Luckily, there is no shortage of amazing fridge freezers to check out across the market. Somewhere out there is the perfect fridge freezer for you. But the question is: how do you find it? What are the key features you should be looking out for in your perfect fridge freezer? And what should you be keeping in mind when searching?
In this ultimate buyer’s guide, we’ll take you through all of the most essential elements of a good fridge freezer, so you can pick one that perfectly suits your needs.
What Should You Consider When Buying A Fridge Freezer?
Size
The old adage “Bigger is better” could not be truer when discussing fridge freezers. Wherever possible, you should always try and grab the biggest fridge freezer that you can. This allows more space for you to store a larger number of ingredients!
However, it’s important to remember that the combination of both fridge and freezer will result in a much larger overall unit. Before heading out and looking for your perfect fridge freezer, spend some time considering your existing kitchen space, and where you plan to place your new fridge freezer.
Is there plenty of vertical space to fit the unit in? Will it even fit through the front door? Is there plenty of space around the fridge to make it easy to access? These are just a few of the questions you’ll want to ask while considering size.
Larger fridge freezers are great for easily storing more fresh ingredients. However, before grabbing a larger fridge freezer, be sure to consider your existing space, and whether there is plenty of room.
It’s important to consider the space directly in front of the fridge freezer. Make sure there is ample space for the doors to swing outward without bashing against anything!
Capacity
As you ponder the size of your new fridge freezer, you’ll naturally start to think about the internal capacity of it. Is there plenty of space for all of the ingredients you plan to store away? If you’re living in a larger household with more hungry mouths, then you’ll want to go for a fridge freezer with much greater storage space.
Keep in mind that storage capacity generally goes hand in hand with the size of the unit itself. If you need more storage space, you’ll need to make sure that there is plenty of room for the entire fridge freezer!
Once you’ve found the perfect capacity, it’s good to take a look at how the capacity is used. After all, what’s the point of a fridge freezer with plenty of room if the space isn’t used effectively?
A good fridge freezer should have plenty of storage options, with plenty of moveable shelves and drawers. Having these storage features helps to make it easy to store loads of food while also keeping it all organised. You won’t have to juggle tons of vegetables just to find a single pot of yoghurt!
Price
As you look through your options, you’ll likely notice the very different prices. The general rule is that the larger the fridge freezer is, and the more features it offers, the more expensive it will be.
You’ll want to strike a good balance between size and price. If you have a budget in mind, then you may have to choose a size accordingly. If you know that you need a truly large fridge freezer with space for a family’s worth of food, then we would recommend spending a little more. If you only need a slightly smaller fridge freezer, then you’ll want to spend a little less. What’s the point of spending more for a larger fridge if you won’t make full use of its capacity?
Energy Usage
When you’re browsing options, make sure to look out for the handy “Energy rating” stickers attached to each unit. These colour-coded charts help you to discern the energy efficiency of a given appliance. The more efficient a fridge freezer is, the less energy it will use.
Appliances are ranked on a scale from “A” to “G”. “A” is the highest possible ranking, while “G” is the lowest possible ranking. Wherever possible, you should try to look for a fridge freezer that ranks closer to “A”. “A”-rank appliances will be far more efficient, and use less energy. This is great for the continued health of the planet and will put a smile on your face when you see your lower energy bills.
Energy-efficient fridges may have a great upfront cost, but they can help to save you hundreds of pounds on your energy bills. They’re also great for the health of the environment!
You might find that energy-efficient fridge freezers come with a much higher upfront cost. However, you will easily make up this cost with money saved on your bills.
Modern Features
Much like many of our other favourite devices and appliances, fridge freezers are getting smarter by the day. If you want a fridge freezer that can perform a number of additional functions, you might want to consider spending a little more.
Fridge freezers can now do a number of awesome things. One of our favourite modern features of fridge freezers is auto-defrost. With auto defrost, you’ll never again have to spend hours on your knees, hacking away at built-up ice! The process works by periodically pumping warmer air through the freezer compartment, to melt built-up ice.
If convenience is king, then you might also want to opt for a fridge with water and ice dispensers, so that you can easily access ice cold refreshment without ever needing to open the door!
Extra features like holiday mode, which automatically adjusts energy usage while you are away for extended periods, are great for long-term use.
If you want a truly helpful fridge freezer, then it’s worth looking out for these features.
However, you’ll have to keep in mind that these extra features often result in a fridge freezer costing a lot more. Be sure to weigh up your options against your budget.
Noise Level
Many of us forget just how much noise a fridge freezer can make until it’s plugged in. Luckily, most major manufacturers will declare the decibel level of a specific fridge freezer so you can choose one with the perfect noise level.
