How to Choose a Refrigerator

There are a number of things to consider if you're in the market for a new refrigerator.  What do I have to spend?  How much space do I have?  Do I want a side-by-side, top or bottom freezer model?  Is an ice maker a must-have?  How much food will I be storing?

So much to consider.

Removable and adjustable shelves make
using your space efficiently, and cleanup easy!

Let's start with size.  As a general rule of thumb you need 8 to 10 cubic feet of fresh food storage for two adults.  For each additional member of your household, add  another cubic foot to the total.  (So, for a family of four we're talking 10 to 12 cubic feet.)  You want to choose a size that you can keep comfortably full, because a mostly-empty refrigerator will not be as efficient (leading to higher utility bills.)  And remember:  make sure that you have the physical space in your kitchen for whatever size you choose.  Take careful measurements and bring them with you when you shop!  There's nothing worse than finding the "perfect" appliance, only to dicsover it won't fit in your available space.

When it comes to choosing the style of your refrigerator, there are three basic choices, bottom mount, top mount, and side by side. A bottom mount refrigerator has the freezer compartment on the bottom and the refrigerator on the top. The theory behind this design is that you spend more time in the refrigerated compartment of your refrigerator than you do in the freezer. Having the refrigerator on top should therefore save you a lot of unnecessary bending. A top mount is the traditional refrigerator that has the freezer on top. This is the setup you see most often. A side by side refrigerator has a freezer and refrigerated section that are adjacent to each other. They often seem less roomy, all though their capacity can be the same as a top or bottom mount model.

Many refrigerators let you choose which
way you would like the door to open.

Now for the bells and whistles.  Before you head out to shop, decide which features are a "like to have" versus a must have.  How much storage do you want in the door?  Which shelves do you want to be adjustable? Do you want spill-proof solid shelves, or is the traditional wire shelf okay?  Some refrigerators have internal-only ice makers, while some have access in a door, along with filtered water.  Access to ice from the door saves energy, because you don't have to open the door every time you want ice.

Also be SURE that the model you are choosing has a door that can be installed to open on either side, or opens from the side you need.

For more information on Energy Star appliances, and how to keep you home energy efficient, visit:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home.index