ED HAYES

I recently had to replace my freezer (KFFS20EYMS) light bulb and thought it would be an ideal time to switch to an LED bulb. I couldn’t believe how difficult it was to replace the bulb!

The bulb had no markings on it, other than the voltage and wattage. I had no way of knowing the socket size. I reviewed the manual, which was no help (it actually gave me a good laugh telling me to use the correct size, but didn’t tell me the size to use):

IMPORTANT:
Not all appliance bulbs will fit your refrigerator. Be sure to
replace the bulb with an appliance bulb of the same size,
shape and wattage.
…
Replace the burned-out bulb with an appliance bulb(s) no
greater than 25 watts.

I contacted Whirlpool, makers of my fine KitchenAid appliance, and they couldn’t tell me the socket type, but they were more than happy to pass me on to their 3rd party parts retailer which would sell me the incandescent light bulb for way more than it was worth.

I tried a standard Candelabra bulb (size E12), but it was too small.

I took a trip to my local Home Depot; none of the bulbs there looked right.  I almost took a bulb from a floor model, but I thought I didn’t want to steel from them. So I turned, again, to the internet.

Apparently Whirlpool decided to use a non-standard light bulb socket size. From some deep digging and assumptions I guessed that the socket they used was a European socket size E14; no wonder I couldn’t find a replacement bulb at Home Depot.  Funny thing, that E14 socket is supposed to be for 220 volt European power, and this light was 120 volt. That doesn’t make any sense to me at all. What was Whrilpool thinking?

I ordered this lovely E14 to E12 adapter at amazon that would let me use any standard candelabra bulb! Problem solved.

…Now to get an LED bulb that will fit in the protective housing.