How to choose a refrigerator - expert advice

How was it just 30-40 years ago. . Then people did not suffer the question "How to choose a refrigerator for the house?", They were faced with a task with fewer parameters - "How can I get at least some kind of refrigerator"! Today, the buyer was able to choose between thousands of different models. But it is precisely this opportunity that becomes a problem for us, it is this freedom that makes us confused. How to make a choice with such a variety and not make a mistake?

Before looking for something, try to understand - what do you expect from the "kitchen general" and what price are you willing to pay for it? And what other than age should your new refrigerator differ from the old one?

Let's try to make your task a little easier, and for this we will tell about the main characteristics and functionality of modern refrigerators. Hope this helps you make a choice. Right choice.

The dimensions of the refrigerator

The size of the refrigerator is of great importance for you, as the future of its user, because, first, it should fit in its place and secondly, it should hold a supply of food for your family for at least a few days.

The width and depth of a standard refrigerator are the same and are 60 cm. Previously, refrigerators of such dimensions were the only available option.

In conclusion, I would like to make a small remark directly related to the issue in question. When choosing a refrigerator, especially a large one, one should take into account not only the kitchen area, but also the dimensions of the doorways, the length and width of all aisles, the dimensions of the elevator and its doors. Otherwise, you and your movers can expect a very unpleasant surprise.

Useful volume

A refrigerator is not just a kitchen decoration that takes up quite a lot of space, but household appliances designed to perform quite specific functions. Therefore, we are more interested in not so much its size as its capacity.

The volume of a refrigerator directly depends on its dimensions: the larger the refrigerator, the larger it is. The technical characteristics of different models can indicate either the total or the useful volume - here each manufacturer has its own preferences. The last indicator correlates with the actual capacity, and when choosing a refrigerator one should pay attention to it.

The smallest useful volume, as it is easy to guess, for single-chamber refrigerators is from 80 to 200-250 l. In two-chamber models, this figure reaches 300-350 liters. The volume of multi-compartment refrigerators and side-by-side refrigerators is maximum - 350-700 l.

What volume of the refrigerator will be the most optimal for you? First of all it depends on the number of people living in your house. A family of two or three people, if necessary, can get along with a single-chamber refrigerator, although a two-chamber one would be an ideal option. For large families, as well as for people who often host guests in their home, of course, the model is more important.

It should be remembered that the volume of the refrigerator is the sum of the volumes of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. Estimating the capacity of a particular compartment you need, be guided by the nutrition traditions that have been established in your family. For example, if in the diet of your household is dominated by fresh vegetables and fruits, pay attention to the model with a spacious zone of freshness. If you practice “clogging up” the refrigerator with a 2-3-month supply of frozen food from the supermarket, look for a model with a large freezer.

Number and location of chambers

The number of chambers in domestic refrigerators can vary from one to six or more. In some models, each of them is hidden behind a separate door, therefore, in order to find out how much the chamber unit is in front of you, it is not necessary to look inside.

In single-chamber models, there is no separate freezer - its role is played by the low-temperature compartment inside the refrigerator compartment (in some refrigerators, so-called refrigerated cabinets, there is no such imitation of the freezer compartment).The main advantages of single-chamber units are small dimensions and relatively low cost, so they can often be found in country houses, rooms of student dormitories, in hostels, motels and other cheap mini-hotels.

The most popular, and therefore the most common today are two-chamber models with separate refrigeration and freezer compartments. Such refrigerators are convenient in that they take up relatively little space, but they can be loaded with a large number of products.

The freezer compartment can be located both above the refrigerator compartment and below it. In low refrigerators with a small freezer capacity, the latter is usually located on top.

A two-chamber refrigerator with a top freezer.

If you decide to purchase a tall fridge with a large freezer, then the top should have a compartment that you will use more often (usually a fridge). Your comfort at its operation depends on a mutual arrangement of chambers of the refrigerator. Optimally, if no family member has to tiptoe, bend down or squat to get to a shelf or section with the most "popular" products.

A two-chamber refrigerator with a lower freezer position.

Two-compartment refrigerators, in which one chamber is the refrigeration compartment and the other is the freezer, is the most traditional option, but not the only one. In recent years, it is increasingly possible to meet two-chamber units with a different variation of the chambers, for example, with a refrigerator compartment and a "freshness" chamber, but without a freezer.

