Buying a refrigerator is not the same as choosing a purse. It’s a lot more complicated than that because if you make the wrong decision, you’ll have to live with that choice for years. But you don’t have to worry.
People don’t buy big appliances daily, but it takes a little preparation, and you’ll be all set. In this article, you’ll find common mistakes uninformed customers tend to make when buying a fridge. And now you won’t be one of them.
Fashion is Over Quickly. Style is Forever
Ralph Lauren’s well-known phrase is accurate not only about human fashion but also about refrigerators.
Don’t chase after super-fashionable models if they don’t match your apartment design because you’ll be disappointed. As you know, refrigerators come in various shapes and sizes with pros and cons.
Some appliances will cost you less but lack some useful features. Others may have the most advanced options, plus a hefty price tag and enormous size.
Buying a fridge that doesn’t fit your apartment’s style can have unpleasant consequences. Preferably, it should be in harmony with your kitchen and home’s overall design.
Size Matters
No matter what type of refrigerator you order, it would be a serious oversight not to care about the required dimensions. So first, check if the new purchase fits in the same place as your old one.
Next, take a tape measure and record the dimensions of your previous appliance. Then compare the measurements with the new refrigerator you have your eye on. The replacement unit should be identical to, or smaller than, your current model.
It is essential if you have a built-in configuration. Remember that it’s equally important to measure the depth. Some models can protrude far beyond the countertop. Determine how much clearance is left to open the equipment’s doors or walk comfortably past them.
Don’t forget to measure entry points, such as the front door, hallways, and basement doors. Also, predict the delivery route to avoid unexpected problems.
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Devil is in the Details
And here, we’ll talk about storage containers. Practice shows that many customers do not think about their food storage needs.
However, the small details are also critical. With a bulky interior, drawers are never easy to use. So check if there are compartments for meat, cheese, and dairy products.
You may not care at the time of purchase, but needs may change over the years. For example, Whirlpool refrigerators are popular today, which meet all the modern consumer’s needs.
And suppose the purchase of such a quality fridge stops your icemaker from malfunctions, about which you once heard from someone or read in negative reviews. In that case, we must assure you that no icemaker can last forever.
And it’s not about Whirlpool. Moreover, statistics show that many problems with the Whirlpool refrigerator icemaker can be solved in 5 minutes. The main thing is to know who to ask for help.
And we can give you a perfect solution — the online consulting service Howly. Why Howly? Because the website is easy for any user, you only need to write your request in the pop-up window.
In a few minutes, you will communicate with an expert with extensive experience in Whirlpool icemaker repair, which means your problem will be solved.
So, in this paragraph, the main idea is that you should choose a refrigerator that suits your specific storage needs. For instance, if you tend to keep a lot of food frozen for long periods, then it’s worth making sure you select an appliance with a large freezer capacity.
And also, these extras, including the icemakers, water dispensers, and automatic filters you’ll be using daily, can make a big difference. Of course, built-in cameras and smart devices are also vital factors.
And what someone else needs may be a waste of money for others. Thus, it’s essential to understand what you’re paying for. Electronic control and display are vital for storing many perishable products and exotic ingredients.
For them, even minor fluctuations in temperature are destructive. An audible alarm will save the situation if you habitually close the door with a slight push without bringing it to a stop.
Vacation mode is helpful if you go away for a long time and empty the fridge compartment. And remote control with a smartphone allows you to prepare the unit for a hefty load while still in the supermarket.
And What About No Frost System
Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution that fits all refrigerator owners. And the intelligent No Frost system is no exception, as it also has drawbacks. For example, an automatic defrosting system has less valuable space, higher noise levels, and power consumption.
Installing No Frost refrigerators in a studio apartment without partitions is a lousy solution because you’ll hear all the sounds at night.
Drip automatics require your attention from time to time, but they work much more quieter. And when defrosting manually, you get a considerable addition to the helpful volume of the chamber.
Question About Freezer Location
As we mentioned, your preferred refrigerator design depends on what food you plan to keep. If you often buy frozen food and semi-finished products, a model with a top-mounted freezer will suit you the best.
It’s because it’s easier to find the ingredients you need, the door won’t stay open too long, and the energy loss will be minimal. On the other hand, if you use the freezer only for long-term preserves, it should be located at the bottom. The freezer compartment will be right before you since any food can be found in seconds.
Power Consumption? Even a TV Has More Power
But you don’t use other appliances without interruption, do you? On the other hand, a refrigerator will run 24 hours a day. Imagine that the average power consumption increased by only 20 watts per hour.
It would be like turning on an LED chandelier or a modern smartphone charger. But that would be 0.5 kW per day, 15 kW per month, and 180 kW per year. That’s not so little.
Economical refrigerators belong to the class “A.” But within this group, too, there is a division. For example, “A+” means reduced energy consumption by 20% compared to the accepted standard, “A++” means 40%, and “A+++” represents 60% or more. So even if such a model costs more, it will help you save a lot of money in the long run.
Bottom Line
It is not surprising that there are many pitfalls to avoid when choosing a refrigerator. When making a purchase, people don’t always carefully study the specifications and then get disappointed because there is no dream refrigerator at home but a device you want to replace as soon as possible. But after reading this article, you won’t be in danger of such disappointment.
