Buying refrigerator is a big deal and what’s better than a Refrigerator Buying Guide for it. You are investing a great deal of amount and you want it to get right. It is going to stay in your kitchen for good enough time. You count on it to keep your food fresh. It may look like selection of a most suitable refrigerator is as simple as going to a shop and pick one, but it’s way too complex. This post will provide you a Refrigerator Buying Guide, discuss the style/ configurations available and the things to consider while buying refrigerator so that you could select your most suitable refrigerator without shelling out all your cash.
Things to Consider While Buying Refrigerator
The moment you decide to buy refrigerator and walk into a store or begin your online shopping, you will encounter seemingly endless options, types and sizes and configurations and other coined technical features (to attract viewer) that you wouldn’t have heard before. In such situation, we suggest to go with our Refrigerator Buying Guide and better focus on your prime requirements.
Fig. 1 – Refrigerator Buying Guide: Things to Consider While Buying Refrigerator
To make it easy for you, here is the checklist to help your selection:
- Size of Refrigerator
- Style/ Configuration of Refrigerator
- Your Family Size
- Your Food Habits
- Exterior and Interior Look
- Energy Stars
- Best Time to Buy
- Your Budget
1. Size of Refrigerator
Mostly, we plan to buy a refrigerator on occasions like shifting to new house, post house renovation and replacement. In any case, you should be sure where are you going to place it so as to help you decide what size to buy. Refrigerator location gives you the idea about spatial restraints such as the width of your doorway or any blockage to the doors of the refrigerator where it may bump when opened.
Fig. 2 – Different Sizes of Refrigerator
Other factors such as your family size and other requirements may influence the size of a refrigerator. A family of 4 or more would need a large door for sure. However, you should also consider the fact that larger the refrigerator, the more will the energy consumption. Our Refrigerator Buying Guide suggests you to keep a balance between your requirement and size. The most energy-efficient models are typically 16-20 cubic feet.
2. Style/ Configuration of Refrigerator
Style/ Configuration is one of the most important things to consider while buying refrigerator. Style/ configuration of a refrigerator includes two important aspects i.e. where and which door facility you are looking for. A refrigerator comes in four basic styles/ configurations. They are:
- Top Freezer
- Bottom Freezer
- Side by Side
- French Door
Fig. 3 – Styles / Configurations of a Refrigerator
2.1 Top Freezer Refrigerator
Top Freezer refrigerators are also known as Classic Refrigerators. These Classic Refrigerators have been around for as long as we have seen fridges in our kitchen. In such refrigerators, the freezer is on top and the fridge is below. They’re pretty basic appliances and lack extras such as in-door water dispensers and automatic ice makers. They tend to be more affordable and more compact than other fridge styles.
Fig. 4 – Top Freezer Refrigerator
Top freezer refrigerators consume minimum energy compared to all other refrigerator styles/ configurations and they have affordable price, too. A Top Freezer refrigerator (which has energy star rating) consumes less power than a 60 watt light bulb. Approximately, a certified top freezer refrigerator consumes power worth $40 annually, while a Side by Side refrigerator consumes power worth $78 and a Bottom freezer refrigerator around $68.
2.2 Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Bottom freezer has their own pros and cons. In comparison to French door Bottom door, it saves space. The bottom freezer utilizes the lesser-used space at the basement of your refrigerator. Pricing is higher than the normal fridge.
Fig. 5 – Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
2.3 Side by Side Refrigerator
Side by side, Just like the name says it has door on right and left. The refrigerator and the freezer are right next to one another with nearly equal space to both. If you are one who stores a lot and pre packs and pre preps than this is for you.
Fig. 6 – Side by Side Refrigerator
These refrigerators are a good choice if you have kids and want them to pick items from the fridge and the freezer. They are also good for those who uses wheel chair and have difficulty in reaching high or low spaces.
Though having easy accessibility, these refrigerators have narrow compartments which makes it difficult to keep bigger items.