Refrigerator with freshness zone and refrigeration compartment.

In multi-chamber refrigerators, in addition to the standard refrigeration and freezer compartments, there are various additional chambers. There are many options: a wine cabinet, a deep freezing chamber, and a wet zone of freshness for storing fruits and vegetables, and a separate chamber for perishable goods. It should, however, be remembered that the number of cells directly affects the cost of the refrigerator.

A multi-compartment refrigerator with different types of cameras.

The Side-by-Side refrigerators deserve a special mention. Often they are called refrigerator cabinets, since they outwardly resemble cabinets with double-wing swing doors. In fact, they are two-compartment (more rarely more), but the freezer, as a rule, is not located above or below the fridge compartment, but next to it. Dimensions of such refrigerators are much larger than standard ones, therefore this option is suitable only for owners of very spacious kitchens.

A side-by-side refrigerator, on the left is a freezer and on the right is a refrigerator compartment.

Refrigerator

The refrigerator - the most capacious compartment of any refrigerator - is designed to store products that do not need to be frozen. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can vary from 0 ° C to + 10 ° C.

A separate “freshness zone” may be located in the refrigerating chamber. Often it is also called the "zero zone", since it maintains a temperature close to 0 C. In multi-chamber models, there is sometimes a separate "zero" chamber - such a refrigerator should be purchased if fresh vegetables and fruits dominate in your diet, and also fresh meat and seafood. At temperatures from 0 ° C to + 3 ° C and humidity of about 90% ("wet freshness"), fruits, vegetables and greens retain their freshness 3 times longer than at higher temperatures in the refrigeration compartment. In the conditions of "dry freshness" (temperature from -3 ° C to 0 ° C and humidity about 50%), fresh fish and fresh meat can be stored for up to 7 days, while they will not lose their nutritional and taste qualities.

Freezer

The purpose of the freezer is long-term storage of perishable foods in a frozen form. The temperature here is significantly lower than in the adjacent refrigerator compartment. In accordance with the generally accepted standard, all freezers are divided into 4 types. Each of them has its own label, which serves as an indication of the minimum temperature that this freezer is able to maintain.

The shelf life of products directly depends on the degree of freezing:

Another characteristic of freezers is the freezing capacity. This parameter is measured in kilograms and, depending on the model, can vary from 3-4 to 10-12 kg. In fact, the freezing capacity is the amount of food that this freezer is capable of freezing in a quality manner per day. At this parameter should pay attention to those who prefer to buy products for future use, that is, for several weeks or months at once.

Types of the cooling system of the refrigerator

To remove heat from the body, you need to do some work. How is this process carried out in practice?

There are several types of refrigeration cooling systems:

• compressor (the vast majority of such refrigerators);
• non-compressor - may be absorption or thermoelectric.

Since without a cooling system, a refrigerator is just an ordinary metal box with shelves, it would not be superfluous to get at least a general understanding of the principles of operation of refrigeration equipment of all these varieties.

Compressor cooling system

The vast majority of domestic refrigerators on the market today have compressor cooling. The heart of the device with a similar cooling system is the compressor, the purpose of which is to compress the refrigerant vapor and pump the condensate formed in this way along the contour of the heat exchange system. The condensed refrigerant, evaporating, absorbs heat, on which the principle of operation of compressor refrigerators is based.

Isobutane (R600) and tetrafluoroethane (R134) are most often used as a refrigerant in modern refrigerators. Thermophysical properties of the first one are better, therefore it is used in most models with energy efficiency class A + and A ++. Previously, other freons were used in refrigeration units other than R134, however, due to their ozone-depleting ability, the production of such equipment was discontinued.

A single compressor is sufficient to cool both the refrigeration compartment and the freezer. However, today there are refrigerators on sale and with two compressors (and even with three, but this is a more exotic option). In this case, each camera "feeds" from its "feeder".

Both single and dual compressor refrigerators have their merits. Freezing and refrigerating chambers in dual-compressor devices are completely autonomous: each has its own, independent, temperature regime. This makes it possible to precisely regulate the temperature in each compartment. If necessary, one of the chambers can be turned off completely (for example, for scheduled defrosting), and this will not affect the operation of the second one.

