Refrigerator Buying Guide

How to Buy a Refrigerator: Things to Consider

Refrigerator buying guide. Refrigerators can be related to a group of home appliances that people buy for the long term (at least 5 years). That is why you should choose one with great responsibility. In this refrigerator buying guide you will find out what parameters you should pay attention to when buying a refrigerator.

Defrosting System

There are two types of defrosting in modern refrigerators: Drip Defrost and No Frost. The Drip Defrost system cools down the surfaces inside the freezer compartment to very low temperatures. As a result, the moisture is condensed from the air on that surface and gets frozen. Then the system switches off automatically and the surface starts to defreeze, while meltwater collects in a special tray.

Refrigerator buying guide – No Frost system utilizes a freezing-defrosting cycle in order to prevent formation of ice inside the compartment. It is achieved by circulating cold air around products. This system also has an automatic defrosting feature, but no ice is formed inside the compartment.

The major difference between the Drip Defrost and No Frost systems is that the former utilizes formation of ice in order to remove excess moisture, while the latter prevents formation of ice at all.

However, while No Frost is an autonomous system, it is not a universal solution. Constant circulation of air in the refrigerator compartment might cause drying and skinning of products. That is why the best solution is to have a combined defrosting system with Drip Defrost in the refrigerator compartment and No Frost in the freezer.

Compressor Type

A compressor is the key element of a refrigerator and the cornerstone of fridge operation. Compressors can be divided into three types:

• Standard compressor. A budget-friendly option. Such compressors have only two operation modes: sleep and operation. When started, the unit reaches the required temperature and then switches to the sleep mode. Such compressors are noisier and less durable as they operate at full power.
• Inverter compressor. More advanced and expensive type. An inverter can regulate the operation frequency. The compressor will not switch off when the desired temperature is reached — it reduces rpm and maintains the set point. Such compressors do not switch off, but they operate in part load mode, which helps to reduce the noise and greatly increases the lifetime.
• Linear. Quite a rare type of compressor in refrigerators. The operation principle is similar to standard compressors. The major difference is that the pistons of a linear compressor are driven by an electromagnetic field. It allows to reduce wear and operation noise.

The choice of a compressor directly depends on the price range of your desired model. An inverter is the most practical option, though a standard compressor in budget-friendly models can still provide the same effective freezing.

Storage Capacity

It’s quite a subjective parameter, though it also has some standards you should refer to. Refrigerator buying guide – if you don’t have any special preferences for food storage you just need to know how many people will be using the fridge. 9-9.5 cubic feet of total capacity (refrigerator + freezer) will be enough for one person.

Then you should add extra cubic feet per person to get the optimal capacity. For example, 13 cubic feet should be enough for an average family of 4. More information you can find here https://www.subzero-wolf.com/sub-zero/full-size-refrigeration

Zero Box

This compartment is also called the "fresh zone" — the temperature in this area is maintained at the level from 32°F to 37°F (from 0°C to +3°C). This compartment has its own controlled environment that provides much longer storage for fish, meat, vegetable, and some other products. If your model has this feature, you can turn it off and use the fresh zone as a regular compartment.

Coils Location

Choose the radiator location based on the installation position of your fridge – read it in this refrigerator buying guide. If it is a built-in unit installed right up against other kitchen items, then it’s better to choose a fridge with a radiator on the back wall. If the fridge is installed separately, you can save some space by choosing side radiators.

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency represents the efficiency factor of a unit, which is the difference between its input power and useful power. The higher the energy efficiency, the less power a fridge requires for operation. The optimal efficiency classes to consider for buying are A and A+. The higher classes (A++ and A+++) have fractions of percent difference in efficiency and tens of percent difference in cost, so there’s no need to be after them.

Controls

Currently, the choice of control panel is not that relevant, because even most of budget-friendly models have switched to sensor panels. Refrigerator buying guide – this type of control provides a wide range of features and allows to set the exact temperature, which is critical for refrigerators.

While mechanical control is more affordable, it only allows to set the operation mode of the compressor. It means that with this type of control, the temperature might change depending on the external conditions and serviceability of the compressor, which is really inconvenient.

Bottom Line

You shouldn’t try to save a fortune on a fridge, but in some cases overpaying might also be useless. Refrigerator buying guide – try to determine the most important parameters for you, and make your choice based on these considerations. If you have problems with your refrigerator you can find service here follow by this link https://www.laappliancefix.com/contacts.htm