Refrigerator buying guide 2021

Imagine this scenario: your family has just finished Christmas dinner, and the apple pie that will serve as dessert has just come out of the oven. You head to the refrigerator to get the vanilla ice cream, when you notice it is leaking down the bottom of the appliance. Your fridge has failed just when you needed it most!

If this scenario has happened to you recently and your refrigerator is under 10 years old or so, it’s probably worth calling in a refrigerator repair expert to take a look. But if your fridge is older than a decade, it might be worth it to shop around for a new model. But before you hit the stores (or, realistically, the internet), read on for our top tips for purchasing a new refrigerator in 2021.

Consider the door style. The variety of refrigerator door styles has increased significantly in recent years. One of the most popular trends in fridge design today is the French door style with accompanying bottom pull-out drawer freezer. This style offers homeowners unprecedented storage options for even the largest grocery haul.

Keep in mind that your living space may dictate the maximum width that your fridge can be, and therefore the style of doors that will be available to you. Take detailed measurements of your current fridge and the maximum area a replacement can occupy, and keep these specifications handy when shopping around.

Check out LED display options. A few years ago, LED touchscreen displays on refrigerators were considered an outrageous extravagance, emblematic of the smart home movement trying to force its way into American culture. But just a few short years later, many homeowners not only want their home appliances to come with a digital screen, they expect it.

As this kind of “smart fridge” technology has become cheaper, more homeowners are able to afford this upgrade. An LED display can allow you to create and manage grocery lists in the cloud, check the weather or news, or even play music through your fridge.  Since the refrigerator is likely one of the most used appliances in your home, upgrading to a smart LED display is probably worth it.

Explore electronic temperature management. Modern refrigerators are able to utilize electronic temperature management systems to coordinate strategic cooling operations to custom-cool items depending on their storage location within the appliance. Ideal for the culinary aficionado in your home, these features may seem unnecessary to the average buyer, but consider that many units that include this feature may also be considered energy efficient.

Consider refrigerator door locks and alarms. If your home has young children (or perhaps a forgetful spouse), door locks and alarms may be a good feature to consider when shopping for a new refrigerator. These devices alert occupants when the fridge door has been left open for a specific period of time. The longer the fridge door is left open, the harder the appliance has to work to maintain the preset internal cooling temperature, and the higher your energy costs will be.

Even on brand new units, homeowners can think they have fully closed the door, only to realize hours later that the door was not fully closed.  For this reason, units with door alarms are highly recommended. “Smart” models that can sync to your home’s wifi can also alert you via text message.

In addition to alarms, modern refrigerators can come equipped with locks, which prevent young ones (or someone on a diet) from dipping into attractive food items after a specified time. Again, on “smart” models, these locks can be set via smartphone apps and a wifi connection.

Get creative with custom features. Finally, consider that some manufacturers produce refrigerator models that can be customized to fit the specific needs of the customer. Are you a wine enthusiast? Perhaps a built-in wine cooler would be something you would like your fridge to have. Are you a culinary professional or hobbyist?  Maybe a blast freezer is on your wish list.

In today’s market, the sky is truly the limit in terms of refrigerator add-ons and accessories. While basic, run-of-the-mill units are certainly still available for purchase, many prospective buyers in today’s refrigerator market are pleasantly surprised to learn about all the options available to them.

At Diamond Appliance, we help appliance owners in St. Louis, Kansas City, and surrounding communities with expert refrigerator repair and more. Proudly providing Amana refrigerator repair, Frigidaire refrigerator repair, Jenn-Air refrigerator repair, GE refrigerator repair, KitchenAid refrigerator repair, Whirlpool refrigerator repair, Estate refrigerator repair, Gladiator refrigerator and Gladiator garage refrigerator repair, Maytag refrigerator repair, and more. Give us a call today to get started.