Refrigerator Buying Guide | Headsup on Refrigerator Types

If you thought the biggest decision in purchasing a new fridge was simply picking the right color, think again. Times have changed and so have modern technology. Finding the right fridge with the right budget is all about understanding what you want out of it. Here are a few tips from your friends at Appliance and Mattress Center to help answer some questions and make your refrigerator shopping experience a little more pleasant.

Before heading to the store make sure you measure your refrigerator space. This will avoid the hassle of returning your purchase if it doesn’t quite fit into the space it needs to fit in at home. Measure the width and the height of the space in your kitchen where you plan on inserting your fridge. Remember to add a little clearance by adding a couple of inches to the width for easy opening and closing of refrigerator doors.

What type of fridges best suits your needs? There are four options to choose from:

top_mount_1Top Freezer

The top freezer is your basic and most common model and perhaps one of the fastest sold models at our store. This model dedicates the bottom two thirds for fresh food storage with the freezer unit sitting on top. If style isn’t much of a concern you’ll find some of your best bargains with this model. They also come in a wide variety of colors.
ge_bottom_freezerBottom Freezer

This model is the upside down version of the top freezer. It allows for easier upright access to your fresh food compartment without having to bend over forward. These models come with a slightly larger freezer space than the top freezer models and also a slightly higher price tag. There is also less variety of models to choose from. The image you see on the left is a GE bottom freezer.
side-by-sideSide By side

A side-by-side unit splits your fridge down the middle with frozen foods on the left and fresh foods on the right. This can make for a much more narrow freezer space so you should keep this in mind when choosing this style. Side by side units come in a variety of models and many of their features are aimed at saving space. They also require less clearance to open the doors– making them ideal for narrow kitchens. Due to the vertical split you will want to go with the widest model that you can fit into your kitchen.
french_doorFrench Door

The new popular fridge in town is the French Door Refrigerator. French door models are a combination of a drawer style bottom freezer and side-by-side doors for the fresh food compartment. The split of your fridge doors means you will be losing less cool air when opening one door to grab some milk. With this model you’ll definitely find a wide variety of options including models with smart features that you won’t find with other styles. This is also the most expensive model on the market with some very fancy add on features like LCD screens which raises the price tag a little higher.

How Big Of A Fridge Do You Need?

A general rule of thumb is you will want 4 to 6 cubic feet of refrigerator space per adult in your household. Full size refrigerators range from 10 to 32 cubic feet– meaning a family of four would require a 20 cubic feet or larger unit. Remember a bigger fridge means a bigger energy bill so splurging on extra space that you don’t need will cost you more in the long run.
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Appliance and Mattress Center offers a wide variety of new and used refrigerators. Stop by our store located on 1942 Parsons Avenue Columbus, Ohio and one of our friendly store associates will be happy to answer any questions you have.