Home Building - How to Choose a Refrigerator
Don't get sidetracked by all the gadgetry available for refrigerators, because the purpose of this storage appliance is to keep your food fresh, beverages cold and ice box chilled. When you look at each model, check out the amount of free space, accessibility and special (practical) features. The biggest difference between most models is the amount of cubic footage. The rule of thumb is that a family of two needs 8 to 10 cubic feet of storage space and that you should add 1 cubic foot for each additional family member - however, if you're the type that likes to always have a stocked refrigerator you may want to increase the cubic feet right off the bat.
Check out features that will keep your food the freshest, like having separate temperature and humidity controls for different compartments and separate refrigerator and freezer compressors. If you want an ice and water dispenser, keep in mind that you'll be losing valuable storage space.
There are three basic models: a top freezer with bottom refrigerator, bottom freezer with top refrigerator and side-by-side freezer and refrigerator. The top-freezer model is the least expensive and tends to be the most roomy, while a bottom-freezer allows easier access to the refrigerator but it's not available with a built-in ice-and-water dispenser. The side-by-side offers easier (but narrower) access to both compartments and isn't as energy efficient. Special features are plentiful when it comes to refrigerators. You can get shelves that adjust, slide, crank and are spill-proof; interior wine racks, ice and water dispensers, refreshment centers (you can access drinks and goodies without opening the main door), beepers to alert you when the door is open, humidity-controlled crispers, night lights, deodorizers and much, much more. Top-freezer models cost about $600-$900; $900-$1500 for a bottom-freezer; $1000-$2000 for a freestanding side-by-side; and $3,500 to $5,000 for a built-in. Whirlpool offers a wide variety of refrigerators. The sleek design of the refrigerator featured above fits flush with kitchen counters for a streamlined look, without sacrificing capacity.
SpecialtyIf you're looking for something special you might want to check out separate cold storage units such as wine chillers, undercounter refrigerators, drawer refrigerators and ice makers.
Related Tags: home, how, to, choose, building, a, refrigerator
The House Designers award winning residential house plans, architectural home designs, floor plans, blueprints and house plans will make your dream home a reality! Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Home Repair Articles - Handyman - Cut Costs and Learn to DIY
In the middle of avid do-it-yourselfers and those who insist on calling a professional lies the terr - Home Repair Articles - Be Your Own Roofing Contractor - Get Up There And Stop The Leak Before It Ruins Your House
When it rains, it pours - in your living room. This is not good! If you've got water coming in, even - Home Improvement Articles - How Do Wood Fireplace Inserts Work?
First-time homebuyers and those who have lived in homes without a fireplace may be unfamiliar with w - Home Improvement Articles - A Denver Wood Burning Fireplace Makes Your Home Ready For Winter
Denver homeowners are enjoying the sunny warm weather of summer, but not very long from now winter's - Home Improvement Articles - What's Hot in Direct Vent Fireplaces?
Are you looking for a direct vent fireplace? Then you've likely spent some time searching on - Home Repair Articles - Boiler Installation Tips And Advice
If you feel that the time has come to upgrade your boiler to a newer more energy efficient design th - Home Repair Articles - The Correct And Safe Way For Boiler Installation
During this economy crisis it is very important to understand various ways on how to be more conserv - Home Repair Articles - Deciding On That French Home Accessories
Whether one is designing a home for the first time or simply redecorating, there are a lot of option - Home Repair Articles - Creating The Perfect French Atmosphere With The Right French Home Accessories
Not a lot of people prefer the French style these days. Modern designs are presently more preferred - Home Repair Articles - The Benefits From The Combi Boilers
Heating units or boilers that are installed in many houses in Britain this days are combi. The combi
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Kitchen Heating is Essential for Every Home
In every kitchen there is a problem if the room temperature or the water temperature is below comfor - Properly Installed Do it Yourself Gutters
There's not much glamour in gutter systems, but when properly installed, they do a great job of dire - Alarm Systems - Feeling Safe
In 1858, a man named Edwin Holmes, invented the first burglar alarm system. It was a simple device c - What to Do Before You Build a Fireplace
Fireplaces are found in homes across the world in all countries that witness severe cold during the - Aluminium Fences Are Both Beautiful and Practical
Once upon a time, people were concerned only about the safety and security of their homes and hence - New Ideas for Wooden Decks
Many people today prefer homes which provide space to lounge around and have a very casual and a ver - Don't Fall Into "the Money Pit" During your Home Remodeling Project
One of the funniest movies I ever saw was "The Money Pit" starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. They - Do it Yourself Concreting and Concrete Resurfacing
There are many low-pressure crack injection kits which come with simple instructions so the homeowne - How to build an outdoor kitchen
Like most major outdoor fixtures, this will take twice as much work as its indoor counterpar - Types of light bulbs
There are several different types of light fixtures and usually these will vary based on the