From all this follows the main advantage of two-compressor refrigerators - cost effectiveness. First, when the electronics detects that the temperature in one of the compartments has risen above the norm, it gives the command to turn on only one compressor, while the second is idle at this time, without needing to expend energy to cool the chamber that does not need it. Secondly, going on a business trip, vacation or to the country, you can turn off the refrigerator compartment, leaving the freezer on, and this will allow you to save a lot on electricity.

If two-compressor refrigerators are so great, why are single-compressor refrigerators so much in demand? The answer is predictable - because of their low cost. After all, the price for many buyers is the determining factor when choosing household appliances. The main contribution to the formation of the cost of the refrigerator is made by the compressor, and one compressor, even if powerful, costs less than two are weaker. As a result, a two-compressor refrigerator is on average 20-30% more expensive.

Relatively recently, single-compressor dual-circuit refrigerators with a solenoid valve regulating refrigerant circulation have appeared on the market. At the command of the control unit (or person), the valve blocks the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator of a particular chamber. Such refrigerators have almost all the virtues of their two-compressor counterparts, but remain at the same time much more affordable.

More and more modern refrigerators are equipped with inverter compressors. Unlike a conventional compressor, which operates discretely, periodically turning on at full power, then turning off again, the inverter operates continuously, but with different intensities.

It, thanks to a special current transducer, changes its power depending on the operating conditions.In response to opening the door of the refrigerator, loading warm products into it, increasing the temperature in the room, the inverter compressor starts to work in an enhanced mode, and when the set temperature inside the chamber is reached, it gradually decreases its power again. Inverter compressors consume less electricity and are less likely to fail, only refrigerators equipped with them are slightly more expensive than conventional ones.

The difference between inverter and non-inverter compressors is clearly shown in the video:

Absorption cooling system

The principle of operation of absorption-type refrigerators is the name implies, is based on a physico-chemical process called absorption. The coolant, which usually plays the role of ammonia, is absorbed (absorbed) by the water in the absorber, or rather by the water-ammonia solution. The resulting concentrated solution with a thermopump is distilled into a heater. There, the refrigerant with a significantly lower boiling point evaporates first.

As a result, highly concentrated refrigerant vapor escapes from the heater and enters the condenser. The condensed ammonia vapor (liquid refrigerant) is sent to the evaporator, where it boils and evaporates, taking heat from the cooling circuit of the refrigerating chamber. The refrigerant vapor re-enters the absorber and the cycle repeats. Under the action of a permanent power source, which can be not only electric, but also gas or combined, the circulation of the refrigerant and its absorbing solution occurs continuously.

The absorption cooling system is used only in small-sized refrigerators. With the same useful volume, absorption units consume more electricity than compressor ones. But these shortcomings will become insignificant for you when you learn that absorption-type refrigerators can work on alternative sources of energy from the household appliances point of view - liquid and gaseous fuels. There are also combined models that equally “absorb” both electric power and liquefied gas.

Thermoelectric cooling system

Another non-compressor cooling system used in refrigeration units is thermoelectric. The basis of the thermoelectric cooler is the so-called Peltier effect. It consists in the following: with the passage of direct current through a thermopile, consisting of two dissimilar conductors, heat transfer occurs at the point of their contact - one part of the battery heats up, the second cools. If you change the direction of the current will be observed reverse process. If the cooling element is isolated from the environment, we get a refrigerator that can be successfully used in everyday life.

The thermoelectric cooling method is usually used in mini-refrigerators, first of all, we are talking about car refrigerators and cooler bags. The main advantage of thermoelectric units is their noiselessness. If the compressors are not strong, but they are still buzzing, the absorbers periodically gurgle, then the thermoelectric battery does not make any sound during operation.

In addition, they are reliable and durable: there are no moving parts and complex connecting tubes, which means there is nothing to break there. Even liquid or gaseous coolers that could leak through a leaky circuit are absent in such refrigerators. Thermoelectric cooler is not afraid of shaking and vibration and can be operated both in the normal position and upside down. However, despite all its advantages, this kind of refrigerators is not very popular.

Defrosting systems

Most of the readers, for sure, still remember the old refrigerators, which very quickly became overgrown with a real coat of hoarfrost and ice. To get rid of the ice, you had to defrost the refrigerator 1-2 times a month, and this procedure is long and tedious.

Among modern refrigerators, there are also models with a manual defrost system. Although they, thanks to an improved design (first of all, improved door insulation), bring less hassle to their owners than previous generations of refrigerators, such a defrosting system is gradually becoming a thing of the past. In place of units that shamelessly exploit human labor, comes a new technique that can defrost on its own.

