Buying a Fridge? 5 things you should know

Buying a new refrigerator can be perplexing. It is an important purchase after all. It keeps your food fresh for days thus helping you and your family stick to healthy eating habit. Hence, it is well understood that you want to get the investment right when shopping for a new refrigerator. But it is not as easy as you think it to be. The moment you decide to get one you will be bombarded with a number of decision points. It is important to know the important specifications beforehand so that you don’t end up making the wrong decision. Follow these tips to make an informed decision and making sure that you get the best value for your money . While you consider different factors also make sure to protect your new buy with refrigerator extended warranty. It will save you unnecessary hassle while also keeping your fridge in good condition even after years of use.
Things to know before buying a fridge:
1. Different types of fridges
A fridge is often considered a centrepiece among all the kitchen appliances. You want to make sure that it has all the necessary feature besides having an attractive look. So before you decide on a model you should know your choices. Apart from colour and other factors, fridges are available in four basic style which are:
- Compact refrigerators are smaller in size than the standard refrigerator. They are ideal to be put in offices, bedrooms and other areas where there aren’t much space.
- Side by side refrigerators have both freezer and the fridge placed alongside each other. This types of fridge makes both frozen and refrigerator easier to reach.
- Top freezer refrigerators have freezer placed above the refrigerator section. It is one of the most common design and provides a spacious interior.
- Bottom freezer refrigerators have freezer at the bottom, underneath the refrigerator section. This type of refrigerator makes it easier to reach food without having to bend.
- Built-in refrigerator seamlessly integrates with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry rather than being installed as a separate unit. While it might offer less depth than a free standing unit, the custom made panels can add to stylish decor.
Considering size and space
Before you decide to buy a fridge it is important to consider the space where you are planning to keep it. At the same instance it is also important to take into account other features like is there enough space to open the doors, is there any possibility it will bump in the doorway when opened? If you don’t have much space availble you should look for the ones that can fit in the space where you are planning to keep it. There are plenty of skinny refrigerators available in the market to fit in the narrow space.
Important features
Think about all the features you would like to have in your refrigerator. Some of the important features to look for are door style, drawers, shelves, electric temperature control and door locks and alarms etc. The door style of the refrigerator has comparatively changed over the years. There are front open doors, french doors and side by side doors. Apart from the door style you should also check on alarms and door locks. This feature is important if you have small children in your home. Children often leave the fridge open and it might add to your electricity bills. Having an alarm system when the door is left open for a longer period of time can be useful. Similarly features like the number of doors and shelves are also important to check before you make your purchase. Sliding shelves offer easy access to the user whereas full width access drawers provides you with plenty of space to store your food items. Also, look for inexpensive and energy efficient refrigerators to make sure that you get the full value for your buy. You should be aware that larger refrigerator consume more energy. Choose an energy efficient one based on your needs. You can further check the EPA energy start rating to make sure that you are getting a refrigerator that will help you save big on electricity bill.
Take into account your food habits
Your food habit is also an important feature to consider when buying a refrigerator. Features like ice maker capacity, number of drawers etc. may differ from one fridge to another. What you choose will mostly depend on a number of different factors such as what types of food you prefer to eat and how often do you buy them. If you consume more frozen foods you would want a bigger freezer space. If on the other hand you keep lots of liquid in your fridge such as juice, milk etc. then a double-door refrigerator having an adjustable shelf size will be best suited to take care of your needs.
Cleaning
It is important to clean and maintain your refrigerator from time to time. If you happen to have a busy schedule and are looking for easy cleaning option go for smooth shelves instead of wired ones. As you can see smooth shelves are easy to wipe down whereas wired shelves require a detailed cleaning. Also, opt for a smudge free finish on the outside to make sure it is easy to clean and stays free from smudges, rust etc.