Picking a New Refrigerator for Your Family

A New Refrigerator for Your Family Home

There is no doubt, refrigerators are much more than they used to be. So, if it’s time to buy a new refrigerator for your family, you have many options. Gulf Coast Appliance has put together a guide for picking a new refrigerator for your family. You’ll be surprised to find below all the options you can choose from.

New Technology for Your Home

Believe it or not, refrigerators now have a feature where you can see your groceries without even going through the fridge. And, you can grab drinks from a separate door without opening the entire fridge. They call this a door-in-door design to ensure all your food stays cool and it saves energy, too. 

There are also features where you can enjoy specialty ice like cubed, crushed, or cocktail, along with filtered water right from outside the door. 

A favorite is the refrigerator drawer that you can pull out separately from everything else. Easily find cold drinks, kid-friendly to-go snacks, and chilled wine. Honestly, it’s very spacious so put whatever is convenient for you and your family.

This new refrigerator guide will help you choose the type of refrigerator you want for your family. You can find information about designs and storage space and help to find the best model for your family and kitchen.

In addition, you’ll find a pro and con list of each type of refrigerator, style options, information about energy labels, and more in the paragraphs below.

Top Trends in Refrigeration

You may think of something other than refrigerators when you think of a high-tech and trendy item. Yet manufacturers continue to change the ways refrigerators are made. There is even a GE model that makes a refrigerator with French doors that has a built-in coffee maker. Many other refrigerator manufacturers have picked up on the trend of creating the door-in-door refrigerator feature that we mentioned above. One popular feature is the small outside door over the fresh food storage space that can be opened to grab those to-go food and drinks.

Then, LG has made refrigerator models that have a window so you can see what’s inside your fridge without having to get up and go through it or even open the door. With some of their models, you will also get notifications if the door has been left open. Another great feature is that the refrigerator has a camera where you can view the inside of your fridge while you’re shopping. Clearly, the LG boasts plenty of new technology but you also have traditional features, like a water dispenser and ice maker. Except with this, the ice maker can make craft ice that you can use for cocktails, cubed ice for everyday drinks, or crushed ice if that’s your preference.

Samsung refrigerators have made a touchscreen design with side-by-side French doors. This refrigerator also comes complete with apps available to find recipes, play music, order groceries, and you can even watch TV while controlling it all from other smart home devices. Other models have an added feature with Wi-Fi connectivity compatible with your smartphone, allowing you to change the fridge settings remotely.

Reality Check

If your refrigerator doesn’t have any of these features or you don’t feel interested in them, don’t feel left out. Only 2% of Americans that own a refrigerator have it connected to the Internet. In comparison, an additional 4% of Americans own a smart refrigerator that’s not connected to the Internet.

Consumer preference for refrigerator configuration—at least regarding CR members. Recent refrigerator surveys state, “French doors make up 64 percent of new refrigerators purchased in 2020 and the first half of 2021, with side-by-sides at 20 percent, bottom freezers at 6 percent, and top freezers and built-ins at 5 percent each.”

Choosing a Style of Refrigerator for Your Family

Think about the different features we mentioned above in new styles of refrigerators; even if those don’t sound appealing to you, there’s a refrigerator that fits every household. Some buyers prefer easy access to bottom freezers allowing fresh foods to be at your eye level. 

French door refrigerators also seem to be trendy, but it’s because of their high aesthetic. Yet smaller side-by-side refrigerators may be best if you are in a narrow space.

Top Freezer Refrigerators

Refrigerators with a top freezer can best fit two to three people. They have less storage than other refrigerators and freezers. This is also a cheaper option and is also cheaper to operate. Yet, it is very energy efficient, according to the US Department of Energy. “Refrigerators with top freezers use 10 to 25% less energy than ones with bottom freezers.”

The Pros

• Works well in small spaces
• Affordability
• Energy efficient
• Large use of refrigerator
• Easy access to the freezer

The Cons

• There are no added technology features
• Fewer options for organizing
• It may not be appealing to a modern kitchen
• It does not feature an ice or water dispenser

Bottom Freezer Refrigerators

Having a bottom freezer is where the upgrades start to come in. Most of your storage will be in the refrigerator’s freezer and drawer space. With an upgrade like this, you get smart features with easy access to your stored goods at eye level. This refrigerator can also be organized and have an impactful design.

The Pros

• Sleek design
• Adequate size for average size families
• Easy access to food that’s at eye and shoulder level
• Stackable function in the freezer
• Ample amount of space in the freezer and refrigerator

The Cons

• Pricey option
• Food can be misplaced
• Harder access to food
• It uses more energy to run

Refrigerators with French Doors

French door refrigerators are similar to a French armoire. It has two side-by-side doors on the top, typically one drawer in the middle and a bottom freezer drawer. 

Having an open-concept design lets you store away large bulky items that you typically wouldn’t be able to put away. Think of large fruit bowls, pizza boxes, and packs of soda. This kind of refrigerator has been one of the most popular high-end kitchens for over a decade.

The Pros

• Adjustable shelves while also being wide
• A sleek and modern look
• More extensive storage options for your freezer

The Cons

• Higher price point
• It is not the most energy efficient
• It is not suitable for small kitchens

Refrigerators with Side-by-Side Doors

Refrigerators with side-by-side doors will save you space in your kitchen by having the freezer in a separate door and then your fridge on the other in a different door. Side-by-side refrigerators are less extravagant than French-door refrigerators. Still, they offer you certain features like the French doors with convenient ice and water dispensers on the outside.

The Pros

• It possesses a simple look
• Works well in small spaces
• No hassle of bending over into the freezer
• Less room prevents overcrowding

The Cons

• Less space in your refrigerator and freezer
• Fewer design options
• Narrow space, reducing the amount of storage you have
• It does not feature any intelligent home apps.
• It may not be the best option for larger families.

Built-In Refrigerators

In well-designed kitchens, you’ll typically find built-in refrigerators. They definitely take the center of attention even if you don’t spot them right away. The main focus of these refrigerators is minimalism. Most people with these refrigerators focus on something other than the price as it sits flush with their cabinetry.

When built-in refrigerators are installed, they can stick out as far as 10 inches from your cabinets. Yet you will still see flat sides, clean lines, and angles in all the right places. That’s just a few of their beautiful features.

Most built-in refrigerators are finished in stainless steel. They can also be paneled if they do not have a stainless-steel finish. Then, your cabinet designer can create panels that go on the front of the refrigerator so that it looks like it’s entirely built into your cabinets.

The Pros

• Energy Star efficient
• Higher quality than most refrigerators
• Heightens your kitchen design and space
• Expected to last longer than other refrigerators

The Cons

• It does not have a profound depth of design.
• The appliance may be too large for your kitchen.
• It is one of the more expensive options.

Have You Decided on a New Refrigerator for Your Family?

Once you’ve decided on what refrigerator to purchase, remember to measure the space where you plan to put the unit. Yes, retailers usually offer a return option because of improper fits, but they may impose a restocking fee.

There are a lot of different sizes and capacities of refrigerators, so always measure where you plan on putting it before you go shopping for one. Most refrigerator models range from 24 to 36 inches.

Another thing to remember is to measure the width and height of any doorways you bring the appliance through.

To find the best fit, measure your counter depths.

Expert Appliance Care and a New Refrigerator for Your Family

Now that you have read the best way to pick in your refrigerator for your family reach out to Gulf Coast Appliance Repair for all your home installations and repairs. Gulf Coast has been serving Pinellas County for over ten years now. They are more than pleased to be the coast’s favorite experts for all your appliance needs.