In most refrigerators on the market today, one of two automatic defrost systems is implemented - drip or No Frost.

However, the compressor is turned off at certain intervals, which allows the frost and frost to melt, and the water droplets formed flow down the chamber wall into a special pan.

The latter is usually located directly on the compressor, and under the influence of its heat, the accumulated water evaporates quite quickly. The task of the user is extremely simple - periodically monitor that the drain hole through which the melt water flows into the sump does not clog.

If No Frost technology is used in refrigerators, then the frost frozen on the evaporator is melted by a periodically turning on heater. And so that the water does not freeze on the inner walls of the refrigerator, in such models there is also a fan that drives the flow of cold air, thereby aligning the temperature inside the chamber and drying it.

Evaporator of the No Frost system refrigerator.

In addition, there are variants of refrigerators in which a drip defrost system is used in the refrigerating chamber, and No Frost in the freezer. The use of a defrosting drip system in the refrigerating chamber provides less effect on the drying of products.

In units with Full No Frost ("Full No Frost), frost does not form in the freezer or in the refrigerator compartment - each chamber has its own fan for supplying cooled air. The No Frost system greatly simplifies the user's life, However, this technology also has certain drawbacks - reducing the usable volume with the same dimensions of the refrigerator, additional noise from the fan, rapid dehydration (winding, wilting) of fresh products due to the presence of cold dry air flows, increased energy consumption, High price.

It should be noted that although refrigerators with No Frost or with a drip system do not require manual defrosting, once a year this procedure should be done for preventive purposes.

Additional characteristics of refrigerators

Refrigerator economy class

Like any other household appliances, all refrigerators are assigned energy efficiency classes marked with A to G according to the amount of energy they use. However, refrigerators corresponding to the last four classes oday sale you will not find, but there were sverhekonomichny model can be labeled icons A +, A ++ and A +++. True, the latter are not cheap, and at the current price of electricity in Russia they will not justify their increased energy efficiency very soon.

Many factors affect the economy of the refrigerator, including the useful volume of the refrigerator, the characteristics of the cooling system used, the quality of the insulation, the presence of additional functions in the refrigerator that increase usability (the superior refrigerator consumes more electricity than a simple refrigerator of the same volume). Actual electricity consumption also depends on the operating conditions - ambient temperature, food load on the refrigerator, frequency of door openings, etc.

Noise level

A good refrigerator is a silent refrigerator. Especially often the owners of studio apartments, where the kitchen and living area are connected to a single space, are inclined to think about this. The noise level of most modern refrigerators does not exceed 40 dB. Such noise is almost not audible, or at least it does not cause discomfort. If the characteristics of the refrigerator that you liked have indicated a higher figure, it is better to look for another model.

Climatic class

Cooling food to a low temperature and maintaining it for a long time, when overboard the thermometer rolls over + 40 ° C, is not an easy task. And she is far from every refrigerator. That is why they introduced such a characteristic as a climate class.

The climate class determines the maximum ambient air temperature, at which the refrigerator is still able to qualitatively perform its main function - to preserve food. There are several climatic classes - N, SN, ST and T. Refrigerators of class N (normal) work stably at ambient temperatures from + 16 ° C to + 32 ° C. The class SN (subnormal) is designed for a temperature range from + 10 ° С to + 32 ° С, ST-class (subtropic) - from + 18 ° С to + 38 ° С. And, finally, class T (tropic) models are able to fully function even at temperatures from + 18 ° C to + 43 ° C. For the Russian climate, models of class N and SN are perfect.

The main task of the refrigerator is high-quality food preservation. But a modern household appliance can offer the user a wide variety of additional features.Available functionality strikes the imagination: car frostbite, humidity control, antibacterial coating, icemaker and the system for preparing chilled drinking water ... How to understand which functions you really need and which ones will turn out to be a waste of money?

Many models of modern refrigerators have a forced air distribution system. This system is designed to pump air through the evaporator, which to prevent the formation of frost inside the refrigerator is taken out of the camera (No Frost system). In addition, the uniform distribution of air throughout the volume of the refrigerator or freezer equalizes the temperature at all levels, which has a positive effect on the quality of food storage. Especially important is forced circulation in models with glass shelves, where the natural movement of air is somewhat difficult, which is why the temperature in different parts of the refrigerating chamber may differ slightly.

