What to look for when choosing a refrigerator

Sooner or later, each person will definitely think about how to choose a refrigerator. For nearly 90 years, this unit has remained an indispensable and absolutely indispensable item in every home.

Unequivocally say which refrigerator is better - it is impossible. It all depends on the weight of the parameters and preferences of the buyer. And, given the rather big price tag, the choice of the refrigerator turns into a serious and long-term event.

Purpose and types

This is what you need to think about first thing in order to choose a good refrigerator that is most suitable for specific conditions. Where will such equipment be located, what kind of work will it have to perform, what should it be dimensions, power etc.The further course of the choice will depend on the answers to these questions. There are domestic, industrial refrigerators, as well as, for example, those that are designed for trading rooms (showcases). There are also embedded models.

There are one-, two-, three-compartment refrigerators, as well as the so-called Side-by-side.

Single Chamber Apparatuses - very small. They are often very narrow and low. The “freezer” in them is quite modest. This is a good option if the apartment is tiny and more space is simply impossible to allocate. Such devices like to buy people who rent apartments for rent - so you can save on a more expensive unit. And most often it is the single-chamber refrigerators that can be found in hotel rooms. Height is about 85-160 cm, width is 55 cm. Depth is standard, 60 cm.

Two-compartment refrigerators today are the most common. The freezer compartment here can be located both above and below. But it would be more logical if the refrigerator is still above the “freezer” in order to always be in front of the person who opens the door. And people usually get frozen food less often than chilled.

Three-compartment refrigerators are in very limited demand. They differ from their “brethren” with two doors in that they have a so-called freshness zone. The temperature in it is maintained at a level from zero to +2 degrees, which is great for perishable products, which, however, do not want to be frozen.

Side by side - real monsters in the world of home refrigerators. However, they are used in restaurants. These giants have two vertical doors. Their width is up to 100 cm, and their height is up to 180 cm. Such impressive dimensions make it possible to put quite a few products, for example, for a large family. But, of course, not all rooms will be able to accommodate this “beast”.

Control type

For quite a long time there were no controls on the refrigerators at all. Later, they still appeared and were at the beginning only mechanical. This is usually a small drum that regulates the temperature inside. The instruction manual indicates how this indicator should be set up - usually, taking into account the ambient temperature.

If the refrigerator is two-compartment, then such adjustment may be separate.

Electronic control is usually made in the form of touch buttons and LEDs. It is unlikely to provide greater accuracy compared to mechanical, rather, it is a design element. Many manufacturers have refrigerators with both types of controls on sale. There is a difference in price (“mechanics” is cheaper), but it is not very large.

Type of defrosting

Refrigerator almost all modern devices has automatic defrosting. But with the freezer options are possible. Refrigerators are still being produced, where this procedure should be performed manually about once a year — turn off the power supply, pull out all the contents, drain the water that has formed and wipe all entrails. This is not very time consuming, but time consuming and costly. Therefore, it makes sense to pay extra and buy a refrigerator with a convenient system. No frost (dry microclimate without frost). In this case, defrosting takes place on its own and without human intervention.

There is also defrost drip system (on the back wall of the device, ice particles are formed, which periodically melt and drip drop by drop into a special tank) andFull no frost (the evaporator has a separate system of thawing, frost is formed exclusively on it).

Refrigerators with drip defrost are economy class and are cheaper than No Frost and Full no Frost.

Design and manufacturer

But design is definitely a matter of taste. It is worth assessing how the refrigerator will fit into the surroundings. If you wish, you can decorate it yourself (stickers, magnets, decoupage).

In the post-Soviet space, there are manufacturers of refrigerators that have managed to gain a foothold in the market, despite the economic turmoil, and successfully work by promoting their brand. This is Saratov and Atlant. Of course, the Donetsk Nord stopped work not so long ago, but until recently its products were considered to be very high-quality, although outdated.

The older Lithuanian brand Snaige has been known to buyers since the times of the Soviet Union. The rest of the manufacturing companies began to supply their refrigerators in our region relatively recently. The most popular and famous ones are Indesit, Samsung, LG, Liebherr and many others.

Choosing a refrigerator for the brand alone is not the best idea. Although many have their own preferences.

