the purchase of frozen semi-finished products, 70 liters will be enough. Let's analyze what interior spaces Liebherr offers to consumers in its refrigerators (see table 1).
Table 1. Total internal volume as well as volumes of functional compartments of Liebherr refrigerators (in liters)
| Fridge brand | Total volume | Freezer capacity | Volumerefrigerator compartment | Zero compartment volume |
| LIEBHERR SBS 7212 | 651 | 261 | 390 | |
| Liebherr SBSES 8283 | 591 | 237 | 354 | |
| Liebherr CES 4023 | 372 | 91 | 281 | |
| Liebherr CN 4003 | 369 | 89 | 280 | |
| Liebherr CBN 3956 | 325 | 89 | 157 | 79 |
| Liebherr CN 4013 | 280 | 89 | 191 | |
| Liebherr CUN 3033 | 276 | 79 | 197 | |
| Liebherr CN 3033 | 276 | 79 | 197 |
As you can see, for a large family living in a spacious dwelling, the Liebherr SBS 7212 refrigerator is ideal. This is a large white refrigerator, with a slightly above average height (1852 mm), it has an impressive width of 1210 mm and a depth of 630 mm. Choosing another model, we find that it is also reasonable to purchase the unprincipled smaller brand SBSES 8283. The remaining refrigerators of the presented Liebherr line will be smaller in volume. For most people who buy units of American design, at first it is unusual for the location of the freezer and refrigerator from left to right and, accordingly, the position of the doors one next to the other, which the Liebherr refrigerator presented above has. Side by side - this is the name of such a design.
Think of vegetarians. For them, the zero zone is valuable in the refrigerator. In it, with a high humidity regime (about 90%), greens are well preserved. However, their antipodes, zealous meat lovers, also find an “ally” in the zero zone: dry cold (at 50% humidity) keeps meat products fundamentally longer than classic units with high humidity. The CBN 3956 refrigerator is the most functional in this regard. This is a tall, spacious three-chamber technique, above the average human height - 201 cm..
However, the Liebherr 4003 two-chamber refrigerator, as well as the CES 4023 model, also have a height of 201 cm. It is noteworthy that the last two have an increased cooling zone to approximately 280 liters. The Liebherr marketers do not eat their bread in vain: according to statistics, such a volume is in demand by families consisting of 4 people. Moreover, it is even slightly larger: strictly speaking, the volume of the refrigerating chamber of 200–250 liters is optimal for them, that is, models 4003 and 4023 are just suitable. Liebherr technologistsThe above appliances are designed to last longer thanks to the fan in the refrigerator compartment.
Refrigerators indicated at the bottom of the table: CBN 3956, CN 4013, CN 3033 - adapted to the average family, up to three people inclusive. And the most compact Liebherr CUN 3033 refrigerator is, in fact, a bachelor's dream.
Built-in refrigerators
Modern kitchen sets increasingly involve the integration of special kitchen appliances. Moreover, the harmonious combination of furniture and kitchen appliances takes place in a complex way: according to a single plan, a refrigerator, an oven, a hob, and a dishwasher are built in at once. Moreover, designers consider not just embedding, but drowning kitchen appliances in the walls, to be a good form (if the housing architecture allows it). This trend of the times was not spared by Liebherr.
Now it's not news for housewives - Liebherr built-in refrigerator. There is a whole line of such devices, they have a fairly decent volume (however, a little less than that of stationary ones). For comparison, let's present useful volumes of embedded models in tabular form (see Table 2).
Table 2. Built-in refrigerators from Liebherr
| Fridge brand | Total volume | cold | frost | null camera |
| Liebherr IKB 3514 | 291 | 263 | 28 | 92 |
| Liebherr ICUNS 3314 | 262 | 199 | 63 | |
| Liebherr ICBN 3314 | 242 | 179 | 63 |
As you can see, Liebherr IKB 3514 built-in refrigerator presents a unique design: a spacious zero-chamber and a tiny freezer. What caused it? Now more and more supporters of a he althy diet prefer short-term storage of products in the fresh zone to their freezing.
What do Liebherr brand letters mean
On the one hand, consumers understand that the abbreviations in the name of a particular Liebherr brand give them information about the refrigerator model they are buying, and on the other hand, being non-professionals, they do not find an explanation for them. We decided to help in this difficulty. To present to you, dear readers, the interpretation of these letters, we contacted the service division that repairs Liebherr refrigerators. Here is the information we were able to obtain (see Table 3).
