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What's better, a side by side or a French door refrigerator?
A French door refrigerator is usually better for fresh-food organization and fitting wide platters, while a side-by-side like the KitchenAid KRSF536RPS00 is usually better when you want easy access to both freezer and refrigerator items at eye level and a narrower door swing.
| Feature | Side-by-side (KRSF536RPS00 style) | French door |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh-food storage | Tall, narrower shelves | Wide shelves for trays and platters |
| Freezer access | Full-height freezer section | Bottom freezer drawer |
| Door swing clearance | Often needs less front clearance | Often needs more front clearance |
| Organization style | Best for tall items and quick access | Best for wide items and meal prep |
- Frozen foods at eye level (less bending for everyday items)
- A narrower door swing in a tighter kitchen aisle
- Easy separation of fresh vs. frozen zones
- More vertical storage for tall items (bottles, cartons)
- Wide refrigerator shelves for pizza boxes, party trays, and sheet pans
- A larger, more open fresh-food area for meal prep
- A freezer drawer that can hold bulky frozen items
- A layout that prioritizes fresh ingredients up top
The “better” style is the one that matches your kitchen space and how you shop. If you regularly store wide dishes and meal-prep containers, French door layouts tend to feel roomier. If you grab frozen and fresh items throughout the day and want everything at a comfortable height, side-by-side designs tend to feel more convenient.
Good airflow and consistent temperatures matter more than door style. If cooling performance ever seems off, common service items for the KRSF536RPS00 include the refrigerator thermistor W11724692 and the evaporator fan components such as the motor-evap d W11396715. For DIY guidance, we recommend how to fix your evaporator cooling fan.
If you decide you need replacement parts for your KitchenAid KRSF536RPS00, you can order from the parts list for this model or search by model number on Sears PartsDirect.
Last updated: February 2026
What is the disadvantage of a side-by-side fridge?
A main disadvantage of a side-by-side refrigerator like the KitchenAid KRSF536RPS00 is the narrow, tall compartment layout; it limits how easily you can store and reach wide items (pizza boxes, party trays) and can make fresh-food organization feel more cramped than other styles.
- Narrow shelves can make it tough to fit wide platters and large deli trays.
- More bending and searching for fresh items because everything is stacked vertically.
- Freezer space can feel tight for bulky packages.
- Door bins can crowd the main shelf area when the doors are loaded.
- If the doors do not close firmly, temperatures can drift and food quality can suffer.
| Feature | Side-by-side (KRSF536RPS00 style) | French door | Top freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fits wide items | Fair | Best | Good |
| Fresh-food visibility | Fair | Best | Good |
| Frozen-food organization | Good | Good | Fair |
| Door swing clearance | Often better in tight kitchens | Often needs more clearance | Often moderate |
- Use clear bins to group snacks, condiments, and lunch items by category.
- Keep frequently used fresh items at eye level; move rarely used items higher or lower.
- Avoid overloading door bins; it can make the doors harder to close.
- If the door does not self-close smoothly, inspect the closer hardware such as the refrigerator door closer cam WPW10257203.
- For water and ice performance, keep up with filter changes; see how to replace the water filter in a KitchenAid refrigerator.
Side-by-side refrigerators are efficient for separating fresh and frozen foods, but the narrow shelf footprint drives most complaints. Improving organization and keeping the doors sealing and closing correctly helps the KitchenAid KRSF536RPS00 hold steady temperatures and reduce food waste.
Last updated: February 2026
What is the most common problem with KitchenAid refrigerators?
The most common KitchenAid refrigerator problem we see is cooling trouble (temperatures running warm, fluctuating, or uneven between the fresh food and freezer sections). On the KitchenAid KRSF536RPS00, the most frequent root causes are airflow issues at the evaporator, a failing temperature sensor, or water and ice system problems that create leaks or poor ice production.
- Fridge warm but freezer cold: restricted airflow, evaporator fan issue, or frost buildup
- Both sections warm: sealed system or compressor related issue, or control problem
- Ice maker not making ice or cubes are small: water supply restriction, filter restriction, or dispenser/ice path issue
- Water leaking inside or under the unit: clogged drain, loose tubing, or filter housing/tubing leak
- Noisy humming or rattling from freezer area: evaporator fan motor or fan blade interference
- Confirm vents are not blocked by food packages.
- Set temps to typical targets: 0°F freezer and 37°F fresh food.
- Listen for the evaporator fan running when the doors are closed.
- Inspect for frost buildup on the freezer back panel (a sign of defrost or airflow trouble).
- If you have slow water flow or weak ice production, replace the filter and purge air.
| Problem area | What fails most often | Example part for this model |
|---|---|---|
| Airflow/cooling | Evaporator fan motor | Motor-evap d W11396715 |
| Temperature sensing | Thermistor (temp sensor) | Refrigerator thermistor W11724692 |
| Water/ice performance | Clogged filter | Water filter W11759322 |
Cooling and airflow problems can cause food to spoil faster and can also make the refrigerator run longer than normal. Water and ice issues often start small (slow dispensing, small cubes) and then turn into leaks or ice jams if the restriction is not corrected.
- For filter-related water and ice issues, follow how to replace the water filter in a KitchenAid refrigerator.
If you are ordering parts for your KitchenAid KRSF536RPS00, we list model-matched replacements on this page; you can also search by model number on Sears PartsDirect.
Last updated: February 2026