Fridge freezers generally tend to range from 32dB to 47dB. Anywhere around 40dB is a comfortable noise level that won’t reach outside of your kitchen. Wherever possible, try to opt for a fridge freezer with the lowest decibel level for your peace of mind!
Fridge Freezer Type
There are all kinds of fridge freezers across the market. While we most often think of traditional freestanding fridge freezers, there are other variants like integrated, American, and French door fridge freezers that are worth considering. Let’s take a look at these variants!
Things To Consider When Buying A French Door Fridge Freezer?
What Is A French Door Fridge Freezer?
French door fridge freezers are incredibly popular in modern kitchens for the sense of elegance that they can bring to the room. These fridge freezers boast two doors that open from the centre, allowing for a wide central storage space.
Size
French door fridge freezers tend to be a lot bigger than traditional fridge freezers. They offer a lot more internal space, which means that the unit itself needs to be a lot larger. As such, if you want a French door fridge freezer, you’ll need to make sure you have plenty of space.
Space is also important when you consider the doors. You’ll need to be sure that there is space to the left and right of the unit, to allow both doors to open.
Price
French door fridge freezers naturally cost a lot more than traditional fridge freezers. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll have to carefully consider whether a French door fridge freezer is really right for you.
What Is An American-Style Fridge Freezer?
An American fridge freezer is often easily confused with a French door fridge freezer. While both types feature centre-parting doors, American fridge freezers situate the freezer compartment very differently.
While standard French door fridge freezers will place the fridge section directly above the freezer section, American fridge freezers will situate the freezer section directly next to the fridge section.
When looking for an American-style fridge freezer, you’ll again want to consider your space, for the two doors, as well as the price. American-style fridge freezers may offer a wealth of extra space, but they often have a much heftier price tag!
Things To Consider When Buying An Integrated Fridge Freezer?
What Is An Integrated Fridge Freezer?
Integrated fridge freezers are completely different from more traditional fridge freezers. Integrated fridge freezers are built into the various cabinets of the kitchen and often hidden behind a cabinet door that matches the rest of the kitchen’s aesthetic.
Integrated fridge freezers can be really useful for those who want to save a lot of floor space in the kitchen. These subtle fridge freezers stay out of sight and out of mind. However, in order to grab the perfect integrated fridge freezer, there are a few things that need to be considered.
Size
Of course, in order to fit an integrated fridge freezer into such a specific space, you’re going to need to make sure you find the perfect size.
The larger the fridge freezer is, the more difficult it will be to integrate it into your kitchen setup. You should also be sure to keep a close eye on your budget when choosing an integrated fridge freezer. The tougher the integration job, the more expensive the installation will be.
Chosen Space
Where exactly do you plan to install an integrated fridge freezer? Do you have an existing kitchen set-up that you will alter to accommodate the new unit? Perhaps you’re planning on fully renovating your kitchen space? Either way, you’ll need to carefully consider where you plan to install your new integrated fridge freezer.
Planning ahead of time will help to save you a lot of worry, and a lot of money. Be sure to find a spot that allows plenty of room for the fridge to do its thing. Make sure there is an adequate power supply nearby, and plenty of space for the fridge to ventilate warm air. And of course, you’ll want to make sure there’s plenty of space for you to open the door itself!
Design
If you are planning on installing an integrated fridge freezer, the design of the unit itself may not be too important to you. As such, you may be able to save some extra money by opting for a more simplistic design that can easily be integrated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Things To Consider When Buying A Fridge Freezer?
There are a number of things to consider when buying a brand-new fridge freezer. Most important is the size and capacity of the unit. You want a fridge freezer with plenty of storage, but you also want to make sure that there’s space for it! Make sure to also consider price, energy efficiency, and any other extra features as you look around. These may also be affected by the type of fridge freezer you choose.
What Is A Reasonable Life Of A Fridge Freezer?
A trusty fridge freezer can easily last more than ten years. However, in order for your fridge freezer to last this long, you’ll need to be sure that you take very good care of it. Be sure to perform frequent maintenance on the unit, and keep it clean and tidy whenever possible.
Is A 10 Year Old Refrigerator Worth Buying?
At ten years old, a refrigerator is reaching the end of its lifespan. While there may be a few more years left in an older fridge, it is always better to go for a brand-new fridge. While you might save more on upfront costs with an older fridge, it is more likely that you will have to replace it within just a few years.
How Do I Know If My Fridge Is Dying?
One of the best ways to tell if a fridge is dying is to listen out for strange noises. If your fridge is making loud buzzing noises or other strange sounds, then it is likely that it is running towards the end of its life. These sounds would likely be caused by a faulty motor.
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