Refrigerators 101

Refrigerators are one of the most essential items within your household. They are so much more than compressors, heat-exchanging pipes, and expansion valves now. With the addition of many new features and designs, your refrigerator can be extremely helpful to you and make life just a little bit easier. Buying the wrong style is something that can be costly and hard to live with. Here are some things to consider before purchasing your new refrigerator.

Features and Extras

There are many features that add convenience for you and your family. Others can be extremely helpful when it comes to cooking, shopping, and even hosting a party. Depending on what you’re looking for, there are new features that refrigerators come with today that may interest you. It’s not just ice makers and water dispensers anymore; now there are a host of updates and extras to choose from. Here are only a few of the popular features available today.

Five-door configurations – This style contains separate temperature-controlled drawers in addition to the main refrigerated space.
Sliding shelves – With this feature, you can change the location of the shelves in the door or interior.
Convertible compartments – You can alternate which compartment is the freezer and which is the refrigerator, have the entire unit function as the freezer or refrigerator, and convert back anytime.
Touch screen – A tablet installed within the fridge can tell you what’s in the fridge, look up recipes, use Amazon Alexa, make a grocery list, and more.
Self-Filling Water Pitcher – Enjoy the ease of a pitcher that automatically refills itself with cold filtered water.
Automatic/measured filling – This feature will measure your cup and fill it with water precisely.
Temperature Zones – Control the temperature and humidity separately for each section.
Speed chilling – You can use this when you have a hot dish you want to serve cold as soon as possible.
Built in speakers – These can connect to your phone and play music, or maybe even a cooking podcast, in your kitchen while you’re cooking.
Built in Keurig – This is convenient for your coffee needs, and you wouldn’t have to buy a separate one that takes up space on your kitchen counters.
Color & Finish – Now your fridge has many more options pertaining to look and can come in almost any color or texture you’d like.
Noise reduction – Certain brands are designed to produce less noise than others. If noise is something that bothers you, you may want to look into Kenmore, LG, and Samsung, as they are among the quieter standard brands.

Style

Top Freezer – With the freezer on top and refrigerator below, this style is a classic. This is the most affordable, so it’s a great choice if you’re on a budget.
Bottom Freezer – Many people prefer the refrigerator on top and the freezer below. This makes finding things in your fridge easier.
Side-by-Side – The refrigerator and freezer sit directly next to each other. This style requires a small door swing space, so they are a great choice for kitchens with limited space.
French Doors – If you are looking for a modern look, this is your style. French doors most commonly have side-by-side doors on top for the refrigerated section and a pull out freezer drawer below. With the ability to open only one refrigerated door at a time, this minimizes the release of cool air.

The Look

Today, refrigerators come in a variety of colors and finishes. Whether you want it to blend or stand out will determine which you choose. Most colors come in matte or textured finishes.

Stainless Steel – This works well in most kitchens and gives your kitchen a modern twist.
Black – With a variety of finishes, black works best in large open kitchens.
White – This look is great for small kitchens and kitchens that don’t have a lot of natural light.
Bronze – A subdued choice over stainless, bronze adds an upscale, classy look to any kitchen.
Paneled doors – Match your cabinets to give a clean look. It’s a great option if you don’t like the look of appliances.

Colored appliances make a statement. They offer a specific look but are not for everyone. You can choose from bold colors like red, sunny yellow, or bright blue for an ultra modern look. For a retro look, go with light colors like soft pink, mint green, or light blue with matching counter top appliances.

Dimensions

The dimensions are very important when it comes to choosing your refrigerator. Since they are often placed between walls or counters or built-in, you must check the dimensions of the space where you would like to place your refrigerator and go from there. Refrigerators also need a bit of space around them to pull in cooler air and be most efficient. Measure the width and depth of the appliance before making your purchase. The amount of space the door swing takes up is important as well; if not taken into account, you may not be able to open your fridge fully. Also, it must fit through doorways to get into your home. Styles come in different dimensions. The average size of a side-by-side refrigerator is 35” wide, 70” high and 30”deep. Top or bottom mount freezer styles have similar averages of 29” wide, 67” high and 31” deep. The French door models’ average measurements are 35” wide, 68” tall and 29” deep.

Energy Efficiency

Higher energy efficiency will help lower your utility bill. Different refrigerator models are more energy efficient than others. Refrigerators use the most energy to pump and transport heat out of the cabinet. Less energy is used to defrost the refrigerator, light up the inside, and keep the cabinet from sweating. The efficiency of any refrigerator depends on the energy consumed per year for a given size. Refrigerators with freezers on the top usually use less energy due to the fact that the coldest compartment is on top and further away from the heat of the compressor located underneath the refrigerator. The compressor’s job is to keep the unit cold, but because it generates heat while it is working, it uses more energy to keep the freezer cold when the freezer is positioned on the bottom. Top-mounted freezers consume 10 to 25 percent less energy than models with side-mounted or bottom-mounted freezers.

When looking for a new refrigerator, make sure to look for an EnergyGuide label that informs you of the amount of energy that particular fridge uses per year. Ice makers and water dispensers through the door prevent you from having to open the refrigerator door as often; this is not only more convenient for you, but it also prevents fluctuation of temperature in the fridge. Too large of a refrigerator may waste space and energy, so find a size that best fits your needs. Lastly, a refrigerator with mini doors can give you access to items that are more constantly used and lessens the amount of times you have to open the main door.

Refrigerators are essential for us today. There are so many options that it may make it hard to pick the right refrigerator. With some thought and consideration, the refrigerator you choose can be the most helpful thing in your home. It can make a statement or blend with the kitchen. It’s all up to you! Do your homework before buying so you don’t regret the choice that may be with you for years.