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The refrigerator is often the centerpiece of the Kitchen, and for good reason- it typically stores your more expensive food plus it's usually the biggest thing in your Kitchen. Before purchasing a new refrigerator you'll need to know the size (width, depth, height) of the space you wish to fit the unit into. That small piece of information will enable you to choose the type, capacity, and style to fit your needs.
Types Available
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Top Freezer / Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator
A top mount refrigerator has the freezer at eye level and the fresh food compartment on the bottom. This type tends to have wider shelves in both the refrigerator and freezer sections. Automatic icemakers may be added to the freezer compartment of most models. A few offer internal water dispensers as well. The doors may typically be reversed to accommodate your particular Kitchen. Top mounts have traditionally been the most common refrigerator type.
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Side by Side Refrigerator
The fresh food and freezer compartments are adjacent to one another and allow easy access to both compartments. The shelves tend to be narrower than those found in the other types and therefore may not accommodate bulky or large items like pizza boxes, sheet cakes, or other food platters. But, because the shelves are smaller you're less likely to lose items in the back of the unit - most items are easy to spot when you open the door and you may spend less time searching for something with the door open. The doors are also smaller in size so they don't stick as far out in the Kitchen when open - ideal for cramped Kitchens. Most side by sides offer ice & water thru the door as well as a filtration system for the water.
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Bottom Mount/Freezer on the Bottom Refrigerator
The opposite of a top mount. The fresh food section is at eye level with the freezer below. Moving the freezer to the bottom results in better energy efficiency and more consistent temperatures. This configuration makes the most logical sense - the average person opens the refrigerator three times more often than the freezer. The freezer section may be offered with a side swing door or pull-out drawer. Automatic icemakers may be installed in most models and some offer internal water dispensers as well. The doors may typically be reversed on those models with the side swing configuration.
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French Door Refrigerator
These units combine the more popular elements of side by sides and bottom freezers. You have the smaller refrigerator doors of a side by side as well as the external ice&water dispenser option coupled with the storage space of a freezer on the bottom with a pull-out drawer. On units that do not have an external dispenser, an internal icemaker may be added to the freezer.
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Freezerless/All Refrigerator
As the name suggests these units do not have a freezer compartment. This is an ideal solution for a second refrigerator or you can pair it with a matching upright freezer for the ultimate side by side. Trim kits are available to make it appear as one single refrigerator. Higher end models are available with glass doors fronts much like a commercial refrigerator you'd find in a store or restaurant.
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Compact/Under Counter Refrigerator
This type has traditionally been considered a "dorm" refrigerator. They may be as small as 1.5-2.0 cu.ft. but typically no larger than 6.0 cu.ft. Higher end models are available with distinct freezer compartments, icemakers, glass door fronts or as drawer units.
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Capacity
Selecting a refrigerator that has the correct amount of storage space for your household is important. If you buy too big and don't keep it filled, you throw away money in wasted energy. On the other hand if you go too small, you waste time and money by having to constantly rearrange things so they fit.
So how do I know what size is right for me?
- Consider the capacity of your current refrigerator and how well it fits your groceries before you decide to increase or decrease the size of the new model. Don't be concerned if you don't know the cubic feet of the old model, your sales person can give you a good estimate based on the dimensions of the old unit. Also, don't be too concerned if your space isn't as big as you'd hoped. Newer models actually have larger storage capacities than their comparably sized older versions due to advances in insulation and changes in useable shelf space. A new refrigerator always looks different in the store because it's placed among many other units - once it's in your Kitchen it may actually be larger than you expected.
- A good rule of thumb - Two adults generally need between 16-20 cubic feet of fresh food storage and you should add roughly an extra 1-1.5 cubic feet for each additional person in the household.
- These are the "standard" capacities by type:
- Top Freezer: 15,17,18,19,20,21,22 cubic feet
- 8,10,12 cubic feet is usually considered as Apartment Size
- Bottom Freezer: 18,19,20,21,22,24,25 cubic feet
- Side by Side: 21,22,23,24,25,26,27 cubic feet
- French Door: 20,21,23,25 cubic feet
- All Refrigerator: 17,18 cubic feet
Style/Design Choices
Whether you're looking for a refrigerator that simply matches the color of your other appliances or one that seamlessly blends in with the Kitchen's architecture the choices offered are varied.
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Free-Standing Standard Depth
Most refrigerators fall into this category. These units rest on rollers and can be placed anywhere in the Kitchen, not necessarily between cabinets. The depth varies from 30"-33".
