Refrigerator
Buyers Guide
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General Guidelines:
Buying
a new refrigerator is no small feat. They're big, they're expensive
and you use it every day. They also use a lot of energy; in fact,
refrigerators use an average of 12 to 20% of household electricity
each year. They're difficult to repair because of their size, complicated
electronics and the special tools that are needed. Also, most people
don't think about replacing their refrigerator until it's on the
fritz and you're already losing lots of money as food spoils and
an inefficient refrigerator eats up your electric bill.
Listed
below are the popular kinds of refrigerator/freezer combinations.
Read about their pros and cons and also special considerations for
each type. Remember to bring accurate measurements of the space
you want your new unit to fill.
1.)
Side-by-Sides
Side-by-Side
refrigerator/freezers are the most popular design selling today
with lots of makes and models to choose from. They have many advantages
that have helped their popularity increase. Side-by-Sides have smaller
doors that take up less space when open, allowing them to fit in
more shallow areas of your kitchen. Ice and water dispensers are
very common features in side-by-sides. And many people are attracted
to the idea of having their favorite foods in both the freezer and
refrigerator at eye level.
Side-by-sides
tend to be less energy efficient than other more classic refrigerator/freezer
combinations. It is also difficult to fit extra wide items, like
large pizza boxes, in the refrigerator or freezer compartments as
they are narrower than standard sizes.
If
you're interested in the convenience of having an in-door water
and ice dispenser, make sure to investigate your plumbing situation
first. If you don't have water lines set up and ready to attach
to your refrigerator, a plumber will have to arrange that before
installation. Also, check into the cost and procedure for getting
new water filters for your water and/or ice dispenser. Find out
the yearly cost of filters, how easy or difficult it is to find
them and whether or not you can replace them yourself to get an
accurate idea of the true cost of the appliance.
2.)
Freezer-on-Top and Freezer-on-Bottom
Refrigerator
and freezer combinations where the freezer is on top or bottom are
generally very energy efficient. Freezer-on-top models are much
more common than freezer-on-bottom models, though most major manufacturers
do make each type. If you use your refrigerator much more often
than your freezer, it would be very convenient to have your freezer
on the bottom and all of your refrigerated items at eye level. The
opposite is true if you use your freezer much more than your refrigerator.
Some freezer-on-bottom units now offer French door styles on the
upper refrigerator, with two narrow doors opening in opposing directions
instead of one large door.
The
popular external ice and water dispensers are far less common in
these types of refrigerator/freezer combinations, though some models
do exist. Be sure to keep in mind that the doors are full sized
and require lots of room to open completely.
When
shopping for this kind of combination, make sure to include the
door clearance space when measuring for your new refrigerator. If
you do choose a model with an external ice and/or water dispenser,
make sure your plumbing is set up to directly connect to your new
refrigerator.
3)
Special Note on Ice and Water Door Dispensers
External
ice and water dispensers on refrigerator doors are a very poplar
feature these days. It gives the appliance a very modern look and
gives access to ice and water without opening the doors. It can
also replace other inconvenient or expensive water filtration systems.
Like
most upgraded features, ice and water dispensers usually include
an increase in price and also generally consume more energy.
Before
deciding whether or not to go for this feature, check your plumbing
system. If you don't have water lines set up and ready to attach
to your refrigerator, a plumber will have to arrange that before
installation. Find out the cost of filters, how easy or difficult
it is to find them and whether or not you can replace them yourself
to get an accurate idea of the true cost of the appliance. Keep
in mind that although these filters may have an added cost, it could
be much less than you are already paying for bottled water or another
filtration device that the appliance could replace.
4.)
Special Note on Self-Installation
Thinking
about saving some money by installing your new refrigerator yourself?
Stop!!
Refrigerators
are expensive and complicated appliances. They are very heavy, require
specialized tools and can have complicated connections with your
home's plumbing system. Improper installation can result in broken
appliances, invalidated warranties, damage to your home's floors,
surfaces, plumbing and cabinets and injuries to yourself. Not to
mention that you'll need to find a way to get your refrigerator
home without damaging it and what will you do with your old one
when you're done? If you want to get the most out of your investment,
have it installed by an expert. Installation is usually very inexpensive
and even small mistakes made while installing it yourself can cost
you big bucks in the future. Save yourself! Let us, true experts,
install your new fridge.
5.)
To Warranty or Not to Warranty?
Would
it upset your budget if you had to buy another new refrigerator
next week? How about replacing all the food that spoiled when your
old fridge failed? If you're like most of us, it sure would! Protect
yourself with extended warranties.
Extended
warranties are usually very inexpensive and can save you thousands
in the future. Some can even cover extra costs that result, such
as the cost of food that spoils when your fridge dies. It's simple
and inexpensive to purchase extended warranties and one of the smartest
ways to protect your investment.
Refrigerators
are large, heavy and expensive and you probably don't have the special
tools or expertise needed to fix them in a crisis. If you can spare
a few thousand dollars without batting an eyelash for a new one
should it break tomorrow, don't buy a warranty. But if you're like
most of us, protect yourself by purchasing inexpensive extended
warranties when you buy a new appliance and save yourself big money
in the long run.
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377-7595
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