Some manufacturers have implemented in their refrigerators multi-threaded (multi-level) air supply (Multi Air Flow). The cooled air through special channels is supplied to each shelf of the refrigerator. Air circulation between the shelves significantly increases the efficiency of the cooling process: the temperature inside the chamber quickly drops to a predetermined level and is more stable.

However, it should be remembered that in refrigerators with forced air circulation all products stored in the open form quickly become overwhelmed. You can solve this problem by using food storage containers.

Adjusting the humidity level

The storage conditions for each type of product will be optimal, and not only temperature, but also humidity. For example, a favorable condition for the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables is high humidity, as this slows down their wilting and drying. To store chilled meat and seafood, on the contrary, low humidity is required.

Some models of refrigerators provide the ability to adjust the level of humidity in the freshness zone (zero zone). The ideal option is to have two fresh zones with different settings for temperature and humidity: one for vegetables, fruits, berries and greens, the other for meat and fish.

Super-freezing (fast freezing)

Did you decide to visit a shop or market on a day off and stock up on meat and fish for a couple of months? What happens if you send all these relatively warm foods to the freezer at the same time? That's right, they will cool for a very long time and still have time to warm those products that were already in the chamber. As a result, the products will be covered with an ice crust, and when defrosting it will be an excess amount of liquid.

It is for such cases that the quick freeze function is provided. In this mode, the freezer works with maximum intensity, and the temperature quickly drops below -24 C, and in some models even below -30 C.

It is better to activate this mode in advance - a couple of hours before restocking in the freezer. A return to the normal operation mode of the refrigerator will occur automatically only if the quick freezing auto-shutdown is provided for in your unit. Owners of low-cost models will have to manually disable superfreezing.

The “Supercooling” mode designed for the refrigerator compartment works in the same way.

Vacation mode (Vacation)

Those who often leave the house for a long time, going on a business trip, for example, should like refrigerators that have the Vacation mode. This mode, which provides energy savings, should be activated when the owner does not need to actively use the refrigerator. The freezer will work as usual, but the temperature in the refrigerator compartment will be around 15 ° C, which is enough to minimize the likelihood of mold and unpleasant odors, but not enough to store food. Of course, all products with short shelf life from the refrigeration compartment must be removed.

Automatic ice maker

The easiest, fastest and most elegant way to cool tea, juice, cocktail or whiskey is to add an ice cube. The ability to build ice gives any fridge. Included with the budget models is a simple mold, which you need to manually fill with water, and then manually remove the finished ice from it. In some modern refrigerators of the middle and high price segment there are built-in ice generators.

What is an ice generator, and how does it work? The refrigerator takes water from the water supply (installation requires water supply) or a special container (the latter will have to be replenished periodically).The liquid that has passed the filtration stage is automatically poured into the cells of a special form, where it is frozen. After some time, when the ice is ready, the special blades push the cubes out of the mold, and they will go to the storage compartment.

When you press a button on the front of the refrigerator, one of the ice cubes in the compartment goes to your glass. Some models of refrigerators with ice generators are equipped with built-in mini-mills, crushing ice into a crumb.

The dispenser for food ice is often combined with a source of chilled water. If you have such a function in your fridge, you can quench your thirst at any time with a refreshing sip of cool water.

Antibacterial coating of walls

Increased humidity and abundance of organic material inside the refrigerator are favorable conditions for the reproduction of various microorganisms and, as a consequence, for the appearance of mold and fungus. To prevent this, the antibacterial coating of the chamber walls, implemented in some models, will help. A special polymer film with the inclusion of silver ions is designed to create an ideal biological microclimate in the refrigerator.

How effective is this? For those who consider antibacterial coverage a panacea for all ills, we make a few comments. Firstly, such coverage does not last forever. Secondly, it is able to destroy only the most sensitive strains of bacteria. Thirdly, the antibacterial coating of the refrigerator walls will not protect against microorganisms on the products themselves.

Air filter

Even a good housewife may not be able to track down one day, and something in the fridge will rot. Those with whom a similar incident had happened before, know how hard it is to get rid of the unpleasant smell in the cell. The same problem arises when there is not a spoiled product in the refrigerator, but simply a strong smell.

The air filter filled with activated carbon, which is known to have adsorbing ability, helps to fight various odors inside the refrigerator chamber. It is thanks to the sorbent that the air in the refrigeration compartment that is driven through the filter is cleaned. Of course, the filter requires periodic replacement.

