Refrigerator Buying Advice

Welcome to Refrigerator Buying Advice, which offers a complete buying guide for anyone in the market for a new refrigerator, whether they happen to be novice or expert. So chill out and have a good look around!Refrigerator Buying TipsBuying a new refrigerator is an expensive business so you need to plan correctly before you even start looking. There are a few things to think about - here are our top tips for buying a fridge....LocationBefore deciding on anything, you need to work out where you are going to keep your new fridge. Are you putting the refrigerator in fixed units or is there a free space to put it in a larder or pantry? Your answer will tell you the size and style of fridge that's right for you.SizeHowever much space you have free for your fridge will affect the interior capacity, so measurements are highly important. You might have enough room for just a simple fridge-freezer or if you need something bigger, you might want to consider moving things around.StyleThere are lots of different refrigerator and freezer styles, including top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side and built-in. Make sure that your preference will give the right kind of access - it may sound silly, but you don't want to splash out on an expensive side-by-side affair if you can't open the doors properly. Consider cleaning as well - stainless steel fridge freezers might look the business, but it takes a lot of effort to keep them that way. Check the 'Types' tab above for a more detailed look.BudgetNormally we would recommend that your budget is the first thing to work out, but for a refrigerator, it's a different story. Only once you know where to put it, how big it will be and the style you require, should you work out how much money you will need to spend.Refrigerator TypesOnce you have decided where you will be putting your new fridge, you can start planningSide By SideIn side-by-side models, the freezer and refrigerator are located directly next to each other and effectively form full size versions of both. In general, this means that both units will be easy to access, but there is a problem in that both the refrigerator and the freezer will be quite slim, meaning you may find it tough to fit in your 18-inch pizzas!Top FreezerExactly what it says on the tip. The freezer is placed on top of the refrigerator and is very small, which means you will find these types of fridges less expensive and easy to fit in a smaller space. The major issue with top freezers is that you may find it difficult to reach food placed at the back of the unit.Bottom FreezerThe freezer is found underneath the fridge, Like top freezers, it's easy to access your food, less expensive but difficult to grab that food at the back.Built-InBuilt-in refrigerators are normally fitted with the same finish as the rest of your kitchen and the obvious advantage is that it blends in nicely. However, these can be expensive to install and even more so to replace if they break.French DoorFrench door refrigerators are less common; the refrigerator sits on top and opens with French doors and the freezer is a pull out drawer located at the bottom. Because the fridge doors open separately, you can expect to save money on energy bills, but like top and bottom freezers, that freezer drawer will prove a pain to grab food stored at the backCompactThe smallest type of refrigerator and kept by many people I know as a beer fridge. You won't fit too much in these but if space and money is a premium, then you can't really go wrong.Refrigerator FeaturesModern-day refrigerators don't just keep your food chilled - they come packing a huge array of extra features. Of course, the more you want, the more it will cost you, so it's worth going down the list and splitting the following features into ones you need, ones you would like and the ones you don't need.Ice-makerBuilt in ice-makers are a complete extravagance - but deep down, we would all love one. Top quality ice on tap...there's nothing more to say, really!Quick FreezeGives a boost to your freezing power to make ice that extra bit quicker - perfect for hot, sunny days when you have a barboie on the go.In-Door WaterIce cold water straight from your fridge will save you water - and money - leaking from your tap.Child LockFridges are dangerous, freezers more so. A child lock helps keep the kids out. Or in, if you prefer.DeodoriserRemoves bad smells and kills harmful bacteria in the fridge - but make sure you always check food that may be out of date.Fast Cool SystemLike a reverse microwave, a fast cool system chills your food quickly - unsurprisingly.Quiet ModeIf you are old enough, you may recall the incredible noises that used to eminate from fridges 20 years ago. Those days are long gone, but some fridges have an extra quiet mode that keeps things even more hush hush.Open Door AlarmNever leave your refrigerator open ever again. Or expect a rude reminder.Freezer LampFreezer sections can be particularly dark but a good freezer lamp should brighten things up without thawing your frozen goods.Temperature Control ShelvesDifferent shelves with different temperatures means you can be more particular with where you store different types of food.Auto DefrostAuto defrost is a great feature if you can't bear the awful experience of defrosting your freezer/flooding your kitchen.Auto Power SaveCan tell when you aren't using your fridge and will adjust settings accordingly.Multi MediaThere are some amazing multimedia features available on fridge doors these days, including LCD screens, digital picture frames and even electronic note writers and readers.Refrigerator ExtrasThere is more to buying a refrigerator than flashy features - we all have environmental responsibilities these days and if you are splashing out on an expensive fridge, then you want to make sure it will last a long time. In this section, we'll look at energy efficiency and warranties.Energy EfficiencyEnergy costs money, so the less you use, the more you will save. In the past, fridges and freezers were notorious for energy use but in recent years, there has been a marked improvement. Make sure you look out for an energy-efficient refrigerator model that won't cost the earth every year to operate. Any fridge-freezer you buy will have an energy rating and although you won't save megabucks by spending a bit more money on an energy efficient refrigerator - every penny counts.

Unfortunately, it's a bit of a minefield. As a general rule, the bigger the fridge, the more it will cost to run but some fridges are certainly more efficient than others. Bottom-freezer refrigerators are the most efficient (heat rises, folks!) and side-by-side fridges are the least efficient, despite their popularity.WarrantiesIf you are buying a cheap compact fridge just for the six months you are renting your one bed studio flat, then don't consider a warranty. However, as refrigerators are expensive - and important - bits of kit, we definitely recommend a warranty.

Most refrigerators will come with some kind of basic warranty which will probably cover you for a year for parts and labour and five years for the sealed refrigerator ecosystem. You will need an extended warranty plan to cover them for a longer period of time, so it's very worthwhile asking about what is on offer before you buy - and always allow for an extended warranty in your budget.

Each retailer will offer their own kinds of service and you will need to ask them exactly what that is. Warranties from independent local appliance shops will probably be more personalized although their prices may be higher. On the other hand, large national retailers may offer good prices, but their sales and support staff might not be as knowledgeable and you may find it frustrating being put on hold by countless call centres.

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