Again, if we talk about being a fridge what brand is the most reliable, it is impossible to give a definite answer. All go about "in step". Moreover, longevity is deliberately reduced today - and this is a general trend in the world.

How to choose the refrigerator, it is, of course, you need to know. But what company should be avoided - another common question for buyers, but now there are simply no such brands. The advice of the master could help, which repairs such a technique - but everyone here says that it doesn’t fit in with the words of other servicemen. Of course, you can identify the drawbacks typical of some models. For example, a product of one brand over time cracks the seal, another may have a slightly less reliable compressor, and somewhere there are problems with defrosting.

It happens that a certain brand has better small units, and the other one, on the contrary, specializes more on side-by-side.

There are people for whom it is very important when choosing things, including the refrigerator for the house, not only the logo, but also producing country. Each firm tries to locate production closer to potential markets, as well as on the basis of other factors (transport routes, labor costs, tax laws, etc.).

Currently, Indesit supplies low-cost refrigerators to the markets of the CIS countries, primarily from the Russian plant, Samsung - mainly from Poland. More expensive appliances are usually imported from Western European countries (for example, the Bosch brand is still represented in our market by German refrigerators).

In fact, very little depends on the location of the plant - that is, one cannot say that, for example, if you want to buy a refrigerator, then the German or Korean are the most reliable, and the Chinese - often break. The main thing when choosing is not where the assembly areas are geographically located, but the presence of this enterprise multistage quality control. Well, reputable companies are certainly engaged in such control, otherwise their reputation will suffer.

Of course, you need to read reviews and listen to the opinions of others before buying a refrigerator. But do not take absolutely everything on faith, because some reviews may be paid for. In any case, the advice of other users helps to identify the weak points of a refrigerator.This is not always told sales consultants in supermarkets of household appliances, recommending the purchase of a particular device. Although listening to a sales expert is also helpful. You can also apply to relatives, because their advice, unlike the staff of stores, is unlikely to have an economic benefit. This survey will help find out which brand of refrigerator is better and more popular.

You need to understand that people write reviews, if they do not like something, to complain to others. It is unlikely that the person who bought the refrigerator will write something like “I love this brand, I advise everyone”. He will just enjoy.

Energy class

If you need a refrigerator that will consume a small amount of electricity, pay attention to the appropriate class. It is indicated in Latin letters and is usually written either on the device itself or in the passport of the object. The most economical device is class A +++. What goes farther in alphabetical order is models with high power consumption.

Noise level

When choosing, pay attention to the noise level. You want the refrigerator to work almost silently? Recommended figure - no higher than 45 dB. True, such models are much more expensive than noisy ones.

Number and type of compressors

There are models on the market with one and two compressors. The second case is like two separate, independent refrigerators, but in one case. That is, one compressor serves only the refrigerating chamber, and the other only the freezer. This allows you to achieve higher reliability, in addition to finely and separately regulate the temperature in the chambers and turn them off separately if necessary. The downside is the high price, which, when buying, repels many potential consumers.

The important point is also compressor type:

• Linear - quickly cools the camera to the desired temperature, turning on / off without unnecessary noise and vibration.
• Inverter - does not turn off at all, but simply reduces the speed of power, maintaining the specified temperature.

Experts recommend buying a refrigerator with an inverter type compressor, as it is more economical and durable in operation.

Additional functions

The more sophisticated the refrigerator, the higher its cost. Decide for yourself how much you are ready to pay for the additional functions in the form:

• super-freezing;
• antibacterial protection;
• door open indicator;
• turbo cooling;
• Fuzzi Logic sensor system (dotted direction of cold air flow).

Expensive models can even warn of power surges and changes in temperature.

Organization of the refrigerator

When deciding which refrigerator to choose, you should definitely pay attention on the internal organization of space. Shelves can be made of various materials. Choose tempered glass and special types of plastics (these are the most reliable options). Lattice shelves are found on outdated refrigerators, but this solution is not the best.

The shelves must be easily removable, and the distance between them is adjustable. Usually, special grooves in the walls are made for this. And keep in mind that the compartment for bottles can significantly save space.

On the back of the door are small shelves of different lengths. Well, if they can be removed and rearranged. A special egg holder has become the standard today - it is even difficult to buy a modern refrigerator without it.

That's all: and everyone is free to choose exactly the model that seems to him the most suitable!