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Free-Standing Cabinet/Counter Depth
Cabinet depth models are designed to appear built-in but typically cost less than a true built-in unit. These are free-standing refrigerators, on rollers, with only the doors extending beyond your cabinets. Cabinet depth models are available as bottom freezers, French doors, or side by sides.
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Built-In
These models are also designed to fit seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry. Most are like cabinet depth models where only the door extends beyond the cabinets but fully integrated models are also available where you would never know it was a refrigerator until you opened the door. Built-in models are easily identified by the grate above the refrigerator doors that conceals the compressor. Because the compressor is mounted above the unit it is much taller than a free-standing model and is top heavy so it must be mounted to the wall and/or surrounding cabinetry. This style is available in preset configurations (bottom freezer, French door, all refrigerator, or side by side) as well as modular units where you may choose the refrigerator and freezer compartments separately and then install them as one unit. Built-in is the most expensive style available.
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Exterior Appearance
 Today's refrigerators are available with textured or smooth doors and cabinets. With the exception of some stainless steel models the doors and cabinets are color matched - stainless units usually have black cabinets, although silver cabinets are currently available as well.
Black, white, and stainless steel are considered "standard" colors. Bisque or Biscuit, an off-white color, is available on a limited number of models.
A stainless-like finish is becoming more widely available. It's designed to appear as stainless steel but offers better cleaning as it's fingerprint resistant.
Some manufacturers offer designer colors as well. You have the ability to use custom cabinet panels to match the rest of the Kitchen on any built-in unit or on several free-standing cabinet depth models with the use of a trim kit.
Energy Efficiency
 In a typical household the refrigerator can account for as mush as 10% to 20% of your annual energy consumption.
Energy Star qualified models use roughly 15% less electricity than a comparably sized non-qualified model.
Most importantly, if your current refrigerator is 10 years or older - replace it. A new unit will typically use 30% less electricity than the old one whether it's Energy Star or not.
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Feature Glossary
Now that you've identified the type, size, and style you're most interested in, take a moment to familiarize yourself with some other prominent features to look for:
 External Ice & Water Dispenser - provides filtered water and ice on demand without needing to open the door. Some models offer the ability to fill large items ( use filtered water for cooking or fill a pitcher with ice cold water whenever you need it, no need to store it in the refrigerator. The filter is mounted inside the fresh food compartment or outside at the base of the unit. Typically need to be replaced every 6 months at an average cost of $30-$40. If you purchase a non-filtered model you may add an in-line filter to the supply line feeding the refrigerator. These models are slightly less expensive up front but more labor intensive to change out.
 Adjustable Shelves and Door Bins - for the ultimate in storage flexibility. Arrange and re-arrange your refrigerator anytime you need to with ease.
- Slide-Out Shelves - allow for easier access to items stored in the back of the refrigerator. No more lost items that turn into Biology experiments by the time you find them.
- Sealed/Spill-Proof Shelves - contain spills to the the shelf they occur on. No need to clean the entire refrigerator when something spills.
 Humidity Controlled Crispers - allow you to set the humidity level for the produce you're storing for maximum freshness. A baffle controls the airflow into the drawer, higher end models use a rubber gasket to seal the drawer from the rest of the refrigerator.
- Temperature Controlled Deli Compartment - keep your cold cuts cooler than the rest of the refrigerator to maximize their lifespan. Compartment is connected via a vent to the freezer.
- Beverage Can & Wine Storage Racks - let you store these items for easy access.
- Advanced Lighting - easily view your refrigerator's contents. Brighter lights in more locations means it's less likely you'll accidentally block the light as well.
- Dispenser w/Child Lockout - means no unwanted waterfalls or glaciers in the Kitchen.
- Fast Freeze Shelf - quickly freeze foods that may defrosted during transit from the store.
Make sure it will fit!
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Measure the space you have available for your refrigerator. Don't forget about any doors, hallways, or other obstacles you'll need to pass by before getting the refrigerator to it's final spot. You may be able to remove the refrigerator doors to make it fit but you'll want to know before you try to move it in. Know the height, width, and depth of the area you want the new model to fit into before you shop.
Be certain to take into account the clearances you will need in your Kitchen to fully open the refrigerator doors as well as the cabinet doors surrounding the new unit.
Make sure you have the proper connections available:
- The refrigerator requires a 3-prong 110-Voly grounded outlet on it's own circuit.
- If your new model has an icemaker and/or water dispenser you'll need a water supply line behind the refrigerator. Most manufacturers recommend using a braided nylon line or copper tubing - clear poly or plastic is not recommended.
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