Refrigerator Buying Guide: We would also like to give you a detailed breakdown of the points to understand and remember when purchasing a refrigerator for your home. We will cover not only the different types of refrigerators that are available in the market today but also their myriad list of capacities, energy ratings, features, and how they affect the performance of the refrigerator.
Types of Refrigerators
Here is a brief rundown of types of refrigerators according to their basic layout and number of doors.
1. Single-door refrigerators
These are your typical small to medium-volume refrigerators with a single door at the front. They are usually the most affordable type of refrigerators in the market.
The one shortcoming is that the freezer compartment is not directly accessible and is normally housed in a small sub-compartment inside the main compartment.
However, with more and more feature-rich single-door models being launched in the market, these are now adequate for most small families of 2 to 3 people in India.
2. Double-door refrigerators
These are the larger cousins of single-door refrigerators that come with two doors. One is a large storage section at the bottom for regular items, and two is a freezer section at the top, which is much larger than those in single-door models.
Double-door refrigerators generally also sport more premium features, such as toughened glass shelves and inverter compressor technologies, but they also come at a higher price point.
Owing to their large storage space, they are good for a family of 3 to 4 people.
3. Side-by-side refrigerators
If two doors are placed side by side like a cupboard, a much larger storage volume, and the latest tech features are on your radar, then side-by-side refrigerators are the ones you should be looking at.
These comprise the more premium end of the refrigerator market and usually come loaded with the latest features, from LED displays to smart connected features, albeit at steep price points.
These can comfortably store food for a family of up to 6 people.
4. French door refrigerators
These are not the most popular refrigerators in the market; however, they are a lifesaver for those with huge storage needs.
French door refrigerators come with four doors. Some are structured in such a way that they have side-by-side doors at the top as well as a separate freezer compartment at the bottom.
These are usually the most expensive of the lot, but they come with the largest storage spaces. These are recommended for a family of 5 to 8 people.
5. Triple-door refrigerators
These, too, belong to the more premium section of the market. As the name suggests, they come with three doors.
These are basically your double-door refrigerator with an additional door at the bottom for veggies, thus making the door count three. Hence, they are called triple-door refrigerators.
It provides the additional convenience of keeping the cold air in by providing easy access to the freezer as well as the vegetable basket. Another plus is that the three different odors also do not mix.
6. Bottom-mounted refrigerators
Bottom-mounted refrigerators also come with two doors. However, the arrangement is different from regular double-door refrigerators owing to the fact that the freezer compartment is at the bottom instead of being at the top.
So, the bottom compartment is for freezing, and the top compartment is for regular food. This layout reduces stress on your back as you don’t have to bend over again and again to access veggies, etc.
This makes for a smart choice and is good for a family of up to 4 people.
How much storage capacity do you need?
This is another critical storage factor for you to consider before buying a refrigerator. A variety of capacities are available in all the different refrigerator types.
The best way to measure your need is to determine the number of people in your house for whom the refrigerator will be used. Here is a quick chart to help you estimate your need:
As the chart explains, 2 to 3 Family Members: 150 – 250 Litres, 3 to 4 Family Members: 250 – 350 Litres, 4 to 6 Family Members: 300 – 550 Litres, 6+ Family Members: 550 – 800+ Litres, you should choose your refrigerator according to your family members.
An important point to remember for young couples is that most refrigerators from well-known brands easily last for 10 years or more. Hence, before you calculate the capacity you need, do not forget to consider the fact that you may be planning to have one, two, or more children in the near future. So, you may need to calculate your requirements accordingly.
Related: How to Measure Fridge Dimensions?
Types of Defrosting Mechanisms
One important factor to consider before making your purchase decision is the defrosting mechanism that a refrigerator offers. Not only does this affect convenience and the pricing of a refrigerator, but it also affects power consumption.
The two defrosting mechanisms available for refrigerators include:
1. Direct Cool
Direct cool refrigerators are those that have to be manually defrosted periodically in order to avoid frost build-up.
Although this is an added hassle in your life in order to prolong the life of your refrigerator, the hidden benefit of this is that direct cool refrigerators consume less energy.