The special odor absorbers for refrigerators available on the market are capable of solving the same problem. But unlike built-in air filters, they are not part of the design of household appliances, and therefore we will not talk about them here.

Cold accumulators

Included with some models of refrigerators are so-called cold accumulators. They are small briquettes filled with a special liquid with high heat capacity. Cold accumulators stabilize the temperature in the freezer, help the products placed there to cool faster, allow the refrigerator to maintain a low temperature longer when the power is turned off or the cooling system fails.

Ergonomics of the refrigerator

In order for you to be satisfied with your purchase, the refrigerator must not only cope well with its main function, i.e. with cold, but and be comfortable to use. What does this mean? You should not have difficulty placing the most varied in size and shape of objects - from large pans with soup to small and shapeless doy-packs with mayonnaise and ketchup, from tall wine bottles to fragile eggs. You should be able to not only place all the perishable food inside the refrigerator, but also easily find the right one, which means you need a good overview of the contents of the camera.

Shelves

The space of the refrigeration compartment is delimited by shelves, the number of which varies depending on the volume of the refrigerator (in an average-sized unit, usually from 3 to 5). If desired, the shelves can be rearranged in height or, if necessary, can be completely removed from the refrigerator.

Refrigerator shelves can be made either from metal grates or from high-strength glass. And the one and the other option have their pros and cons. The grid shelves installed, as a rule, in budget models of refrigerators, do not interfere with the circulation of cooled air, and therefore, contribute to a more uniform cooling of products. But on the other hand, any accidentally spilled liquid will instantly end up at all the lower levels - the grid shelf will not protect against such a nuisance.

Glass shelves look nicer than lattice shelves and provide an excellent overview of the contents of the refrigerator, and the products on the floor below can easily be protected from spilled milk or juice. However, if there is no distribution fan or multi-flow cooling system in the refrigerator, the circulation of cold air inside the unit with glass shelves will be somewhat difficult.

In some modern refrigerators there are folding shelves that consist of two parts. If necessary, the front half of such a shelf can be moved back, and then something large, such as a large saucepan, can easily be placed on the next level.

The shelf with special cells for the horizontal storage of beverage bottles will help to make the most effective use of the useful volume of the chamber.

Shelves on the door

There are also shelves on the door of the refrigerating chamber, the purpose of which is to store small products and small packages. Mistresses here usually place sensitive to high temperatures drugs, as well as yoghurts, sauces, eggs. By the way, about the eggs ... Be sure to pay attention to the stand for them: many manufacturers, in accordance with European standards, equip their refrigerators with a holder for 6 eggs, which is not very convenient for Russian consumers who buy eggs in stores with packages of 10 pieces.

Containers

Large pull-out containers placed at the bottom of the refrigerator are designed for storing fruits and vegetables. Such containers are made, as a rule, from plastic. Well, if it is transparent - it allows you to see the contents.

A swappable partition can be a useful addition, allowing the container to be divided into two parts in an arbitrary proportion, which is convenient for separate storage of different products. Sometimes one of the containers is replaced by a basket, the lattice walls of which provide free air circulation, which favorably affects the storage of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Boxes in the freezer

If the freezer is small, then it is located in the upper part of the refrigerator and is a stationary box with a lattice shelf inside. Behind the door of the same large freezer with a lower location are retractable containers of different sizes and stationary compartments with individual plastic doors.

This allows you to store different products separately, which means you do not have to lump together, for example, fish and ice cream. A valuable addition can be a tray for berries, allowing you to gently freeze foods that might otherwise stick together.

The number of compartments and drawers depends primarily on the size of the freezer compartment.

Lighting

Want to quickly and easily find the product you need on the shelves of a new refrigerator? Then, looking at a particular model in the store, pay attention to how qualitatively its interior lighting.

Incandescent bulbs inside home appliances are almost superseded by halogen and LED backlighting, the service life of which is almost unlimited. So, you only have to worry about the correct location of the lamp. Most often, the lamp is placed under the "ceiling" of the refrigerating chamber, but in this case the bottom shelves are practically devoid of light. A more optimal option from our point of view is vertical luminaires located at the rear of the side walls. Not bad light all the corners of the refrigerator and horizontal lights installed at an average level of the side walls of the chamber.

