Efficiency
Look for EnergyGuide and
Energy Star labels as basic guide. Despite advancements in design, refrigerators will always use a fair amount of energy simply because of the fact that they are on all the time. On average, close to 20% of your
power bill is the cost of running your refrigerator.
Capacity
Remember to take hard look at space inside the
refrigerator, and not just rely on the manufacturer's stated capacity - capacity and actual usable space can be quite different. But as a baseline guide, you'll need approximately 4 to 6 cubic feet of storage per adult in your residence.
Customizable bins and shelves
You can move these to create room to fit tall items. Many come with easy-clean surfaces and ridges to prevent spills from spreading throughout the refrigerator. Elevator shelves can be raised and lowered without having to move any items. Full-extension drawers and pull-out shelves offer greater access to storage. Split shelves are able to be set at individual heights. Some units offer sliding brackets to secure bottles and jars, and even wine racks. Drawers that have independent temperature controls allow you to more effectively store specific food items.
Refrigerator colors
Color, of course, will have no bearing on performance, but finding a refrigerator that fits the style of your kitchen is an important characteristic for most people, and manufacturers continue to expand their palettes. Some common fridge colors include:
stainless steel,
black,
white,
red, and bisque.
Multimedia refrigerators
Some manufacturers are have gone so far as to offer refrigerator models that feature small LCD televisions and hookups for music devices. Save yourself thousands and purchase an MP3 player.
Through-the-door water and ice dispenser
Consumers love this feature. Just be aware that units that have
ice and water dispensers are by far more frequently in need of repair.
Refrigerator water filters
Water filters reduce lead, chlorine, and other pollutants.
Refrigerator Price Ranges
Side-by-side refrigerators
A good sized side-by-side model with a capacity of about 24.5 cu. ft from a reputed manufacturer will fall in the $1900 - $2500 range.
Whirlpool,
GE,
Frigidiare,
KitchenAid
and others all have excellent side-by-side models to choose from.
Need a small refrigerator but would like a side-by-side model? You can get one for less than $1000 from a top manufacturer like Whirlpool, GE or Frigidaire.
Compact top-freezer models
For those of you who want a compact model with a top-frezer
the choices are many. You can get a 3.31 cu. ft. compact top freezer model in the
$100-$250 range.
You can find a 24.6 cubic foot top-freezer model with an ice maker
should fall in the price range of $1300 to $2500.
Compact refrigerators with or without freezer compartments
Have basic cooling and freezing needs and feel a small compact model is enough?
You can get compact refrigerator for around $50- $100.
Bottom-freezer models
Compact bottom-freezer prices start around $500, and larger models can cost as much as
$1200 or depending on the features you choose.
High-end models
For $5000 and more you'll find feature-rich and aesthetically stunning side-by-side, top freezer,
bottom freezer, and built-in models.
Specialty refrigerators
Many top manufacturers offer specialty
refrigerators meant for specific purposes, like wine coolers, beverage dispensers
and commercial refrigerators that cater to specific needs. Wine cellars are available
from as low as $170- $200 for a 28 bottle cooler to high end models that can have
a cooling capacity of 5 cu. ft. and cost around $1000- $1200.
Commercial refrigerators that may be either beverage coolers or beverage dispensers
are available in sizes ranging from 2.5 cu. ft. to 24. 5 cu. ft.
Consumers can choose see-through doors to enable the refrigerators to double as display units.
Leading Refrigerator Manufacturers