So, you will save on the electricity bill since direct cool refrigerators use the natural convection method of cooling food inside your refrigerator.
2. Frost Free
Frost-free refrigerators are those which do not allow frost to build up inside the refrigerator at all. This gives you more peace of mind and ensures the longevity of the refrigerator as well.
However, this convenience comes at a cost, as frost-free refrigerators consume more energy than direct-cool refrigerators. Frost-free refrigerators use electric fans to circulate the air inside the fridge.
Frost-free features are available in more high-end refrigerators and are usually not available in single-door models.
Related: Direct-Cool Vs. Frost-Free Refrigerators
Energy Rating of Refrigerators
In India, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is the government-appointed body that rates the energy efficiency of appliances using its star rating system.
This works in such a way that 5-star rated refrigerators are the most energy efficient in their category, and the lower the star rating, the less energy efficiency.
One might question here why people shouldn’t only buy 5-star rated refrigerators. The simple answer is that making a refrigerator energy efficient involves using efficient compressors, better insulation, etc., which adds to the cost of the fridge, making it more expensive.
Hence, although 5-star rated refrigerators are more energy efficient, they are more expensive than others. However, lower-rated refrigerators can make you pay later on in the form of electricity bills.
Therefore, consider your budget and your needs and choose wisely. This is why the BEE system is essential to guide you in your quest to find an energy-efficient refrigerator.
Related: How To Improve Refrigerator’s Efficiency?
Important Features of a Refrigerator
These days, all refrigerators come packed with a ton of displayed features to attract buyers. However, you need to know what those catchy marketing phrases mean before you choose the fridge you need. Here are the top ten most commonly available features you should be looking at when you make the purchase decision:
1. Shelves
The two commonly available types of shelves in refrigerators include:
Wired shelves: These are built using a mesh of wires. They are usually available in economical, lower-end models and are not built to withstand a lot of weight. These also tend to easily get bent out of shape.
Toughened glass shelves: These are built using toughened or tempered glass and are available in the more premium segment of refrigerators. These are preferable as they can withstand 50-100 kgs or even more weight and are more durable than wired shelves.
These are available in the top-end models and are built using super strong tempered glass. Some can withstand up to 175kgs or more. Shelves in a fridge don’t get better and more durable than these.
Apart from the build quality, you should also check to see if the shelves are adjustable or not. Adjustable shelves allow you to increase or decrease the height of compartments and offer more flexibility, allowing you to store a variety of items of different shapes and sizes.
Bottle racks are another storage feature you should check out, especially to see if they can accommodate those large 2-litre soft drink bottles or not. If not, it can be a hassle to store those 2-liter jumbo packs.
2. Ice Making & Ice Dispenser
The ice-making capabilities of a refrigerator are critically important, especially in the summer months. Ice-making technologies these days enable refrigerators to make ice in under an hour.
Such a feature can be very convenient if you are the type of person who doesn’t always remember to keep water in the ice trays. When you get back home after a long day’s work and want a chilled beverage, fast-ice-making features in your refrigerator can be a lifesaver!
Such a feature can be available inside a special quick-freeze compartment inside your freezer compartment or in the general ice-making area in your freezer as well.
Apart from making ice, the ice dispenser’s mechanism in your refrigerator can also make it quite a hassle to access those ice cubes. This is why many models come with easy-ice dispensers to give you quick and easy access to ice cubes.
3. Types of Compressors
The regular compressors available in most refrigerators are sufficient for daily usage; however, since they run at a constant speed, there are no power savings associated with them. However, inverter compressors can offer power savings as well.
An inverter compressor is built to function in such a way that the internal temperature of your refrigerator is monitored constantly, and when the temperature target is met, the compressor is slowed down to save on electricity, and when there is a drop in temperature, it is sped up to maintain the required temperature.
Other benefits of having an inverter compressor include less noise or silent operation when compared to regular compressors, which can be pretty noisy. In this way, the type of compressor inside your refrigerator matters a lot, too.
4. Deodorizer
In many refrigerators, deodorizers are provided that filter the air and remove any unwanted odor that may emanate from some food items and spread to different items.
