Whether you’re shopping for your first fridge ever or are on the lookout for a replacement fridge (your wedding gift from your parents finally conked in), be sure to keep these five buyer’s tips in mind:
1. Cold storage
Fridge capacity is measured in litres: one number for the fridge and another for the freezer. Any combined score over 250l is considered ‘family-sized’. The standard dimensions for a family-sized fridge are 60cm wide and 185cm high.
2. Frost-free
Most fridges above the entry level are frost-free, achieved by using fans and vents to make sure cold air circulates evenly throughout the fridge and freezer, preventing ice build-up.
3. Water-wise
Avoid fridges with water-dispenser systems unless your family are big water drinkers. Water dispensers take up door storage space and sometimes break down, and the water won’t taste fresh if it’s stored for too long.
4. Power-savers
Almost all models in South Africa have a solid A rating for electricity consumption, although some are rated A++. To save power, don’t buy a fridge bigger than you really need, don’t put warm food into it and keep your freezer at least half-full.
5. Get a grip
Budget-model fridges require you to hook your fingers into a slot on the door to open them, which is a lot less convenient than using a door handle. If your new fridge has handles, make sure they’re sturdy enough.
Disposing of an old fridge?
This is quite an ecological challenge. Kept running, they consume a lot more electricity than modern fridges. Disposing of them sends a load of heavy metals and plastics into a landfill. Instead, follow guidelines from the e-Waste Association of South Africa. Visit ewasa.org.
PHOTO: iStock/JackF
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- 5 biggest mistakes you make with your fridge
- Tested products: fridges
- How to clean your fridge thoroughly
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