How to Choose the Right Refrigerator for Your Home - What You Need to Know

Buyer's Guide to the Best Refrigerator

There is a refrigerator on the market for every family's needs, but finding the right one for your home is not always a simple process.  There are many options and points to consider before making a big purchase like an appliance, and this guide will help point you in the right direction and feel confident in your decision.

Things to Consider Before you Begin Your Search

• Think about the space you have to put the refrigerator in before you start looking.  There is no greater woe than finding the perfect fridge, just to get it delivered and realize it is too big or too small for the space you have.  If you have an existing home and don't want to modify your space, take the dimensions of your opening in account when looking for a fridge.  When building a new home, there is usually some flexibility in the amount of space and fridge size as long as you give the builders time to accommodate.
• Take a look at your other appliances and decide if you want the fridge to match.  If you have a black stove and dishwasher, You may want to consider a black refrigerator. A classic choice is always stainless, but depending on the look of your kitchen, a black or white version may be a better fit.
• Cost is a big deciding factor for many, so know your budget before you set foot in the store.  Refrigerators can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. The more options you need, the more you're likely to pay.

Choosing a Brand

There are dozens of brands to choose from, so how do you begin narrowing them down? Start with these two points:

• Warranty: Each company has specific warranty parameters, and to protect yourself long term it is wise to check each brand's warranty and make sure that you're covered if something goes wrong with your new appliance.
• Customer Reviews:  Simple internet searches will lead you in all different directions when it comes to the "best" refrigerator. Major online retailers have customer reviews available to view, and this is a good place to look for trends in which brands/styles are making customers happiest and receiving the least complaints.

Choosing Your Options

Depending on family size, how you use your fridge, how large of a freezer you need, handicap accessibility, etc, there are options to fit any and all of your needs. Some to consider:

• Top or Bottom Freezer or Side-by-side Freezer/Fridge: Freezer space can be found in a top-shelf, bottom-shelf or side-door, if you are interested in a freezer.  Refrigerators still come with no freezer space if you plan on keeping a separate freezer chest.  The advantage to a bottom or top freezer is that you have a wider space to put items like pizzas or cakes that wouldn't fit in a narrow side door.  It is easier to organize and stack items in the side freezer.
• Volume: Refrigerators come in sizes of 2 to 30 cubic feet.  The standard kitchen fridge is about 25 cubic feet, but in efficiency kitchens, a smaller size may be needed, while a larger one would work nicely in a gourmet kitchen.
• Water/Ice dispenser: This is a nice perk in any fridge.  Filtered cold water on demand and instant ice is a win-win for fridge options.  Extra filters will be additional money, so keep that in mind.
• Snack drawer/special compartments: These can be found in many fridge models and make accessibility convenient to children, and those in wheelchairs that have limited reach.  They also help in organizing groceries for greater visibility, which leads to less waste.