Refrigerator Buying Guide

Are you in the market to buy a Refrigerator? Have this as a checklist.

1. Brand - Do a brand research considering the reliability and ease of customer service they offers. Each brand has its set of frilly features to grab attention.

2. Size - Fridge size is measured in liters or cubic feet. They vary in sizes from around 200 liters to well above 600 liters.

·         Small - 180 to 300 Liters for a 2 people household

·         Medium - 300 to 450 Liters for a 4 people household

·         Large - 450 + liters for more than a 5 people households. While larger refrigerators can store more food, they typically cost more and use more energy to run. 

Consider the individual sizes of the freezer and the fridge if you plan on buying a 2 or a multi door refrigerator. Two refrigerators of the same size can have varying fridge and freezer. If you don't plan on consuming frozen food, buying a refrigerator with a larger fridge space.  

3. Number of doors - They come from Single door units to units multiple door and drawers. Each refrigerator style has its positives and negatives to consider.
1. Single Door - These are mostly the Small sized refrigerators and have a smaller freezer space.
2. Two Doors –
1. Freezer on Top - This is the most preferred style as it generally the most affordable option. It is also less prone to repairs and most energy efficient of the many door options. But if your diet includes more vegetables, this option leaves you to be bending down to reach frequently to your most used vegetable section.       
2. Freezer at Bottom - Since we tend to use the refrigerator more often, this option saves you from bending down frequently.
3. Side-by-Side - These models come in larger capacities and have the refrigerator on the right and freezer on the left. This style of refrigerator gives easy access to both the freezer and the refrigerator sections but the width of the refrigerator shelves are narrow making it difficult to store wider items. Some models also offer outside the door ice and cold-water dispensers.
3. Multiple Doors - Multi door refrigerator gives you the option of storing different kinds of food in separate sections.
1. French Door - These models have double doors that open out giving you a refrigerator with larger width area. The lesser-used freezer space is a pull out drawer at the bottom.

4. Frost Control – Options for frost control include
1. Manual Defrosting - One has to switch off the refrigerator manually to defrost. Water collected in trays below the freezer section needs to be emptied manually. Most basic single door models have this option.
2. Automatic Defrosting - Defrosting happens on press of a button or on preset times and the water is collected in trays behind the refrigerator. Single Door models mostly have this option.
3. Frost Free - Most of the multi door refrigerators are frost-free. The freezer remains frost free without any intervention.

5. Shelving 
1. Check if it can fit wide, tall items and has no hard-to-reach areas.
2. For maximum interior space, look for wide; clear glass/acrylic shelves rather than wire. Clear shelves give you more surface area, are easier to clean and retain any spillage from leaking all the way to the bottom.
3. Adjustable Shelving provides greater flexibility as your needs change. Some models feature clear shelves that slide out, making it easier to utilize the whole shelf and put food all the way to the back.
4. Spill-proof shelves have a small gutter to capture spills, stopping any leakages from dripping down to other compartments.
5. Look out for Deep door storage to fit larger beverage bottles.
6. Check size of Vegetable Storage bin to see if it can fit your requirements.
7. A Crisper keeps salads and vegetables at optimum temperature and humidity and separate from other foods.

6. Energy
1. Refrigerator drawers tend to be large on price and small on space. Although they cost little to run, refrigerator drawers provide poor energy efficiency.
2. Consider skipping the ice-maker and dispenser    Automatic ice-makers and through-the-door dispensers increase energy use by 14–20%. They are also responsible for 20% of repairs.
3. Models with top-mounted freezers use 10–25% less energy than bottom-mount or side-by-side models
4. Look for the energy star rating and the power consumption.

7. Stabilizer Requirement - Check the voltage range at which the refrigerator can operate and consider the need to have a stabilizer if the range is too small

8. Operation
1. Look for easy-to-reach and operate temperature and humidity controls. Make sure that you don't have to empty a shelf to adjust them.
2. Check Noise levels. Look for insulation to help dampen the sound of the compressor.
3. A Clean back is easy to maintain. Refrigerator with open condensation coils at the back needs regular cleaning to keep the unit running efficiently.

9. Long Term
1. Warranty - Look for at least a one-year, full warranty, which includes parts and labor.
2. Service    - Make sure that the manufacturer has a Service Center in your city.

10. Important Markings - All refrigerators should have some basic information clearly marked, and should come packed in good packaging. Look for following information:
1. Model name
2. Serial No
3. Manufacturer’s name or trademark
4. Storage volume for refrigerator and freezer
5. Voltage range and supply characteristics
6. Rated current consumption
7. Energy Star Ratings