How to Choose a Refrigerator for Your Kitchen
Moving into a new home or renovating your kitchen? Your refrigerator plays a key role in
keeping your food fresh, so be sure to include it in the planning stage, too.
Here are 5 things to consider when choosing a refrigerator:
1) Positioning Your Refrigerator: Just Where Should It
Go?
Positioning your
refrigerator within close proximity to your kitchen counter would be best. It
allows prompt loading of groceries when you get back from the supermarket and
convenience when gathering ingredients for cooking. This also means the fridge
door is open less often, so there is less impact on temperature variance within
the appliance.
Secondly, some
may not realize that a refrigerator has to work harder to maintain appropriate
internal temperatures when exposed to heat sources. This affects the energy
efficiency of a refrigerator and potentially shortens its functional lifespan.
So avoid positioning it near an oven or even under direct sunlight – think
energy efficiency!
2) Left Or Right Hinged Door?
Unless your
refrigerator is a French-door, it is important to decide early whether to have
a left or right hinged door. You certainly do not want to go through the
trouble of dismantling the fridge door after the appliance is nicely installed
and ready for use. So know what you want and plan what’s best for your kitchen.
3) Proper Ventilation
When a
refrigerator lacks proper ventilation, its compressor will run continuously due
to the accumulation of warm air. Inevitably this adversely impacts the appliance
and reduces its lifespan.
The type of
ventilation (e.g. rear, front, built-in) dictates the ventilation requirements.
Liebherr recommends a ventilation space of at least 200 square centimeters.
However a larger ventilation space improves the energy efficiency of your
refrigerator, so go for it if you have space to spare.
4) Refrigerator Capacity: Magnificent Or Compact?
Take into
consideration the size of your household as well as eating and shopping habits.
Do you purchase fresh food regularly or freeze lots of leftovers? What type of
temperature zones do you need – e.g. fridge, freezer, and/or BioFresh
compartments?
Refrigerator capacity
·
1 -2 persons: Approximately
70-100 liters
·
3 or more persons: Add 40-50
liters per person
Freezer capacity
·
Minimal to average use: 50-80
liters per person
·
Large amounts, longer freezing
durations: 130 liters per person
5) Don’t Break Your Back
The ergonomics
and configuration of a refrigerator can make a kitchen (or break your back –
well, not literally but you get our drift). If you don’t reach for frozen foods
often, then a French-door or Bottom Mount appliance would be perfect. With the
fridge compartments above waist level and freezer at the bottom, you will not need
to bend down so often – less strain on your back.
These are some of the factors you should keep in
mind while buying a refrigerator for your home. Further, you should also
compare smart refrigerator prices in India to get the best refrigerator
within your budget.
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