Refrigerator Education...The Big Payoff
Feb 01 '00
If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, there are several things you need to consider before you go shopping. Most people only consider the purchase price, but there are many other things you should think about. Did your old refrigerator meet your needs? Do you need more room or can you get by with less? Do you want an icemaker or water dispenser? By educating yourself on what to look for and what to avoid, you can safely make an informed decision and a wise purchase. Here are some guidelines that we suggest to our customers who contact my office looking for suggestions on how to purchase an appliance that is energy efficient.
Efficiency Is Crucial
The refrigerator is the only appliance in your home that never stops running, so finding a model that is the most efficient should be your top priority. On all new refrigerators you can find a big yellow sticker on the front that will aid you on this quest. This sticker is an Energy Guide and it will show you the annual operating costs of the appliance based on a national average of the cost of an electrical kilowatt-hour. The national average is somewhere around 8.44 cents. Your local costs will differ, but for the sake of comparison, you can still use this Energy Guide as a comparison tool. It’s important to remember that this Energy Guide will tell you how efficiently a product is capable of running, not how it will run. Your personal habits can greatly affect its efficiency.
Size and Style
The most efficient, common design is the two-door overhead freezer model. It is also the least expensive and offers the most in the way of extra features. Side-by-side units are nice because they offer both the freezer and refrigerator compartments at eye level, but you lose space. These models also take up to 35% more electricity to run as compared to top mount models. A less popular style has the freezer on the bottom, and although you have easy access to refrigerator shelves, this model along with the side-by-side, are more expensive to purchase and run.
The most expensive refrigerators are the “built in” models. They are usually custom designed to match the décor of a kitchen and to blend in with cupboards. One flaw with their design is that there is usually poor air circulation around the coils and they are hard to clean.
Thermostat Controls
If possible, look for models with separate temperature controls for the freezer and refrigerator, as this can save you money. Look for energy saving settings that enable you to turn off features such as moisture savers. Use the settings to maximize the efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Automatic Defrost
Automatic defrost is a common feature in new refrigerators that will save you the trouble of defrosting it yourself. If you’ve ever had to struggle with defrosting, you’ll LOVE this feature. It works by internal heaters that melt frost and evaporate the water after the compressor has run for a set number of hours. My very first refrigerator (a lovely avocado green number from the 70’s) did not have auto defrost and I spent many hours chipping away ice chunks in the freezer compartment. I am so thankful those days are over!
Shelves
This feature is usually not considered until you have your new refrigerator home from the store and you try to put all of your things back into it. While still at the store, try removing and rearranging the shelves. Will tall soda bottles fit in the door and is the shelf deep enough for a large turkey? Are the shelves easily removable? Some models have tempered glass, which will confine spills to a single shelf. If you have kids, this may be a feature that you’ll find attractive.
Insulation and Seals
Check the level of insulation in the manufacturers specifications. This will be a number preceded by an “R-“ which indicates the resistance to heat transfer (such as “R-9”). The rule here is that the higher the number the better insulated the unit is and the less the compressor will have to run to keep it cool. Also check the seals around the door to make sure that they seal all the way around the door once it’s closed.
In Conclusion
I realize that for most of us, shopping for a major appliance is kind of like a visit to the dentist. It’s not an activity that we relish, but it’s a necessary event at one time or another in our life. Being prepared with facts and knowledge can help you to save your money…and your sanity.
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