Home > Choose a Fridge

How to Choose and Buy a Fridge

Before buying a fridge you need to ask yourself some questions:

Can you get a fridge into your home?

Be sure that your new fridge will clear any entrances and door openings, as well as narrow stairways if you live in an upstairs flat. You may need to help the delivery person once it arrives if they are on their own. Also be aware of any extremely narrow access routes to your home, such as alleyways.

Will a fridge fit into your kitchen or utility room?

When choosing your new fridge you must be careful not to pick a model larger than the space that you have allocated for it. Also remember to allow for a ventilation gap around the appliance. Flat back models push further back towards the wall, and may be a good choice if you lack space.

If your new fridge is going to sit in a corner, then you may wish to think about which side the door should open from, to allow easy access to the interior. Many models now have reversible doors, making it simple to change the direction in which they open.

Integrated appliances will give your kitchen the streamlined look that’s very popular right now, but if you decide to follow this trend you need to have your kitchen designed with your chosen appliances in mind. Careful measuring is very important here, as the fridge will either need to fit under a counter and be hidden by a cupboard door, or be totally built into a pre-designed space.

Can you position ithe fridge within easy access of an electricity socket?

Whether you choose a built-in or standard model, the fridge will need to be placed within easy reach of a power socket.

When choosing a brand and model of fridge, you’ll also need to take the following factors into account:

Fridge Capacity

Fridge capacities can vary greatly, and you must consider your needs before rushing ahead and buying one. Some fridges are relatively small and will slip under a counter. These take up minimal amounts of space and are very useful for a person living alone. Others range from medium-sized to very tall.

If you consider the net capacity when buying, this will give you a good indication of how much the model holds. There’s little point in splashing out on a large model that takes up lots of space if you’re unlikely to fill it.

Individual Compartments and Storage

Some fridges have a crisper for salad and vegetables, but few other compartments. Others feature multiple crispers, some of which are humidity controlled, so your foods stay at their best for longer. A fridge may have more than one dairy section, and some have horizontal wine racks to save the door storage space for other items

Fridges that have drinks compartments and dispensers are popular, and if you choose one of these models, your favourite drink will not only be chilled, but can be accessed quickly and easily too.

Some brands have chilled compartments where you can keep foods such as fish and meat at a safe temperature, separate from other foods.

Before buying your new fridge, decide if regular shelf space is a priority, or if multiple compartments will be more beneficial to you.

Energy Efficiency Fridges

Choosing a fridge with the top energy efficiency rating of A will cut down on running costs and will also be kinder to the environment. The bottom end of the scale is G. A-rated models do not necessarily cost any more, and will give the same performance. You can find a many A-graded models on the market, including some of those featured on our Top Models – Fridges page.

Auto Defrost Fridges

Auto defrosting models are good choice as they don’t get the frost build up that manual-defrost fridges tend to suffer from, so you won’t have to waste time getting rid of it.

Background Noise from a Fridge

All fridges make a certain amount of noise once plugged in. If background noise bothers you, then look for one that has a lower dB rating. This figure is usually indicated in the specifications.

Further Information

If you are interested in buying a fridge online then visit our Where to Buy section, which includes details about some of the leading online suppliers and their postage and packing costs, delivery timescales, and returns and refunds policies.

You can find out more about the different brands and models available in our Brands and Top Models sections.

If you are not sure what fridge, fridge freezer, freezer or chiller is right for you, have a look at our Types section.