Fridge-Freezers: Pros and Cons of Refrigerator Layouts

Fancier isn't necessarily better in the world of fridge-freezers. There are several different groups of fridge-freezer layouts. The best model for you will depend on your lifestyle. The four main groups of refrigerator models from basic to trendiest are explained here along with their pros and cons.

The freezer-on-top model of refrigerator is a great layout which has stood the test of time. If you need one with an icemaker, be sure to check out how this is laid out in the freezer – it won't have through-the-door delivery. Be aware some models in this group come without an ice-maker.

Pros:

• cheap
• excellent space utilization

Cons:

• isn't always available in the larger widths

This group of models is a newer variation on the previous group; now featuring the freezer below, usually drawer-style. It makes sense to have the freezer on the bottom from the point of view that warmer air rises. However, it does mean that whenever you go into the freezer you have to bend down quite a lot to find your stuff. If you already tend to rummage around a lot to find stuff in the freezer this could be a problem, but if you are predominantly a fridge user, than this may be the layout for you. You'll also need to check how the icemaker is laid out.

Pros:

• makes sense from an energy standpoint

Cons:

• if you have small children, you may prefer that they are not able to get to the freezer

In this group of models, the freezer is accessed by one of the side-by-side doors, fridge via the other. This model's popularity is due mainly to its through-the-door ice and water delivery. An added bonus is that by opening two smaller doors instead of having just one big one, less total 'swing space' outward is needed.

Pros:

• can get ice water and ice without having to open the door: energy-efficient
• may offer a better door-opening layout by having 2 small doors needing less 'swing space' outward than one big door.

Cons:

• expensive
• poor space layout in freezer; tall narrow vertical shelves make it very difficult to fit things efficiently. Depending on the exact model there may be problems trying to store frozen pizza boxes or other wide items.
• can be expensive to fix if something goes wrong with through-the-door icemaker

This latest and trendiest model is popular because you can open one or both of the double doors to get what you want from the fridge, making access simple and convenient, even for the further back corners. It also requires less total 'swing space' outward, which is a bonus. The freezer below in contrast has one drawer instead of two doors, making for a nice balanced look. These models usually feature through-the-door ice delivery.

Pros:

• great aesthetics.
• may offer a better door-opening layout by having 2 narrower doors needing less 'swing space' outward than one big door.

Cons:

• expensive
• easy to accidentally close doors on fingers when closing one fridge door & the other swings shut after it.
• can be expensive to fix if something goes wrong with through-the-door icemaker.
• if you have small children, you may prefer that they are not able to get to the freezer.

The right refrigerator for you will depend on your lifestyle. Think carefully first about which features you consider essential.

Make sure you inspect the fridge-freezer in person before buying. When doing so, imagine yourself actually putting away your typical groceries into the fridge-freezer to assess space. A model with a lesser cubic feet of storage space can sometimes actually perform better than a bigger one if the space is laid out in a more usable manner. So don't go by numbers alone for cubic capacity. On the other hand, you will need to go by hard numbers for the width, height and depth of the appliance – it will need to fit properly within its designated nook and with enough room available to open the door.