How to buy a refrigerator, and what to look for

In the market for a new refrigerator, then you should know what to look for before you pull out your credit card. What features to look, best options for your needs and more.

First off you should be aware there are 4 different types of refrigerators on the market, that include, top-freezer (or top-mount), bottom-freezer (or bottom-mount), side-by-side and built-in. Top-freezer fridges are the cheapest of all refrigerators, Second in price is the bottom freezer, which I personally have. Then there is the side by side models, which have 2 doors that open, one problem that I don't like is that side by side refrigerator models is that shelves are much narrower than top or bottom freezer fridge models. The most expensive is the built-in model, why do they cost the most? Built-in refrigerators are designed so they can match your kitchen's look and feel exactly. Many home owners match the refrigerator to the look of the kitchen cabinet doors, giving your home kitchen a seamless look.

Next when shopping around think of the size you want in a fridge. There are 4 different sizes to choose from, small (7 to 9.9 cubic feet), medium (10 to 13.9 cubic feet), large (14 to 19.9 cubic feet) and extra large (20 to 29 cubic feet). Measure you're fridge before you go shopping so you know how much space that you have to work with, the last thing you need is a fridge that won't fit the space! Also how much freezer space do you need? If you want as much space as possible choose a side-by-side unit.

I own an Amana bottom freezer refrigerator and it has a filtered water dispenser located inside the fridge this is very useful. You will save space because you won't need to purchase 4 gallon purified water jugs, get all the purified water right from your fridge. Oh and an ice maker is essential, this is standard feature in today's fridges.

What is the energy rating on the fridge, look for an efficient model that will save you money on your electrical bill. The most energy-efficient refrigerators range in size from 16-20 cubic foot sizes. Do they offer rebates on certain models, you can save hundreds of dollars if you choose a model that has some type of a rebate offer.

The last tip I can recommend is that you check out what kind of warranty your refrigerator has. Does it have a 1 year warranty on any part of the refrigerator that fails because of a defect. A good warranty will include five years on any part of the sealed refrigerating system.