Now that we’ve shared the detailed reviews of the top side-by-side refrigerators available on the market, we also want to give you a rundown of all the stuff you need to know before you make the final call.
Here is an in-depth guide to all the factors you need to consider when buying a side-by-side refrigerator.
1. Your frozen food consumption
This is important to consider before you decide to order a refrigerator. If you regularly consume more frozen food than fresh food or if you store meats and fish in large quantities, then you definitely need to consider a side-by-side refrigerator.
It offers a whole vertical cabinet on the left for storing frozen food. In most cases, if the small freezer in double-door refrigerators is not enough, people opt for a side-by-side refrigerator.
2. Premium Features
If you want a refrigerator with the latest technology and all the premium features, buying a side-by-side refrigerator would be your best bet.
They come loaded with sensors, smart connected features, highly efficient compressors, and all the latest technology that is not available in double-door refrigerators.
3. Space availability in your kitchen
Before you consider a side-by-side refrigerator, you need to carefully check the space available in your kitchen or dining area where you may want to place the fridge.
Side-by-side refrigerators are wider than regular refrigerators, as the freezer is a separate vertical compartment to the left. However, their height is slightly lower than double-door refrigerators.
Their width is around 90-100cm, and their height is around 170-180cm. Make sure that you have this much space and also a plug point nearby to place your refrigerator.
4. Storage Volume Needed
Side-by-side refrigerators have storage capacities varying from 500 to 800 liters. While 500 liters of space would be enough for a family of 5 or more people, you could go for a larger 800-liter refrigerator if there are 6 to 8 people in the family or if you need a large freezer with lots of storage space.
5. Energy Efficiency
There is currently no BEE rating for side-by-side refrigerators. However, most side-by-side are designed to be highly efficient and consume less than 1 unit of electricity per day.
When compared to the smaller single and double-door refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators consume more energy due to their larger storage capacity and also due to the fact that they are frost-free.
6. Compressor Types
Side-by-side refrigerators use the more new and advanced types of compressors. The two primary types of compressors used in these refrigerators include inverter compressors and reciprocator-type compressors.
Unlike regular compressors that start and shut off according to the refrigerator’s temperature, inverter compressors run continuously and adapt the cooling to the refrigerator’s requirements.
Although this means that it consumes more electricity, it also ensures that all areas in the refrigerator are uniformly cooled and your fresh produce does not get spoilt.
7. Fast Cooling & Freezing
Side-by-side refrigerators have advanced cooling systems. They are frost-free, and some even have twin cooling systems to avoid the mixing of odors between the freezer and refrigerator sections. Most of them come with Quick Cool and Quick Freeze features.
While quick cooling allows you to quickly cool down drinks or water for urgent consumption, quick freeze helps you make ice fast. Most quick freeze features will allow you to make ice in under an hour.
This can be a pretty handy feature, especially if you host parties or gatherings at your place when you frequently need a lot of ice for your guests’ drinks.
8. Advanced Cooling Modes
Being the hi-tech appliances that they are, side-by-side refrigerators do come with their own set of convenient cooling features in the form of modes. The most common one is the vacation mode.
In vacation mode, the refrigerator is set to consume a much lower amount of electricity and still keep your food fresh, as it knows that the refrigerator door will not be opened frequently. Such features help you save on your electricity bills and still prevent your canned food from spoiling when you go on vacation.
9. Touch Controls
This is one attractive feature of side-by-side refrigerators. They have touch controls on the outside of the refrigerator door. These have LED or LCD screens that display a lot of useful information about the refrigerator’s settings.
The touch controls allow you to adjust the temperature, activate different modes, and other useful functions.
10. Smart Sensors
Most side-by-side refrigerators come with an array of smart sensors fitted at specific points inside the refrigerator to constantly monitor the temperature, moisture, and other critical parameters inside the refrigerator.
The information from these sensors is used to constantly optimize cooling inside the refrigerator. This maintains uniform temperature and moisture in all areas of the refrigerator, ensuring that your food stays fresh and healthy for longer.
11. Connected Features
These days, the latest side-by-side refrigerators are equipped with smart connected features. Companies like LG even provide mobile apps so that you can monitor and control your fridge from anywhere in the world.
Connected features also help in troubleshooting. The refrigerator can analyze the problem it is facing, diagnose the problem, suggest solutions, and even contact the customer support call center for further help.
12. Multi Air Flow
Side-by-side refrigerators are frost-free and have a multi-air flow system. This allows it to circulate the cold air in all areas of the refrigerator by using a system of strategically placed fans and vents. Such a system ensures uniform temperature in every area inside the refrigerator. This preserves the freshness of food for longer and protects it from getting spoilt or emitting odor.
13. Separate fruit and vegetable boxes
Side-by-side refrigerators have large storage spaces, and they utilize this extra space by not only giving you a separate vertical freezer but also giving you two separate vegetable and fruit boxes. This keeps the odors from mixing and also ensures enough space for all your fresh produce.
14. Inbuilt Stabilizer
Side-by-side refrigerators have all the latest features, and they definitely do not miss this one. You should ensure that the model you are going for does not need a separate stabilizer.
While almost all side-by-side refrigerators come with inbuilt stabilizers, there are one or two exceptions, like one model from BPL that does not have this feature.
15. Compressor Warranty
Side-by-side refrigerators usually come with a 10-year compressor warranty. However. If the model of your choice does not have a 10-year warranty on the compressor. You should ensure that it has at least a 5-year warranty on the compressor.
16. Cost
Like any other purchase, cost is a critically important factor that needs to be considered when you buy a side-by-side refrigerator.
They are available at a wide range of prices, right, from 40,000 to even 2.8 lakhs, for some luxury models that come with LED screen TVs and internet browsing features!
Your goal should be to pick the best brand possible within your budget.