How to Pick a Refrigerator

Refrigerators come with many options and features.

In most homes, a refrigerator lasts approximately 14 to 17 years, as stated by the Repair Clinic website. It is important to choose the appliance wisely since it will be a part of your home for many years. Whether you are selecting a basic refrigerator or one that has many convenient features, considering the needs of your family, the available space, color and energy efficiency are all points you should think about before making the purchase.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure the available space for the refrigerator by using a tape measure.

   Calculate the depth of the available space, the width and the height of the area where you will place the refrigerator. Write the measurements down on a sheet of paper to take with you while shopping.

2. Pick the color of your refrigerator carefully. If you have wallpaper, cabinets, countertops, decor and other accessories in warm color tones, such as sage green, beige or gold, an off-white or beige refrigerator is your best choice. Cool color tones look best with a pure white refrigerator or a black refrigerator. Make sure the color choice is one you can live with for many years. Stainless steel coordinates well with most colors and is a wise choice if you like to redecorate and change your colors every few years.

3. Look at the Energy Star label on many different models of refrigerators. It tells you how much energy the appliance will use during a year and compares it to similar models. This is an important consideration for those who try to keep their utility bills low and help the environment by using less energy. Keep in mind that refrigerators that have freezers on the top use 10 to 25 percent less electricity than side-by-side or bottom-mounted refrigerators, as stated by the Energy Star website. The most energy-efficient size for a refrigerator is 16 to 20 cubic feet, but keep the number of people in your household in mind when choosing the size.

4. Purchase a refrigerator that has the features you desire, but remember that additional features increase the cost of the appliance. Features such as in-door ice and water dispensers may be necessary if you have many children in your home. This prevents them from opening and closing the refrigerator as often, thus using more energy. Another handy feature if you have a large family or many children is an in-door refreshment center where you can store and retrieve snacks without opening the door. Many other features exist that make organizing or cleaning your refrigerator less complicated, such as fully extendable drawers in bottom freezers, glass shelves with a lip to make cleaning up spills quicker or adjustable shelves. Some refrigerators now even come with a TV or wine rack.

5. Pick the right type of refrigerator for your home needs. If you rarely get into the freezer, a bottom-mount freezer is perfect for you. Small kitchens or those with an island or other obstruction near the front of the appliance work best with side-by-side refrigerators since the doors take up less space than regular refrigerator doors.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to calculate the clearance space necessary behind a new refrigerator.

• The coils and other projections add to the depth of the appliance. Not considering the clearance space may result in a refrigerator that juts out too far into the walkway.

• Keep in mind that the more features your refrigerator has, the greater likelihood one of them will quit working and need a repair.

References

• Krillion: Refrigerator Buying Guide
• Repair Clinic: Refrigerator -- Answers -- to -- Common -- Questions
• Energy Star: Refrigerators for Consumers