Most homes in American have a refrigerator of some kind. It is also one of the most commonly used of all appliances in the home and is one of the most commonly replaced as well. This means that there are always homeowners trying to decide what refrigerator is best for their wants and needs. Here at A Dichristopher Appliance Repair, we want to help take some of the stress and confusion out of this process so we are proud to present this handy guide for choosing the right refrigerator for your home:
Refrigerator Sizes to Choose From
There are several ways to go about choosing the right refrigerator for your home. One of the first things to consider is the size refrigerator that you will need. Here are the most common sizes available:
- Mini Fridge / Compact Cube:
Known as an office or dorm fridge, these are mini-fridges and are made to hold only a few drinks, some condiments and not much else since they usually are 1.5 to 3 cubic feet in size. The right refrigerator for you will depend laregely on your needs for space.
- Countertop Height & Mid-Size Fridge:
This size appliance will feature a small freezer area big enough for 1-2 ice cube trays and a frozen dinner, along with fridge space for a few drinks, all while still fitting under the countertop.
- Apartment Fridges:
For those who have a little more space, you can get a working fridge and freezer combo that still saves valuable floor space since these come in sizes of anywhere from 7 to 15 cubic feet.
- Full Size & Commercial Refrigerators:
The standard refrigerator and freezer size that is in most homes today these are full size and feature space for larger families in both the freezer and cooler side of the appliance.
Criteria for Choosing a Refrigerator
When you know what size will best fit your wants and needs and space limitations, it is time to look at the other criteria that go into choosing the right refrigerator for your home. There are a few different things to look at to make sure you find one that fits your needs.
- Know What Your Available Space Is
The biggest mistake homeowners make when they are shopping for a new refrigerator is that they don’t bother measuring their available space or they make a mistake when measuring. Double check your measurements and look for height, width, depth, and door swing radius. Even the best looking and ebt priced refrigrator won’t be the the right refrigerator if it wont fit!
- Identify Storage Needs For Your Family
Every family is different but your unique family dynamics and size will play a big role in how much space you will need. We recommend around 4 to 6 cubic feet of space for each adult. Less space may mean eating out or cooking more often if there’s no room to store leftovers.
- Consider Your Freezer Space Needs
Some families cook meals ahead of time and freeze for later. Some families use the freezer for ice and a few frozen dinners only. Consider your needs and then try to find a refrigerator that has a big enough or small enough freezer so you get what you need without wasting space.
- What Features are Important
Refrigerators have many optional bells and whistles that you can opt to get for an additional price. Consider them carefully and think about short-term and long-term use. If you need them or could truly benefit from them then look for refrigerators with those features and options.
- Check the Warranty
Finally, make sure that when you talk to the sales associate that you ask about what warranty the refrigerator includes. Some of the well-known brands feature great warranties and even some smaller companies offer competitive warranty options so consider this carefully in your choice. For some it is a big determining factorin deciding what is the right refrigerator for their needs.
Are Special Features Really Worth It?
This is a digital and technological world we live in. Choosing the right refrigerator for your home is about more than just finding an appliance to keep your food fresh and safe. There are so many different bells and whistles to choose from today. It can be very overwhelming and confusing. You can find refrigerators that sync to your music devices, ones with touch screens, ones with voice recognition, and much more! Are all these special features really worth it? Ultimately, only you and your family can determine what is and is not best for your home. However, keep one thing in mind- the more bells and whistles and components there are the more upkeep it will need and the more chances there are that something can break and need to be repaired.
Contact Us Today
For all of your appliance repair needs once you are done choosing the right refrigerator for your home and find you need work done on your system, give us a call! Our team of experts have years of hands-on experience and can help keep your refrigerator running smoothly and efficiently for years to come when you find the right refrigerator. So call us today to learn more!