Table 3. What do letter combinations mean in the names of Liebherr refrigerators
| Letter | What does it mean |
| 0 (zero) | at the end of the name: there is an instruction in Russian in the kit |
| B | presence of freshness zoneBioFresh |
| C | two-chamber containing refrigerator and freezer |
| CT | 1-compressor with top freezer (only the full combination of letters should be perceived) |
| CU | 1-compressor with bottom freezer (only the full combination of letters should be perceived) |
| es | stainless steel body (meaning sides and doors) |
| esf | stainless steel doors, sides painted to match it |
| G | freezer availability |
| K | corresponding to the word "refrigerator" |
| N | NoFrost defrost system |
| P | energy efficiency class A+ / A++ |
| T | freezer upstairs |
| U | bottom freezer or under-counter freezer 85cm high |
| W | availability of wine cabinet |
How to practically use the above table? Let's say you are interested in buying a refrigerator, and you were told by phone that a German-assembled Liebherr CN refrigerator appeared in such and such a supermarket (the latter is equivalent to 100%technology compliance). From the above table it can be seen that we are dealing with a two-chamber refrigerator with NoFrost cooling. This cooling system will be discussed below.
Which is better, single compressor or dual compressor?
It is known that the compressor is the "heart" of the refrigerator, pumping and compressing freon vapor. From such compression, the vapor condenses into a liquid state, and then, entering the evaporator, evaporates, absorbing heat from the interior of the refrigerator. Two-chamber refrigerators are available with one or two compressors.
In two-compressor machines, one compressor works for the refrigerator compartment, and the other for the freezer. How does he manage two refrigerated compartments at the same time? It is helped by dividing one cold stream into two (into the freezer and refrigerating chamber), the distributive solenoid valve. Thus, a two-chamber Liebherr refrigerator can be either one- or two-compressor.
In the table below, we present this technical specification for Liebherr refrigerators (see table 4).
Table 4. Liebherr refrigerator equipment with compressors
| Fridge brand | compressors | quick freeze |
| Liebherr SBS 7212 | 2 | Star symbol: 4 |
| Liebherr SBSES 8283 | 2 | Star symbol: 4 |
| Liebherr CUN 3033 | 1 | Star symbol: 4 |
| Liebherr CN 4013 | 1 | Star symbol: 4 |
| Liebherr CN 4003 | 1 | Star symbol: 4 |
| Liebherr CBN 3956 | 1 | Star symbol: 4 |
| Liebherr CES 4023 | 1 | Star symbol: 4 |
As you can see, the American design (where the freezer is on the left) involves two compressors. The Liebherr 3033 refrigerator, like the others below it in the table, is single-compressor.
Which is better: a single or dual compressor refrigerator? Let's start with the fact that outwardly this sign is indistinguishable. However, connoisseurs still find a way out, how to make an accurate verdict. They immediately look for “secondary signs”: how many temperature regulators are on the refrigerator - freezer. If there are two, then there are two compressors.
Let's get back to the comparison. On the one hand, a single-compressor refrigerator has the advantage of lower cost (by 10%). On the other hand, if it breaks down, it immediately becomes completely inoperable. Under the same conditions, his two-compressor opponent, after a breakdown, one of the branches continues to work. This ensures the safety of products.
The four stars on the freezer door indicate that thisthe machine allows you to deep-freeze products, which further contributes to their long-term storage.
Fridge noise
The noise of the refrigerator is often the factor that prevents people from falling asleep, watching TV, etc. The problem is that the refrigerator cannot be “passed around” or taken to another room, it is stationary and operates around the clock. It happens that his “voice” can be heard quite clearly at night. How to avoid such an unpleasant moment?
Firstly, when buying, pay attention to its declared noise level. Feel free to ask the salesperson to bring you instructions. In it, pay attention to the noise parameter. What you need to know about decibels Manufacturers usually show noise in the range of 30 to 50 dB.
When it appears in the range from 30 to 40 dB, we are dealing with noise at the level of a whisper. However, an increase to 45 dB is reminiscent of the already annoying buzzing of a fly. How noisy are Liebherr refrigerators? (See table 5.)
