Posted: May 2009

Initial Considerations

So you’ve decided it’s finally time to replace or upgrade your refrigerator! Purchasing this essential kitchen appliance can not only be a daunting task in light of the multitude of model choices available to you, it is also a sizeable investment for your household. It is therefore all the more important to make sure you make a well-informed decision, and select a model that is the best fit for your home in terms of space, budget, cooking habits and overall lifestyle.

Get the Basics Right

• Measure height, depth and width of the space where you plan to place your new refrigerator. This will be a good starting point to help you narrow down your model choices.

• If you really want a refrigerator dotted with ice and water dispensers, know that you will need access to a water line behind the appliance.

• Always make sure that you have enough room behind the refrigerator for ventilation to enable the fridge to function efficiently.

• If the space you have available is limited, measure the clearance to know how much space you need to open the refrigerator door for simple tasks such as removing shelves or cleaning.

• Most refrigerators will last for many years without giving you much hassle. Having said that, choose a model from a brand that offers a great warranty along with a good track record.

• The model you select should be energy- efficient as well as easy to clean and maintain.

Know What You Need

Of all the major household appliances, refrigerators consume the most amount of energy as they are always switched on. Capacity is therefore the most important consideration when selecting a new refrigerator. As a rule of thumb, a regular household of two people would generally need about 10 to 12 cubic feet of food storage (add an extra cubic foot for each additional person). Buying the right-size fridge is important as an unfilled refrigerator tends to consume more energy, while one that is too small requires too much rearranging on your part. It is also important to remember that features such as bottom freezers or ice dispensers use up storable freezer space.

Keep Efficiency Up

Refrigerators typically consume about 10 to 12% of the total power that an average household consumes in a year. Many older models such as the ones built before 1999 do not meet the current energy power usage guidelines, and can therefore be considered as inefficient. Today’s refrigerator models have much better compressors and motors that prevent the unnecessary freezing of food, keeping it fresher and healthier longer. Also better-insulated doors ensure that cold air does not escape, thus requiring less cooling overall. ENERGY STAR® models are built to be extremely efficient and consume considerably less amount of energy than previous models (almost 30% less). Today’s energy-efficient refrigerators not only save you money, but are also a more environmentally conscious decision, so you can do your part for the planet.