Picking a refrigerator sounds like a simple task that you can do in a couple of days: research, trips to the store, final purchase, and installation. Easy, right? You would think so but the moment you start the research, it gets more and more complicated.
Refrigerator just like any appliance in the house is an investment that you want to serve you for years to come. Model and price have been the two biggest selection criteria but not anymore. The bigger the market gets, the wider the selection becomes and it’s a good thing. You just need to know what you are looking for and choose based on your own needs.
So, without further ado, let’s discuss how you can choose the best refrigerator for you and your family.
Style
A lot of refrigerators share features and functionalities but they are different in style. That is why the first criterion to keep in mind is the style of your future refrigerator. The main options are:
● Top-freezer,
● Bottom-freezer,
● Side-by-side,
● Built-in,
● French-door,
● Mini.
If you do a narrow search for fridge styles, you will probably find more but these are the basics that will guide you. Which style to go for depends on your kitchen, available space, what you are comfortable with and how much food you are planning to store in the fridge. Bottom-freezers seem to be the most common choice among buyers but again, it’s up to you and your needs.
Size
From style to size, all the mentioned types of fridges come in different sizes. Some brands even make custom fridges that will fit perfectly in your kitchen. Here you go, an additional tip, if you need a custom-made fridge then concentrate your focus on companies that offer such services.
The size refers to both the physical size of your fridge and also its capacity. Before buying a fridge, you need to know where you are going to put it, measure that spot and let it guide you. As for the capacity, consider how much food you buy on a weekly basis. What do you usually store in the fridge?
EnergyGuide label
The refrigerator is one of the appliances that are on 24 hours and 7 days a week. It is responsible for a good chunk of your electricity bill, which means you want to be as cost efficient as possible. We highly recommend that you look for fridges that have an EnergyGuide label and ask the retailer about the energy use and if it has saving modes.
To find out how efficient the fridge is you can look at its EnergyGuide label or the so-called EPA Energy Star. Both of these indicate that the fridge is energy-efficient and won’t skyrocket your electricity bills.
Key features
To help you narrow your choices further, we have identified some features that most buyers are looking for. Yes, at the end of the day, you want your fridge to keep your food fresh but fridges come with additional functions including:
● Ice and water dispenser,
● Temperature control,
● Freshness taskbar,
● Door-in-Door Storage Access,
● More shelves.
Depending on your household and your needs, some of these features are either absolutely necessary or are luxury. Keep these in the back of your mind and use them as additional criteria to make the final selection.
Price
And last but not least, probably the most decisive factor is the price of the refrigerator. We don’t recommend buying a fridge because it’s cheap or it’s expensive which has to mean, it’s high quality. Put the price in relation to the other factors that we have discussed to make a more educated decision.
On average top-freezer fridges cost around $350 and $600, whereas bottom-freezer refrigerators can cost up to $800 to $1,200. So, if you need an affordable fridge and you are okay with the top-freezer ones then it’s your best shot.
Buying a fridge is not rocket science but it does require some time and effort to research and pick the best possible fridge for your household. To sum up look for style, size, EnergyGuide label, additional features, and of course keep an eye on the price.
And always remember, you can get good advice from good specialists, appliance repairmen and appliance repair companies.