How to Select a Home Refrigerator?

By: Richard Dinae

If there is one electrical appliance in our kitchen that is as important as the stove, that would be the refrigerator. We basically keep almost all our food in it - from meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, drinks, etc. It keeps our food frozen, fresh, or chilled. It is practically difficult to imagine not having a refrigerator in a household. Without a cool storage for our food to prevent spoilage, we would literally wind up going to the market or grocery store every day for our supplies. We would also end up cooking every meal time because there is no proper storage for left over food. Needless to say, refrigerators are highly utilized, highly valuable commodities that we must have in our home. But like almost everything else, they come with a price. A good refrigerator is energy-efficient, has a good cooling performance, and can go a long way. It is just but right to invest on an expensive high-quality refrigerator than spend extra money constantly repairing and replacing cheaper, older models. Here is a guideline on how to select a home refrigerator:

1.) Select a spot in your kitchen where you are planning to install your new refrigerator. This spot should have an electrical outlet and good ventilation. It should also allow for the doors of the refrigerator the swing fully for better access to its contents.

2.) Consider the size of the refrigerator you are planning to buy. It should fit into that spot in your kitchen and through the doors it will pass through when moving it in.

3.) Bear in mind the capacity of food you are expecting to store in your fridge. The bigger the size of the household, the bigger is the refrigerator that you will need. If you happen to cook a lot and like storing a lot of stuff into your ref, you obviously need to splurge on bigger refrigerators. But if you are not fond of storing food supplies in your ref and if you barely cook, a smaller unit is more appropriate. Smaller units are also a lot cheaper than their large counterparts regardless of brand names.

4.) If you want your refrigerator to blend with the walls of the kitchen, go for neutral colors such as white, black, and metallic silver. You can also have your unit customized as per your kitchen’s design to make it look like an ordinary cabinet attached into the wall. Of course, this needs the expertise of the professionals and will certainly set you back money-wise.

5.) Choose an energy efficient unit. Refrigerators consume a considerable amount of energy in keeping our food chilled or frozen round the clock. The cost of a running refrigerator accounts for as much as a quarter of our electric bills. Evaluate the specifications of the unit and pay attention to its energy rating. Newer models are more expensive but are more efficient in energy consumption. You can save more money with it in the long run.

6.) Select the features you would like your refrigerator to have. Nowadays, there is a wide array to choose from: water dispenser, LCD monitor with or without internet connection, temperature display, ice makers, anti-bacterial innovations, specialized compartments, etc.

7.) Know which type of unit you want and can benefit you and your space most. Types include top freezer models, bottom freezer models, side-by-side models, and compact models.

8.) Most importantly, consider your budget. The size of the refrigerator is proportional to its price. Bigger units also consume more energy that means higher electric/utility bill affecting your household budget as well. Steer clear of bigger models whose extra capacity you do not need and price you can barely afford. Be practical and invest wisely.