The Thrill of Chill: A Refrigerator Buying Guide
The refrigerator is one of the most crucial appliances in your home. It’s vital since it helps keep perishables from spoiling, and freezes foods for later use. We’ve come a long way since the days of the fridge and separate chest freezer. Today’s choices include the standard fridge-and-freezer combo, dorm fridge, and wine cooler.
Even through the vast majority of American households have one fridge (and sometimes more), what should you consider when looking for a new one? Recent technological advances and design improvements have given way to a whole new breed of fridge, and if you’re ready to embark on this major kitchen appliance purchase, this is a great place to start.
One of the first things to consider is refrigerator size and storage. Most units are 28 to 34 inches deep and typically extend several inches from the countertop. NOTE: Some cabinet-depth or built-in refrigerator models are 24 inches deep. Some customers have their cabinet makers provide custom panels to complete the look, making the fridge and cabinet flush.
If you opt for the standard-size refigerator, will you have enough room for it in your kitchen? How big will it be when the doors are closed, and will it fit when they’re opened? Be sure to get accurate measurements so you have answers to these important questions before you begin looking.
But the most important consideration is meeting your food storage needs. Are you the only one in the home or part of a larger family? Total storage space is measured in cubic feet, so make sure you know your needs.
Now, what type of fridge do you need. Not too long ago, you’re only option for a fridge-freezer unit was with the freezer on top (sometimes called a “top-mount“). This type is still extremely popular, but mercifully, manufacturers figured out we usually go to the fridge more than the freezer. So they began mounting the fridge above the freezer, called a bottom-mount type. Side-by-side refrigerators are also very well-received, but could create space issues when both doors are opened.
Another distinction is the difference between built-in and free-standing refrigerators. A free-standing fridge is the more popular of the two, and a built-in fridge is specifically designed to have cabinetry built around it for a custom look. Since some storage space is lost because the refrigerator is designed to be flush with the countertop depth, a built-in fridge is typically taller or wider to get that storage space back.
Built-in units are also designed with specific motors so that they can be installed in a built-in area. It usually has a grill at the top to allow it to “breathe.” Other models accept custom cabinet panels.
Other types include French door, under-the-counter, and column refrigerators, as well as beverage centers, ice makers, wine coolers, and undercounter refrigerated drawers.
Refrigerators and efficiency. They don’t exactly go together. Your fridge runs day and night, it constantly uses energy, and when the doors are opened, cold (or freezing) air escapes. But new refrigerators are so much more efficient then their predecessors, that we strongly recommend you replace your existing fridge if it’s more than 10 years old.
ImprovementDirect.com offers over 100 ENERGY STAR-rated refrigerators, so as energy costs continue to rise, it makes sense to look into an energy-efficient refrigerator. Some eco-friendly features include:
- Adaptive defrost control
- Double tube construction
- Foam-in-place door
- Temperature-controlled drawers
Today’s refrigerators are designed with many more features than just cool and freeze. They range from the intuitive (adjustable shelves and door bins that let you customize its interior) to the obvious (spill-proof shelves) to the decadent (multimedia combinations feature TV screens on the fridge face).
Other features include elevator shelves, full-extension drawers, pullout and split shelves or bins, through-the-door water and ice dispenser, and water filters.
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