Side by Side Refrigerator

Double Door Refrigerators: Are They Worth Extra Cost And What Features They Have?

In this article, we will speak about side by side refrigerator: their types and differences from regular ones.

Side-by-Side

Two-part Side-by-Side models came to our market from the USA, and it happened not that long ago. These models are available in the Premium market range.

Features

Considering my user experience and the general characteristics of this fridge type, I can point out a few key advantages:

• Volume: Huge usable volume: from 16 to 23 cu ft. Allows to store plenty of semi-finished, semi-processed, and prepared food for a big family.
• Separation and Compartments: Good volume capacity allows to divide products by their type and follow food segregation principles. It helps to store food longer, avoid off-odors, and maintain general esthetics.
• Noise: A fridge with a bulky design is a perfect vibration damper. However, the main reason for the low level of noise is the compressor in use: linear in older models and inverter in most of the modern ones. My model has a linear compressor that is considered noisier, but even so, I can hardly hear it while in operation.
• Features: Side-by-Side fridges have some features unavailable in standard appliances: a cold-water dispenser and an ice cuber (pricier models can be connected to the waterline, and cheaper ones have a reservoir), a quick access door, and a display with settings.
• Second Compressor: An additional compressor is quite an expensive and rare solution in the market, although it is much more common among Side-by-Side models. Such models have a longer lifetime and can adjust cooling loops with higher precision — for example, Liebherr fridges allow to set a special temperature in the fresh zone.
• Height: As a rule, Side-by-Side models are shorter and provide easier access to the top shelves, regardless of your height.

Let’s mention the downsides as well, because the price is not the only drawback:

• Dimensions: Many old apartments with compact kitchens are not suitable to accommodate such an appliance. Apart from that, evaporators and their heating elements are installed on the back, and it significantly increases a fridge in depth.
• No Full Integration: Side-by-Side is not considered as a built-in model and it requires some space at the back and the sides if installed in a cabinet. Moreover, the door depth requires some space on the sides for opening (not in all models), so it’s impossible to seamlessly place it behind the facade.
• Only Full No Frost: It means the No Forst cooling/defrosting system is used both in the freezer and refrigerator compartment. While it doesn’t pose any downsides for the freezer, it may cause food skinning in the refrigerator compartment. The reason to utilize this system is because the static system ("wet wall") is unable to steadily cool down such huge volumes, at least without excessive load on the compressor.
• Power consumption: Despite the power efficiency and big stock of refrigeration, the annual consumption of such big fridges with high-power compressors can reach 700 kW.

French Door

The French Door (FD) form factor with swing doors is even more uncommon and expensive. It has the same characteristics (volume, noise, dimensions, integration options, Full No Frost), except for compact 12-14 cu ft solutions being available in this range as well.

The doors and compartments are located similar to standard fridges, with the upper refrigerator compartment and the lower freezer compartment. The main advantage is the compartment width. It’s bigger than in any other type, that is why it will be easier to put in, for example, a big meal on a sheet pan.

As I mentioned before, the drawbacks include a very limited range and high price, even if we speak about compact models.

Bottom Line

Big Side-by-Side and French Door fridges with swing doors are a practical, but not a universal solution. Such models would be a better choice for a house or a big family of three or more.