These days, refrigerators are essentially the most common appliances in any household. The need for a refrigerator, especially in the hotter regions, cannot be stressed enough. Safe to say, every household probably has one. Now, when it comes to buying a refrigerator, there are so many things to keep in mind. The number of options available to you does not make it any easier either. There are so many different kinds of refrigerators, different brands, available at different prices with different features. The bottom line, buying a refrigerator is no easy task. It takes a lot of know-how and making the right decision can make a huge difference.
Since refrigerators, like other home appliances, can last you years on end if you maintain them properly, getting the right one allows you peace of mind from getting a replacement anytime soon.
Before buying a refrigerator, there are a few things you might need to ask yourself first.
- How many people will use the refrigerator?
- What am I going to store in it?
- I live alone, is a mini refrigerator sufficient enough for my needs?
- How much money should I be spending on a refrigerator?
These questions can make your purchase that much easier. The different styles and capacities of refrigerators do not make the decision easy by any margin. And knowing what you want can make all the difference to your purchase.
While buying a refrigerator, focus on type, capacity, energy consumption, features, brand, and price.
What matters while buying a refrigerator?
There are a few things that you absolutely need to keep in mind while buying a refrigerator. Firstly, there are different types of refrigerators and they come with different features and uses.
Type of refrigerators –
Primarily, there are kinds of refrigerators – single door, double door, side-by-side, mini, and counter depth.
Single doors are the most common type and widely available in homes with less than 2-3 residents. Single door refrigerators are generally smaller, not going above the 200-255L capacity. They are perfect for bachelors as well due to their small size. They are highly efficient but come with very limited compartment space. If you want a bigger refrigerator to store more things, a single door might not be enough.
Double door refrigerators are usually found with families and such. They have, obviously, two doors, where one is the freezer, mostly on top, and the other door leads into the primary compartment. Double doors are taller and can take up a little more space than single doors.
Side-by-side refrigerators are essentially the wider versions of a double door refrigerator. They feature a double door but the doors are adjacent to each other instead of being horizontally placed. They feature an immense space for your food and the two separate compartments can even be used to separate your meats from your vegetables. They are big enough to sufficiently handle a family of 4-5 people with ease.
Mini refrigerators are more of a personal effect. If you plan to buy a mini refrigerator as part of your usual use, we would suggest it differently. Mini refrigerators are not powerful enough to keep all your food and leftovers cool. They are instead perfect to keep in your living room or your bedroom as beverage storage. You can even add one to your car since they use very little energy to run.
Counter-depth refrigerators are not really as common. They are mostly installed while a kitchen is being made. If you are getting your kitchen built, it is always a good idea to get a counter depth refrigerator installed to make the most of the space available. They have essentially attached refrigerators that are usually found under counters where they generally have a customized amount of space.
Capacity and Size –
The next most important thing to consider is the capacity of a refrigerator. A higher capacity refrigerator is also bigger and can take up more space in your kitchen. It is always a good idea to get a gist of the available space before you buy an enormous refrigerator. Capacity depends on how much space you would need. A normal 192L refrigerator is perfect for a couple of people, but might not work for more than 3 people. A larger 255L or a 290L refrigerator is perfect for a family of 4. It is all personal preference in the end.
Energy Consumption –
Refrigerators can take up a lot of energy while on. The best way to avoid paying a fortune in bills would be to purchase an inverter refrigerator that makes sure your refrigerator does not use a lot of energy in the first place. These special inverter refrigerators are also a little more expensive than the usual kind, but allow you to save some money over time in lower electricity bills.
Features –
Refrigerators can come with a variety of features. From water and ice dispensers to smart machines that can build you a grocery list while keeping your inventory as well. More feature-full refrigerators will obviously be more expensive than the rest.
Brand and Price –
There are so many different brands out there. Aside from the type, kind, features, abilities, and capacity of a refrigerator, the brand also plays a huge role in the price and durability of the product.
When it comes to durability, LG, Samsung, and Whirlpool are some of the biggest, most trusted brands in the market. Haier and Panasonic are also great brands that provide you with incredibly durable products. If you want to purchase a no-nonsense brand, you can easily choose from the best Samsung refrigerators, since they are the most desirable, durable, and functional appliances.
Conclusion
No matter if you are living alone, or with family, a good refrigerator is sure to make your life that much easier. Simply invest in one that is in accordance with your needs and requirements.
