How to Choose a New Refrigerator

A refrigerator is a major purchase as it is an item that you will have to live with for many years. In fact, many people keep refrigerators three times as long as a vehicle, but don't put one-tenth of the thought into purchasing a refrigerator. Because a refrigerator can cost anywhere from a hundred to several thousand dollars, this is a purchase that you want to make carefully.

Instructions

1. Consider your food storage needs: Decide if your current refrigerator is big enough for your needs. If it is not, write down the ways in which you would like it to be different. Do you want more drawers, more cubic feet, or a bigger freezer section? Keep these things in mind as you shop.

2. Measure the dimensions for your new refrigerator. Measure the opening for your refrigerator. Do not measure you current refrigerator, but the entire space as your new refrigerator may be bigger or smaller, you will want to make sure it will fit without leaving too much empty space. Remember to also measure the depth of the space for your refrigerator so the new unit does not end up sticking out too far into the room.

3. Find out about energy efficient models. Read the Energy Guide labels on the refrigerators and the refrigerator advertisements to determine the energy savings of each model. Besides the energy information for the unit, there are other things that you can do to maximize energy efficiency. They are, purchasing a top freezer mode instead of a side-by-side. Purchasing a refrigerator that is not too big (or keeping jugs of water in the refrigerator to fill empty space.) Limit the amount of features on the new refrigerator. Also, you will want to find out if your energy company is offering a rebate on certain energy efficient refrigerators.

4. Comparison shop for price: Once you have an idea of possible refrigerator models that you want, start looking in sales flyers and on the internet to find the best price with the most features. When it is time to make your purchase, bring current store flyers with you to ensure you get the lowest price possible regardless of where you purchase the refrigerator.

5. Examine and compare your favorite models in person. Look at, touch, and feel the refrigerators you are interested in. Ask the salespeople what makes them different, how they are the same and why. If there is a $200.00 difference in between two models, ask what feature has caused the price gap.

Tips & Warnings

• Make an educated decision, not an emotional one.

• Consider a scratch and dent version.