If you're looking for a new refrigerator, it can be a bit overwhelming. There are a ton of different brands, models and styles to choose from, and prices that range from under $300 to several thousand dollars.
How do you know what to choose? There are three things that you should always consider...
1. Size
The size of the refrigerator is the first thing you need to look at. And there are two measurements for the size that are important.
The first is the actual size of the fridge itself. If you're replacing an existing unit, you'll be limited by the space you have for the refrigerator.
As much as you might want that latest Sub Zero French door model, if it won't fit in your kitchen it's just not in the cards.
The second measurement is the space inside the refrigerator. This is measure in cubic feet (cu. ft.) and you will see different capacities in refrigerators of the same physical size.
Features like water filters and ice makers take some space away from storage, so they will have a bearing on the internal capacity.
Style
There are several styles of walk in coolers refrigerators to choose from:
- Freezer on top - Freezer on bottom - Side by side - French door
Each has advantages and disadvantages, but the most common style is freezer-on-top. The models with the freezer on the bottom often have larger freezer space, since they generally have a pull-out freezer drawer rather than a door.
Side by side refrigerators are typically more convenient and look nicer, but if you get a model with a water filter or ice maker, that will take away some of the space from the fridge itself.
A French door refrigerator is a kind of a cross between a side-by-side model and a bottom freezer model.
They have the pull-out freezer drawer on the bottom, with side-by-side doors on the refrigerator above.
These models are becoming quite popular because many home & garden TV shows are using them.