Buying a Fridge? | Fridge Buying Guide
Thinking of buying a fridge in South Africa? Here are tips on buying a refrigerator in South Africa. But first, some basic information about fridges in general.
Refrigerators stay connected through-out the day. Therefore, they use up more energy than most household appliances. Good maintenance practices will save on fridge repairs.
Especially bigger fridges, which tend to use more energy than smaller ones.
Thankfully, recent milestones in the industry in areas of insulation and compressor technology, there is much less energy usage than before.
We look at what to consider when buying a fridge.
Think about the space available when buying a fridge
The size of your desired fridge should fit into the space you have available.
It is therefore important to measure the dimensions of your old unit, if you are looking at replacement. If it is a completely new buy, measure the space where you need to place your cooling unit. In the case of a kitchen island, measure how much clearance you have to open the fridge doors or walk past the fridge.
As you take the sizes, also think about the path a delivery person will take in order to get to the location of choice. This will prevent any unexpected issues in moving from vehicle into the kitchen. Make sure the door won’t hit an island or a wall. Some might find it useful to take a picture of existing space and compare as you open the doors in the shop.
Brands To Consider When Buying a Fridge
Consider brands that offer energy saving models
Brands and models that have an energy rating will help you save on energy.
If maintenance cost is a huge factor as it normally is, then you definitely need to check energy rating.
Also, freezer location may also influence the energy usage of a fridge.
Because storage space is one of the factors to consider when purchasing a refrigerator, it is important to consider the position of the freezer, which has an impact on storage space.
Top freezers – They have less storage space and are usually basic in function. They are cheaper and quite ideal for small kitchen and tight budget.
Bottom freezer – slightly larger sizes than top freezers. These are more modern, stylish and have bigger space. The downside is that one has to bend down to reach for food in the freezer.
Although more expensive than the top freezer, they are still cheaper than French door models
Other Designs
Side-by-side – The two qualities of space and extra features share the limelight on side-by-side fridges.
Their doors are narrower and longer and they bring in the convenience of an eye level platform to use.
Clearly, if you have a narrow kitchen this is definitely an option
French door – A mix of side-by-side and bottom freezer models which can be found in many colors and finish options
French doors offer more space and have a very pleasant eye appeal. If you looking for extra features and large size, this one is ideal for you. Good things come at a cost, so the French door fridge will take more from your pocket than the other options.
Extras can include ice makers, water dispensers, flex drawers, dual evaporators and smart home applications
Style and finish for your home’s décor
Finish options for refrigerators are:
Stainless
Black stainless steel
Plain black or white – these basic colours are cheaper and easy to blend with most home décor’.
SMEG also brings in other colour variations, and as a matter of fact, SMEG appliances are trending these days.
Summary
- Space available
- Style and finish
- Budget allocations/constraints
- Food storage space you need
- Choice of features
- Defrosting options
