Introduction
If your old fridge has a minor problem and can still be fixed, you should search for “refrigerator repair near me” instead of letting it go to the landfill. However, if the old refrigerator is too power-hungry or beyond repair, you should get a new refrigerator for yourself. Let’s check out some of the features to look for when buying a new refrigerator:
The Features
Energy Efficiency – Before you look into any jazzy feature or smart assistants in your refrigerator, this should be the priority. Your new refrigerator needs to be energy efficient to remain affordable. Even if you get an amazing deal where you get a brand-new modern refrigerator with all the bells and whistles but low energy efficiency, you shouldn’t settle for it. That’s because the higher monthly energy bill will add to the cost of ownership and will end up being more expensive than a pricey refrigerator with higher energy efficiency.
Check for the EnergyGuide sticker on the refrigerator. It should give you an idea about the yearly electric consumption of the fridge. You just need to multiply the average cost of electricity for your home with the estimated units of consumption. For instance, if the sticker says that the refrigerator will consume around 600kWh of electricity every year and you pay around 10cents for every kWh on average, then you multiply those figures. That means you end up paying around $60 every year on electricity.
Style – When it comes to refrigerator styles, you’ll come across three predominant designs. Double door with top or bottom freezer, side-by-side door, or French door. The style you choose will depend on your budget and your needs. For instance, while the top freezer may look old school, it is reliable and the most affordable one on the market. On the other hand, the bottom freezer design is hard to come by but brings a lot of benefits from the French door. These refrigerators are great for small families or individuals who are on a budget.
As the name suggests, side-by-side refrigerators have the freezer unit adjacent to the refrigerator. So, everything is at eye level, and you also get easier access and more room to fit wider and taller food in the freezer. Compared to all of them, French doors are aesthetically and functionally the best choice. They have the freezer at the bottom with a side-by-side refrigerator unit above. There are also quad door options available on the market. However, it’s the most expensive choice and also requires a lot of room in your kitchen.
Storage design – The overall cubic feet volume of the refrigerator will vary depending on your family’s needs. However, refrigerators with good design make the most out of a small footprint. They make the most efficient use of space inside the refrigerator and feature a modular design that allows you to change the layout inside to fit all kinds of food and condiments. For instance, refrigerators with good design have customizable shelves, trays, and compartments that allow you to move things around and fit the widest pizza or the largest piece of steak. You can even adjust their height. You never know when you may need to fit in tall bottles of wine.
Multiple evaporators – Regular refrigerators use one evaporator for both the refrigerator and freezing unit. However, if you’re going for a large refrigerator with a lot of volumes, you should look for models with multiple evaporators. A separate evaporator for the freezing and refrigerator unit doesn’t just lead to higher efficiency but also helps you to maintain better air quality. That means the meat odor from the freezer has no chance of penetrating other compartments and your veggies stay fresher and crisper for a longer time.
Filters – While all refrigerators come equipped with at least a couple of filters to circulate fresh and clean air inside the fridge, modern refrigerators go an extra step. They have ethylene gas filters and crisper drawers. You keep your veggies and fruits inside this drawer to keep them fresh for a longer duration. They release ethylene gas and if it gets concentrated, the veggies and other greens start aging prematurely and become stale quickly. That’s why you need refrigerators with dedicated crisper drawers and powerful extraction along with dedicated ethylene filters to keep your groceries fresh and delicious.
Water/Ice dispenser – If you have the budget and are opting for a side-by-side or French door refrigerator, you shouldn’t settle for a model that doesn’t come with external water and ice dispenser. These dispensers have a direct water supply line connected to the fridge and always have cold water or ice ready for you on demand. You don’t even need to open the refrigerator when you want a glass of cold water or ice for the whisky.
Smart connected features – Everything from lights and phones to cars and homes are getting smart and the refrigerator industry doesn’t want to be left behind. Refrigerators equipped with smart connectivity features offer you many advantages. For instance, they have smartphone integration, internal cameras and can connect to your home Wi-Fi network. So, when you’re out grocery shopping you can connect to the fridge from your smartphone and have a look at what’s inside. This makes grocery shopping more efficient and less wasteful.
You can also access other controls of the fridge from your smartphone. Everything from the thermostat to humidity levels. Some also come with large LCDs and stealthy speakers that allow you to watch Netflix shows, listen to music, and lets you leave notes for your family members without relying on sticky notes. Moreover, the software on these devices may be upgraded to add more features in the future.
Conclusion
When you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, you should look for these features and compare them by the price to get the most bang for your buck. Otherwise, you can stick to your old refrigerator and get it fixed by searching for “refrigerator repair near me”.