Pen

Many consider the pen as a trifle not worthy of attention. However, think about how much load it has, how many times a day you take on it in order to once again look into the depths of your refrigerator. Having imagined this, you will realize that you will need to look at the handle of the model you like especially closely to make sure that, firstly, it is convenient for you and, secondly, it is reliable enough.

Modern refrigerators have two types of knobs with the same frequency. The first type is a handle integrated into the door (in fact, it is not even a handle, but a recess in the end of the door, convenient for gripping with a hand). This option is the most reliable and attractive from an aesthetic point of view. Its only drawback is the accumulation of crumbs and other debris in the recess and dirty-handled doors near it.

The second type is a hinged handle fixed on the door. Its drawbacks are not as easy to fight as dirt. The handle that extends beyond the case of the handle “eats” precious centimeters of free space, which means that when you walk past a refrigerator located in a small kitchen, you will often touch it. In addition, such external overhead handles are often made of a rather flimsy plastic, as a result of which they often break quickly.

Door

Whether you once plan to redevelop the kitchen or move to another apartment, but you may need to move the refrigerator to another place. It is possible that in this case you will need to change the direction of opening its doors.This means that the refrigerator must have the possibility of re-hanging them. Most modern models have such an opportunity, but before buying equipment, it will not be out of place to make sure of it.

A good addition would be a device to facilitate opening the doors. The fact is that in the refrigerator, due to the significant difference in temperature inside and outside, a negative air pressure occurs, which prevents its doors from opening freely. A special lever device squeezes out a small area of ​​the seal and thereby depressurizes the chamber. You just have to overcome the force of the magnet that attracts the door to the body. Such a device is found, alas, not in every model.

A small addition, called a door stop, will not be superfluous. It will help protect the furniture standing next to the refrigerator from accidental impacts and, as a result, damage.

In some models you can find the option - "Door to door". To reduce the number of openings of the refrigerator compartment door, and hence the volume of warm air entering there, another one was built into the larger door, of smaller dimensions. You can use the small door to access the most frequently used shelves.

Design

The new refrigerator will become part of the interior of your kitchen for many years, which means that its design should not be the last thing for you. Since it is rather difficult to change the shape of the refrigerator, and therefore it is inexpedient, designers do their bit by “playing” with the color of the case.

Most of the produced refrigerators are still painted in the now traditional white color. A lot of models on the market have a silver color. But those to whom these most popular color solutions do not suit, also do not despair: today you can find a refrigerator of black, red, beige, green and even golden colors. Sometimes the walls of the refrigerator are decorated with various patterns. Invariably attract attention to themselves and at the same time perfectly harmonize with expensive furniture, refrigerators with mirrored doors. If, even despite the possibility of varying the color of the refrigerator, it seems to you to be a usual and boring box, look for a model with an integrated LCD TV - today there are some.

As you can see, in terms of design, refrigerators are improving, their choice is becoming wider. So, it is not so difficult to choose the best option for your kitchen.

Built-in refrigerators

Most of us associate the word "refrigerator" with a stand-alone metal cabinet. However, the fashion for built-in appliances reached the refrigeration units. However, in the Russian market, the demand for embedded refrigerators is still limited. After all, the main advantage of the built-in appliances is not so much the opportunity to save the scarce kitchen space, as to increase the comfort in the kitchen and to bring the interior of the room closer to the ideal, but our compatriots are not used to it yet. Due to low demand, the choice of embedded models is much smaller than the free-standing ones.

As a rule, embedded models have a reduced width (54-58 cm) and depth (53-55 cm) as compared with stand-alone counterparts. Kitchen furniture, in which this technique will be built, is made for these dimensions, taking into account the necessary technological gaps.

Fully built-in refrigerator - the front part is hidden behind the facade.

The range of built-in refrigerators is based on single-door refrigerators and refrigerated cabinets up to 400 liters, as well as freezers up to 70 liters. Very small refrigerators or freezers are often placed under the table top. Sometimes, if it is necessary to achieve increased usability of household appliances, a separate freezer and a refrigerator will not be installed next door. Two-door models and even side-by-side refrigerators can also be built into furniture, and this is practiced.

Partially built-in refrigerator - the frontal part is not covered with a facade.

By their basic technical characteristics, built-in refrigerators do not differ from free-standing ones. However, at the same time they have their undeniable advantages (noise reduction due to fencing with decorative furniture panels, increased profitability due to improved thermal insulation of the walls) and disadvantages (first of all, high price).