Table 5. Noise levels of Liebherr refrigerators
| Fridge brand | Noise level, dB |
| Liebherr SBS 7212 | 40 |
| Liebherr CN 4013 | 41 |
| Liebherr CN 4003 | 41 |
| Liebherr CN 3033 | 41 |
| Liebherr SBSES 8283 | 41 |
| Liebherr CUN 3033 | 42 |
| Liebherr CBN 3956 | 42 |
| Liebherr 4023 | 39 |
As you can see, the quietest among the technologically advanced is the "American" (side-by-side) Liebherr SBS 7212, and the "basketball player" CBN 3956 (201 cm tall) and the "middle peasant" CUN 3033 are noisier than others. Although, to be punctual, the 201-cm Liebherr 4023 refrigerator holds the championship. However, it is assembled in Bulgaria, it provides for manual defrosting of the freezer and drip defrosting of the refrigeration.
Let's add some lyrics to our story. After all, the refrigerator does not just make noise, it “speaks” (of course, we are talking about all refrigerators, not only from Liebherr). Let's see what he can "tell" us.
The hum of the refrigerator betrays the operation of the compressor. If this adds vibration, then you should better install it. By the way, a two-compressor refrigerator buzzes quieter (its compressors are weaker). Other sounds: buzzing, gurgling, etc. - are caused by the movement of freon. The third type of sound, clicks, demonstrates the operation of the relay, which turns the refrigerator motor on and off. The refrigerator fan also makes noise if it is controlled by the NoFrost system. Noise is accompanied by the process of defrosting devices of the "crying" type.
All these various noises that accompany the operation of the Liebherr refrigerator are brought to the standard and are quite weak.
However,having installed the purchased refrigerator in their kitchen, often its owners are faced with a louder sound than given in the instructions. The reason may be the failure to maintain the unit at home in an upright position in its place for the allotted time (1-2 days, as indicated in the instructions). The sound is also amplified when the unit is incorrectly placed on a horizontal surface (due to the resulting backlash) or when it touches the walls of the surrounding kitchen furniture with its body. Please note that the delivery of the purchased refrigerator home should also be carried out exclusively in an upright position.
If you, having purchased a refrigerator, found that it is noisy fundamentally more than indicated, we recommend that you involve service specialists to replace the noise level. Theoretically, the possibility of replacing the device with a similar one is not excluded. It is also possible to carry out the corresponding repair of Liebherr refrigerators. Although we interviewed sellers of three household appliances supermarkets, it was found out that such precedents did not happen. At the same time, reasonable tolerance should be shown and, of course, it should be taken into account that there are no large household appliances that do not make noise at all.
Refrigerant cooling system, economical
Fridge buyers face an alternative choice between two types of cooling system. The more traditional jargon is called the “weeping evaporator” (we will discuss the principle of its operation below), and the newer one is called the forced ventilation system.
They coexist because the traditional system also has itsstrengths: great simplicity and, as a result, cost-effectiveness.
Let's imagine the principle of the "weeping evaporator". When the compressor is running, frost forms on it. After the compressor stops, this frost melts and goes into the drain system in the form of water. When the compressor is turned on again, the resulting water evaporates again, while absorbing heat.
The NoFrost system works to turn on simultaneously with the fan compressor. Its freezing is drier. However, it is more expensive, more energy intensive, and its operation is accompanied by fan noise. The main advantage of NoFrost is better temperature distribution than when cooling with a “weeping evaporator”.
The level of energy-saving technologies used in the design of a particular brand of refrigerator is reflected in the energy consumption indicator. A, A+ and A++ (as you understand, A++ is the most economical class).
Let's present a summary table of types of cooling devices and energy saving class of various models of Liebherr refrigerators (see table 6).
Table 6. Types of cooling device and class of energy-saving technologies for Liebherr refrigerators
| Fridge brand | Refrigerator compartment | Freezer |
Fast freeze |
Energy saving |
| Liebherr SBSES 8283 | NoFrost system | systemNoFrost | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A+ |
| Liebherr SBS 7212 | NoFrost system | NoFrost system | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A+ |
| Liebherr CUN 3033 | NoFrost system | NoFrost system | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A |
| Liebherr CN 4013 | drip system | NoFrost system | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A+ |
| Liebherr CN 4003 | drip system | NoFrost system | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A+ |
| Liebherr CN 3033 | NoFrost system | NoFrost system | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A |
| Liebherr CES 4023 | drip system | manual | class A+ | |
| Liebherr CBN 3956 | drip system | systemNoFrost | SuperFrost system: with automatic timing | class A+ |
It is characteristic that the Liebherr SBSES 8283 refrigerator, like the brands SBS 7212, CUN 3033, CN 3033, demonstrates 100% use of the new NoFrost cooling system.
