Buying Guide for Bottom Freezer Refrigerators

Bottom freezer refrigerators - Pros and Cons

Pros: 

Designed much like top unit models but the locations of the frozen foods and the fresh foods are reversed. So if you are like me and most of the time when you open the fridge you are looking for something that is not frozen then this may be a good option for you. The food you need and look for most often can be at eye level, so you don’t have to bend over to find it.

Cons:

Of course, this same ease of access can also be a problem. For some people, having easy access to frozen food is more important, and they'd prefer it on top. Refrigerators with a bottom freezer can be more expensive than top models, and typically they don’t have as much capacity because of the extra space required for the pull out drawer on the bottom. You will also find that bottom freezer refrigerators have a more limited selection in terms of styles available and they aren’t as energy efficient.

You can also find a summary overview of the features and benefits by going clicking to bottom freezer refrigerators model comparison.

Bottom Freezer Refrigerators  - What should I look for?   

In most family budgets the purchase of a new bottom freezer refrigerator is a large expenditure and once you make a choice you will be living with it for a long time, so first you need to decide on your budget. And remember, shop around, you can usually find top rated refrigerators on sale at significant discounts. But before you begin shopping there are a few keys that you need to keep in mind to find the best refrigerator for you.

After setting your budget you first need to know how much space you have availablefor your new refrigerator? Refrigerators come in a variety of styles - which do you prefer and in what color and finish? How much capacity do you need? Which accessories and features are important to you? With the cost of energy continuing to increase, power consumption is also an important buying consideration. And finally you need to consider the type of warranty is offered on your refrigerator - how long is it and what is covered?

Space – Step one, after you determine your budget is to determine how much space you have available. The answer to this question will have an impact on the capacity and style refrigerator that you can select. You also want to consider if there are other space related issues such as do you need a right hand open or a left hand open door? In addition to the space available you also need to decide how much capacity you need? A good rule of thumb is to figure 12 cubic feet for two people and 2 more cubic feet for each additional person.  

Refrigerators Styles - When it comes to style you will likely have fewer options available for bottom freezer refrigerators as compared to other styles but there are still a great number of options and configurations to choose from.

First you need to consider what type of doors you want, in other words, how do you open both the refrigerator and the frozen food section.

                 Refrigerators - door options:

Bottom freezer refrigerators - swing door – it’s what many people think of when they think of a refrigerator. These refrigerators feature a single door that opens either to the left or to the right, makes sure you know which way yours needs to open.

Bottom freezer refrigerators - french door – bottom freezer refrigerators featuring two doors, one hinged on each side of the refrigerator, that pull open from the center. Because both doors open the storage area is wide which makes it easy to store large platters of food? Both doors of the fridge offer storage racks which also increase the amount of door storage offered by these models. This option will be a little more expensive.

  Freezer door options:

Bottom freezer refrigerators - swing door - just like the upper section of the refrigerator, a single door that can open from the right or the left. This option may make it more difficult for you to see everything without having to bend down.

Bottom freezer refrigerators - pull out door – pulls out like a drawer.   This particular style has become more popular because it is easier to access the food in the refrigerator freezer section which pulls out and allows you to easily see all of your frozen foods.

Colors/Finishes – your selection of a color will normally be determined by the other colors already in your kitchen. It’s usually suggested that you stay with a neutral color and, one that won’t soon go out of style. Most manufacturers offer a standard range of exterior colors from almond, biscuit and black to stainless steel bottom freezer refrigerators. If you want to minimize the effect of fingerprints, some manufacturers also offer special finishes created to disguise them and make it easy to remove any marks with ordinary window cleaner. You will probably pay a little extra for this feature, but it could save you a lot of time in daily care and maintenance

Features - the number and type of features that you choose can significantly affect the cost of your new refrigerator. You need to consider how important special features are to you and if they are worth the price. You will also find that certain features aren’t available in certain configurations. Here are a few of the features you may want to consider:

·         Automatic ice maker

·         Through-the-door ice and/or water delivery

·         Tempered glass shelves

·         Gallon-sized door bins

·         Full-width snack drawer

·         Can dispensers

·         Wine or bottle racks

·         Egg containers

·         Adjustable shelving

·         Special-use bins

Energy Star

Your 20-year-old refrigerator may still have vintage appeal, but don’t let sentiment stop you from retiring it. A fridge made before 1993 may be costing you over $100 each year to operate. If you replace your old fridge with a new more efficient you can cut your related operating costs in half. Thanks to new improvements in insulation and technological improvements in compressors, today’s refrigerators use much less power than older models. In addition to saving you money, many of these refrigerators come with innovative features such as precise temperature controls and advanced food compartments to keep your food fresher, longer. Bottom freezer refrigerators use a little more energy than a top models so efficiency is even more important.

Qualified refrigerators are required by the U.S. Department of Energy to use 20% less power than models not labeled with the logo. Choose a new qualified model rather than a non-qualified model and cut your operating costs by $165 over the lifetime of your fridge.

Efficiency Guide

      When buying a refrigerator, request an ENERGY STAR qualified model to ensure it is energy efficient.

       Topmounted models consume 10–25% less power than bottom-mount or side-by-side models.

      Generally, the larger the refrigerator, the greater the energy consumption. The most efficient models are typically 16–20 cubic feet.

      Automatic ice-makers and through-the-door dispensers increase power onnsumption by 14–20%. They also raise the purchase price by $75–250

Warranties

Most bottom freezer refrigerators come with a basic warranty that covers one year of parts and labor and five years for the sealed refrigerator system and you can usually purchase an extended warranty plan at the time of purchase. Refrigerator reliability is generally excellent today, so you when considering this option you may want to consider this advice from J.D. Power and Associates Reports: High Reliability of Major Home Appliances May Reduce Need for Extended Warranties: 

“Extended warranties certainly provide a degree of peace of mind,” said Dale Haines, senior director of the real estate and construction industries practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “With some appliances — particularly those with complex electronics and potentially high repair costs — purchasing an extended warranty may make sense. However, major appliances tend to be very reliable, and consumers should consider very carefully — depending upon their circumstances — whether an extended warranty is worth the additional cost.”

Now you’re ready to do your research and by shopping online you can find:

• Refrigerator reviews on a specific model 
• Refrigerator comparisons from model to model 
• Top rated refrigerators 
• Best refrigerator brand 

Almost anything you might want to know about refrigerators you can find online. We have included a few of the highly reviewed models here and links to free online review sites to help get you started:

Bottom freezer refrigerators - Consumer Search Reviews

Bottom freezer refrigerators - ePinions Reviews 

For a quick look at a new French Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator check this video out:

 Additional Resources