2.4 French Door Refrigerator
French door refrigerator is like a cupboard, side to side are fridge spaces and freezer drawer is at bottom. This offers all. These refrigerators provide you enough space for wide items such as platters.
Fig. 7 – French Door Refrigerator
The freezer drawer compartments are big and deep and has enough space to fill all your things. However, sometimes, it becomes difficult to find smaller items because of its deep space.
If you have good budget and are looking for looks too, then this one is for you.
3. Your Family Size
Are you a bachelor? Or Married and having kids? Do you or family have any Physical issues/ limitations such as backache or inability to stand? All these questions will surely influence the style/ configuration and size of the refrigerator you should buy. Consideration of your family size also comes in the priority list of the things to consider while buying refrigerator. Our Refrigerator Buying Guide suggests that a bachelor may go with classic top freezer refrigerator. However, a large family can better opt in for Side by Side or French door refrigerators that have more storage space.
Fig. 8 – Refrigerator Buying Guide Says to Opt as per Your Family Size
4. Your Food Habits
Features such as fridge compartments, drawers, ice making capability and freezer varies with different models. Our Refrigerator Buying Guide suggest you to choose the best suitable variant as per following requirements:
- Type of food you prefer
- How much stock you buy at once
4.1 Type of Food You Prefer
If you are a big time frozen food lover, then you will need a bigger freezer space and should go for a big bottom freezer or a Side by Side refrigerator which is half freezer and half fridge. If you like to keep fresh vegetables and fruits, then better go for variants with more fridge compartment space. If you are beverage or milk lover, then you should choose variants with adjustable shelves to fit your bottles.
Fig. 9 – Refrigerator as per Your Food Habits
4.2 How Much Stock You Buy at Once
If you are a frequent stocker, your stocks will be less and you may not need bigger compartments. However, if you like to stock for a wide range of time, then your stocks will be more. Accordingly, you will need more compartment space.
5. Exterior and Interior Look
Exterior and Interior look of your refrigerator also has its importance in the list of things to consider while buying refrigerator. Looks too matter and also which metal are you planning to get to your house. Don’t you want to match it with your interior??? Our Refrigerator Buying Guide suggests you to choose a finish that looks great in your kitchen.
6. Energy Stars
So, when you do well you get stars, so does the fridge. More the merrier. The Energy Star mark is provided to certified energy efficient products, houses, commercial structures and industrial plants. Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that promotes energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR provides you the energy performance of an electrical/ electronic appliance. The more the stars, the less is the energy consumption and the more will be your savings.
Fig. 10 – Energy Star in a Refrigerator
After heaters and coolers, the refrigerator is undoubtedly the next biggest energy consumer at your home. We suggest you to consider energy stars of the refrigerator before finalizing it. As the life of refrigerators are much longer, the better energy star refrigerator will surely save your pocket in the long run.
7. Best Time to Buy a Refrigerator
Our Refrigerator Buying Guide suggests you to keep an eye on year sale online. The best time to buy most major appliances is month of September, October and December. During these months, manufacturers are in plan to launch their latest models considering the festive season during this tenure. This means that the fridge that you were planning to buy may have some discount during this time. Also, the previous year’s models may go on lesser price than the new one.
Before you shop, determine how much you’re comfortable to spend and do you have some payment schemes available with your purchase.
Conclusion
Though we have tried to bring every important information in our Refrigerator Buying Guide that you should know before buying your refrigerator, it must be you to decide which suits best for you. Consider the Features that are Most Important to You. Consider your space, interior, budget and family size. Always remember, a refrigerator is one such item that will remain for a long time at your home. So take your time, think hard and select the best. Make your experience joyful. Congratulations already.
An Appeal : Recycle Your Old Refrigerator
You can play your part by recycling your old refrigerator and help in preventing global warming. Doing so, you are not only stopping the old excess energy consuming refrigerators to reach other one’s home, but also avoiding the leakage of harmful substances like old refrigerant and foam in the environment. Statistically, your one generous move may prevent an extra 10,000 pounds of green house gas emissions.
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