The disadvantages include installation complexity. When building a refrigerator in furniture, a number of requirements must be met, the purpose of which is to ensure effective heat removal from the cabinet and, ultimately, fire safety. The gaps necessary for free air circulation should be left around the refrigerator.In the lower basement of the furniture should be a hole for the entrance of cold air, and behind the rear wall of the unit - for the release of heated air.

How to determine the right type of refrigerator

How to choose the right fridge? Expert advice here is unlikely to help. No one will ever be able to give you any specific answer to this question, because no one knows your conditions and your needs. You yourself have to figure out your priorities. What is more important for you personally - the cost of a refrigerator or its economical operation, dimensions or the presence of an additional camera, design or convenience of use ?.

To choose a refrigerator, you first need to know - and what they are like. And we have tried to tell you in some detail about this. Our mission is over, now it's your turn. Gradually narrow the search area, determined in stages with the type and size that is right for you, the optimal price category, the list of really necessary functions. Difficult work, agree, but at the end you will be rewarded - you will find exactly "your" fridge.

Simple refrigerators without unnecessary functions

In the lower and middle price ranges, all refrigerators are made in Russia and the CIS countries. But not only: in the section of inexpensive models you can find both European, and Korean, and Japanese. Some well-known trademarks, including LG, Bosch, Daewoo, Electrolux, Indesit, Ariston, Zanussi, Snaige, have launched production of inexpensive refrigerators designed for the mass consumer in Russian enterprises.

With a budget of 20-25 thousand rubles. You can pick up a refrigerator of almost any type with a volume of up to 400 liters - a mini-fridge, a single, two- and three-chamber refrigerator, a refrigerator, a freezer. At the same time, it will not be devoid of functions aimed at improving the comfort of use.

The functions that you can detect in a relatively inexpensive model include:

• automatic defrosting system;
• electromechanical control (rotary control ) to select the intensity of the refrigerator; in dual-compressor models there are two regulators;
• temperature indicators on the dashboard;
• door stoppers and closers;
• audible alarms that indicate a tightly closed door or one of the chambers;
• a simple indicator warning of a rise in temperature in the freezer that occurred during your absence;
• Eco mode "Vacation";
• semi-automatic ice maker.

Refrigerators with a high level of convenience

As you know, you have to pay for comfort, it is not surprising that refrigerators with a large set of functions are on average and high price ranges.

What can thick wallet holders expect?

1. Electronic control allows you to adjust the temperature in a particular compartment of the refrigerator with an accuracy of 1 degree, creating the most optimal conditions for storing products. A built-in control unit with a display makes it possible to control the temperature and humidity in the chambers, change modes and activate those or other available functions.

2. For some refrigerators, remote control from a smartphone is available today. To do this, a special application must be installed on your gadget, and in the room where the refrigerator is located, there is internet with a Wi-Fi connection. If the refrigerator has a similar function and the above conditions are met, you can control the operation of the refrigerator, change the temperature, switch on the Leave mode or activate Superfreeze regardless of where you are at the moment of your home / city / country / world.

3. The "Self Diagnosis" function helps to establish the cause of the refrigerator failure so that you can take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

4. The electronic calendar will help you not to detect sour milk or moldy cheese once in your refrigerators. It will tell you the load time for storage of a product and the deadline for its use, and even tell you which of the many shelves to search for this product.

5. In the so-called universal chamber, negative, zero and positive temperatures can be set, thereby changing its role in accordance with the needs that have arisen at the moment.

6. Fully automated icemaker of an expensive refrigerator is able to prepare ice itself without your participation. You just have to press a button, and the coveted cube will be in your glass with a cocktail or freshly squeezed juice.

Of course, the increased comfort of using a refrigerator is not only that it has many useful and interesting functions.For example, dimensions ... A short and wide refrigerator is much more convenient than a tall and narrow one (of course, provided that the kitchen area is not a limiting factor). The low height and location of the cameras near (side-by-side) provide maximum comfort for all family members, regardless of their height.

Elite models are made in limited quantities, so it is not surprising that they are significantly more expensive than mass-produced refrigerators. But there is such a thing as an exclusive. When ordering the manufacture of a one-of-a-kind refrigerator, you can provide any functions within the capabilities of modern technologies, up to the built-in computer or TV.