Many technologies and strategies are used to combat this problem, from air filters to additive ions and compounds that kill bacteria to restrain odor. Such a feature can be beneficial if you plan to store a variety of food in your refrigerator, especially pungent ones.
5. Cool Packs
Cool packs are basically packs of cooling compounds that are meant to absorb heat in case of power cuts and keep the refrigerator cool for several hours. Some companies, like Samsung, claim that their cool packs can keep your food frozen or cool for up to 12 hours during a power cut.
This is, of course, subjective to the number of times the door is opened. However, such a feature can be really convenient if you live in an area prone to power cuts.
6. Built-In Voltage Stabilizer
The stabilizer has been a long-time friend of the refrigerator. It is meant to protect it from power surges. However, with the advancement of technology, several newer refrigerator models offer stabilizer-free operation.
This essentially means that the mechanism to protect the fridge from damage in case of power surges is built, and you need not spend money on a separate stabilizer.
7. After Sales Service
As with most home appliances, the quality and responsiveness of the after-sales service provided by a company plays an important role in the customer experience.
While newer players like BPL and Hitachi are known to have after-sales service that is not up to the mark, most of the respected and well-known brands, including LG, Whirlpool, and Samsung, provide satisfactory services in case of repair, service, or warranty claim requests.
8. Inverter
An essential feature these days is the ability to connect your refrigerator to your home inverter. This eliminates the need for cool packs and ensures that your food is safe and unspoiled, even in case of long power cuts.
LG’s Auto Smart Connect is one such feature that automatically connects your refrigerator to your home’s inverter. Competitors offer similar features, too.
9. Moisture Control
Another essential feature of newer refrigerators is the ability to control moisture inside the refrigerator. Fruits and vegetables have the tendency to lose moisture and dry up in the cool ambiance.
However, several different types of moisture control technologies, such as the Zeolite technology or the honeycomb-patterned vegetable crisper and other similar moisture lock-in technologies, help fruits and vegetables retain their moisture and remain fresh over longer durations.
10. Convertible
Convertible refrigerators are those that allow you to use the freezer and regular sections of the refrigerators interchangeably. This can provide a lot of convenience.
When you have a lot of regular food to store and are running out of space, simply convert your freezer section into a regular temperature section and store food there. This flexibility provided by convertible refrigerators often comes in handy when you plan parties, get-togethers, etc.
You can also switch on or off one of the compartments selectively, which also gives you an option to save power.
11. Smart Connectivity
With the advent of IoT (Internet-of-Things) and fast mobile connectivity, even your refrigerator has become smart! Yes, several companies, such as LG, offer smart connectivity features in their refrigerators.
Connected refrigerators can offer temperature control, but most importantly, Smart Diagnosis can automatically connect to your phone to detect the issues that your refrigerator is facing and also recommend the necessary repairs or services needed.
It goes one step ahead and even reports the problem to the company’s call center, giving you the option to schedule a maintenance visit with a qualified technician.
Gone are the days when you would have to call a technician to resolve an issue, only to later discover that all your refrigerator needed was a defrosting. Save time and your hard-earned money with smart connected refrigerators.
Should You Buy A Refrigerator Online?
This, no doubt, is a common and legitimate question most buyers have. After all, people are used to checking out refrigerators in the local showroom and then having them delivered to their homes.
However, the buyer experience provided by the top ecommerce players in India, namely Amazon and Flipkart, is far better than any showroom can offer. The reason we say this is because you have the best possible prices for every single model available anywhere in India right at your fingertips!
Apart from the advantage of saving money, Amazon and Flipkart also provide free replacements in case a damaged product is delivered to you. This is simply unheard of in the offline world.
Besides that, online players provide easy payment options such as No-Cost-EMI, better warranty options such as Extended Warranty packages, free installation within 24 to 48 hours, great value in Exchange Offers, and much, much more!
Today, there are millions of happy buyers who have bought a refrigerator online and have posted lakhs of positive reviews of their experience online.
Therefore, there is no reason for you to have second thoughts; go ahead and shop online with complete peace of mind.