At a Glance
We are writing a few articles to help you during these tough times. The focus will be on critiquing less expensive replacement appliances.
Less expensive does not mean without features or buying unreliable equipment.
These are solid products. Some we do not even actively promote because many of you reading this live outside of Boston.
This is our last article on how to buy cheaper appliances like the previous 4 articles on washers, dishwashers, gas and electric ranges.
There is a definite way of saving money while buying a refrigerator, even without sacrificing capacity. You will learn why the type or style of refrigerator you choose is the most important.
I will also show you some pretty sobering repair stats based on 35,256 service calls completed last year.
Let's get started.
Appliances are designed to fit your cabinets. For example, dishwashers are 24 inches wide, so are wine coolers and under-counter refrigerators. Ranges are mostly 30 inches wide. These are all standard cabinet sizes.
The most common sizes for refrigerators are 30, 33, and 36 inches. There are a few 18, 24 and 28-inch sizes.
For this article, we will look at the most popular sizes.
At present, there are 6 styles of refrigerators: top mount, bottom mount, side-by-side, French door, built-in, and integrated.
Top Mount: Freezer on the top, refrigerator on the bottom.
Bottom Mount: Refrigerator on the top and freezer below. Bottom mounts are better for refrigeration, because you're not bending like the top mount.
Side-By-Side: Refrigerator and freezer side by side. It's the most organized storage and has the most freezer space of all the refrigerator types.
French Door: Is a side-by-side refrigerator with a bottom freezer. The French door is the most popular configuration because you have better lateral storage than a side by side. French doors are also available in a number of configurations like 4 doors, Door N Drawer and 5 doors.
These last two are shown as reference due to their premium price.
Built-In: Also called professional with compressor on the top to emulate a commercial refrigerator.
Integrated: Designed to fit within the cabinet so it is indistinguishable from the cabinet itself. It is also the most expensive refrigerator to buy.
Of these top mounts, Samsung has the unique feature of the freezer being convertible to refrigerator. It's a good idea for parties as well. Yes, you can always convert it back to a freezer.
Just as an FYI, a bottom mount will cost more than a top mount but will have more cubic footage.
Much like the smaller 18 cubic foot, this Samsung is 21 cubic feet and offers the convertible freezer.
This refrigerator may be the cheapest per square foot at a whopping 25 cubic feet. However, the depth is 35 inches plus the door so make sure it will fit.
This Samsung is counter depth. However, by cutting the depth, it is smaller at 18 cubic feet
Counter-depth refrigerators look better in your kitchen because you will not see the sides of your refrigerator. However, you do lose interior capacity.
Samsung seems to be the cheapest of the brands. They have twin cooling, so the refrigerator and freezer air does not commingle. Your food especially in the freezer will taste better.
We do not sell every brand. Frigidaire may be an inexpensive product to consider as well.
We sell mostly French door refrigerators. There tend to be issues with ice makers and dispensers with every brand.
Most Reliable Counter Depth Refrigerators for 2020
| Service Qty | Shipped Qty | Service Ratio | |
| BlueStar | 23 | 36 | 63.89% |
| Jenn-Air | 308 | 595 | 51.76% |
| KitchenAid | 103 | 239 | 43.10% |
| Whirlpool | 6 | 17 | 35.29% |
| Bosch Appliances | 135 | 422 | 31.99% |
| LG Electronics | 10 | 46 | 21.74% |
| Samsung | 248 | 1220 | 20.33% |
| Fisher & Paykel | 31 | 192 | 16.55% |
| GE Profile | 9 | 59 | 15.25% |
| GE Appliances | 5 | 35 | 14.29% |
| Café Appliances | 2 | 41 | 4.87% |
| Grand Total | 916 | 2932 | 31.24% |
Just make sure your refrigerator can be fixed. Some brands have sparse service networks, so inquire before you buy.
I would add this given the times.
Buying around holidays like Presidents' Day and Black Friday is a good idea. However, we are not near any holidays.
So consider these alternatives:
First, know your cabinet size. If you live in Boston, you should measure the stairs, landings and doorways as well to understand what will fit.
Top mounts are the least expensive followed by bottom mounts. There are some cheaper French doors and side by sides in larger sizes.
Look for floor displays and other alternative ways to save money.
Additional Resources
Download the Yale Refrigerator Buying Guide with features, specs, and inside buying tips for regular, pro, and integrated counter depth refrigerators. Well over 680,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
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