If you want to buy a fridge, there’s no better time than today. Choose from many sleek styles that fit various budgets. However, before you make your purchase, you must know what to look for. Luckily, we’re here to help. Many options are on the market, but you don’t need to be intimidated. Check out our ultimate guide to buying a new refrigerator below.
Choose the Right Size: How To Measure
Before you start researching which fridge to get, you must measure your space. This step is important because the last thing you want is to have the fridge delivered only to realize that it can’t fit through your door, the pathway to your kitchen, or, worse, in the kitchen space. This step is especially important if you decide to buy your fridge online, where you can’t reach out and touch it. Check out how to take proper measurements below.
Height and Width
Start by measuring your home’s entry door and doorway—front and back, depending on the delivery’s location. You should also map your new fridge’s path to the kitchen and measure the distance between the path’s walls and the floor and ceiling. Make sure you note and measure potential pain points, like corners, so you and the delivery crew can best prepare.
The Spaces Between Your Cabinets and Kitchen Island
If you have a centrally located kitchen island, it’s important to measure its height, width, and length and the width of the space between it and its opposing lower and upper cabinets. Like the tip above, you’ll want to ensure the fridge can get through the kitchen space easily.
The Empty Spot Your Fridge Will Inhabit
You must know the measurements of your fridge’s installation location before you place it there. If there is a countertop or cabinets above, measure from the outer edge of the countertop or bottom cabinet to the outer corner of the cutout. Additionally, you’ll need to leave one-eighth of an inch of space around all sides of the fridge. Otherwise, it’ll be too difficult for the delivery person to fit it into the space.
Picking a Style
After you have your measurements, it’s time for the fun part—picking what kind of fridge you want! They come in numerous designs from various brands, each with benefits and drawbacks. Check out the advantages and disadvantages of each fridge type below.
Top Freezer
Top freezers are great if you want something inexpensive but don’t have a lot of space. They’re fairly conventional and can look dated to some. If you don’t care for the conventional and you don’t have the money for a French door or side-by-side fridge, it might be wise to get a modern, stainless-steel fridge. One upside is there’s plenty of storage space, and it’s a great pick for smaller kitchens.
Bottom-Freezer
Bottom freezers are significantly more modern. They’re essentially the opposite of the top freezer design, with two separate cooling mechanisms. Often, bottom freezer fridges have greater storage in the freezer section, which is great if you buy a lot of perishables or have a large family. That said, it’s more expensive and not as energy efficient as the top freezer version.
French Door
With a French-door-style fridge, you’ll have a much larger refrigerator capacity to store fresh foods. The ingredients or condiments shelves are also eye level, offering easy access to find what you need. The wide interior shelves allow you to store long platters and other big plates for parties or large family dinners. The shelves are also freely adjustable, so you can customize how you store your food. That said, the freezer is often smaller, and the price point is higher.
Side-by-Side
Side-by-side refrigerators boast a classic style with an adjacent freezer and fridge. The available interior space is smaller on each side, but we find this design to be more energy efficient. It’s perfect for a one-person household and for those who don’t require as much space in their fridge but still want all the best features. That said, it’s taller, which can make it obstructive in smaller kitchens. Side-by-sides also have entry-level price points, which makes it an affordable option.
Built-In
Built-in refrigerators and freezers are all the rage if you want a sleek modern look that aligns with your cabinets. If you opt for a built-in fridge, it’ll blend seamlessly with your cabinetry. You can even add a panel that matches your cabinet’s wood finish, giving your kitchen a more cohesive look. How cool is that? You can also go super wide with a fridge that measures up to 49 inches—perfect for big families.
Refrigerator Features and Benefits
The fridge’s features should be your next consideration. What do you want to be able to do with your refrigerator? Determining your desired features is one of the most important parts of our ultimate guide to buying a refrigerator. We listed the three we enjoy below to give you some ideas.
Temperature Controls
A fridge with climate controls is a great fridge indeed. Many models offer temperature controls within each section so that each compartment can keep your food fresher for longer. You can customize these features to fit your needs. If you subsist mostly on TV dinners and leftovers, it might be wise to have some defrosting features, which will completely mitigate freezer burn. Consider your eating and storage habits and choose features that complement them.
Better Shelves and Drawers
You might find yourself constantly rearranging things to make space for groceries. If this is the case, look for a few features that positively impact storage. You can look for a fridge with shelves that fold up or slide in, making it easier for you to fit things inside. You can also get a fridge that situates the icemaker inside the door, giving you more space overall.
Ice and Water Dispensers
When making your determinations, you might want to consider the features you use most often, such as the ice and water dispenser. Typically, these water dispensers use a filtration system so you can enjoy fresh, pure water daily. You’ll certainly taste the difference! A water dispenser is a luxury you’ll likely find with french and side-by-side fridges, so if you’re looking for one, it’ll be wise to start there.
We covered quite a bit here, so congrats on reading to the end! If you require a fridge or any other appliance, check out our selection at Town Appliance! We’ll take care of you, no matter which appliance you choose.