Refrigerator control
The refrigerator is controlled by Premium, Premium+ and HomeDialog systems. If we talk about the first of them, then for its implementation on the front door of Liebherr refrigerators there is a control electronic system with a mini-display. On it you can always see the temperature and modes in its branches. Sensors are also equipped on the screen, by which you can set the temperatures and modes you require.
The Premium+ system is visually identical to the previous one, however, in addition to the above features, it also includes the presence of such an element as a cursor on the display, as well as the ability to select a language for the client. She expanded the help section with various recommendations and descriptions.
The HomeDialog system, by connecting special blocks to refrigerators, allows you to connect Liebherr appliances into a single network (up to 6 units). General network management is done on the display of the main refrigerator. From it you can also control the operating modes of other units.
Handles problem
Unfortunately, today this problem is typical not only for Liebherr, but also for other major manufacturers of refrigerators: if there are practically no complaints about the unit itselfit happens that there are enough questions for its handles (which break during operation). (By the way, there are probably fewer such claims against the company we are considering than against others.)
Why, given the high market reputation of Liebherr, does the refrigerator handle still break? What are the reasons for this phenomenon? Indeed, in modern refrigerators, the handle does not look like a "stronghold of reliability." After all, its working plastic fragment half a centimeter thick has a fairly significant load, especially when opening the freezer, the door of which tends to “stick” under the influence of internal low temperature.
Have manufacturers, reputable companies, let the pen problem take its course?
Not at all. The specified “bottleneck” is not a structural defect of the handle, but a violation of the technology for the production of plastic from which it is made. As you know, when assembled by the orthodox German manufacturer Liebherr, the refrigerator handle necessarily contains a plastic type marking. It is the material approved by the technologists that ensures the regular functioning of this part and frees users from unnecessary headaches. Cautious people on the eve of the purchase clarify this point and be sure to carry out a “face control” of the original marked pens. Agree that this prevention reduces the likelihood that you will come across the indicated part of inadequate quality.
The reason for the marriage is generated by the "daughters" of the parent company, namely, their negligent performance of the function of localization of production, i.e., the manufacture of someaccessories for yourself. Perhaps homegrown technologists are sending the wrong plastic to the injection machine.
What to do if, after buying a Liebherr unit, the handle for the refrigerator still broke. There are two ways: contact the warranty repair line (shorter way, but you will get a pen of the same quality) or take the trouble to take a photo of the breakdown, send it with a letter to the parent company and wait for the package with the original pen.
Repair
An indispensable item in the description of the operation of any equipment, including a refrigerator, is repair and maintenance. It should be noted that the company referred to in this article organized the service of its equipment with maximum convenience for the client.
Let's start with the fact that when buying a refrigerator, its owner receives a branded warranty card valid for two years. In addition, these coupons establish in advance that the repair of Liebherr refrigerators will be carried out by specific service centers. In confirmation of this, already at the time of purchase, a service stamp is affixed to the coupon, to which the refrigerator is assigned. The manufacturer has contracts with such repair companies to provide quality spare parts. They will be supplied with the documentation necessary for a quality repair from the Liebherr company. Such services are equipped with proprietary equipment for high-quality diagnostics.
Arriving at the customer's house with the necessary set of equipment, the master ofrepairs in 97% of cases performs the necessary set of works at a time. It performs the following actions required to restore the refrigerator to working order:
- replaces or repairs electronic components, refrigerator compressor;
- replaces the electric fan, condenser, evaporator, timer and heater, filter drier, temperature sensor;
- refills the Liebherr refrigerator with freon;
- cleans and replaces capillary tubes;
- performs optimal system settings;
- eliminates increased noise and humidity.
If, nevertheless, your refrigerator for repair should be transported to a service center, then according to Liebherr's consumer policy, you will be provided with another replacement during the repair.
Conclusion
Summing up our review of the refrigerators of this respected company, we note: having bought a decent and high-quality equipment for yourself, you will undoubtedly make the right and justified choice, whether it is a Liebherr 7212 refrigerator or any other of the ones we have considered in this article.
