The Only Refrigerator Buying Guide You’ll Ever Need

When your dishwasher breaks, you can wash dishes by hand in the meantime. If your washer is out of commission, there’s always the laundromat. But when your fridge is busted, your only option is to get a new one ASAP.

As technology has advanced, so have fridges, and it can be overwhelming to make a choice. Especially when you don’t have the luxury of time. With this buying guide, you’ll have all the information needed to know how to choose a fridge and get your kitchen running smoothly again.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Refrigerator

You have several factors to think about when shopping for a new fridge, ranging from the right size to any cool tech and features you might want. Let’s take a closer look at each one to help you narrow your fridge choices.

Size and Capacity

The size of your fridge is one of the most important factors to consider. Not only is inside capacity important, but you also need to ensure the fridge fits in your kitchen.

You’ll want plenty of space for your food inside the fridge, and your needs can vary depending on how many people live in your house and your grocery habits. When checking capacity, look at the distance between shelves, the number of drawers, and any in-door storage. You might need more space if you buy in bulk or only grocery shop once or twice a month. If you shop every week and only have one or two people in the house, you can get away with a smaller fridge.

When measuring for a new refrigerator, you need to pay attention to:

• Depth, Width, and Height: Measure the available space between your counters and cabinets to make sure you get a fridge with the right dimensions. Don’t forget to leave space behind the fridge for ventilation.
• Door Opening: You need to open the doors to access your fridge and freezer—ensure they have enough space to open all the way without hitting any cabinets, counters, islands, or other appliances.
• Your Home’s Doorways: The last thing you want is to buy a fridge only to discover you have no way to get into your kitchen. Measure your doorways and have a plan ready for getting the fridge from truck to kitchen.

Style

Fridges are available in a range of styles, and you need to pick the one that meets your design tastes and grocery needs. But what are the different types of refrigerators?

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

These refrigerators have the fridge on one side and the freezer on the other, with both compartments similar in size. These tend to come with icemakers and water dispensers and are great for narrower spaces. However, the freezers don’t offer much room for bulkier items like pizza boxes.

Top-Freezer Refrigerators

As the name suggests, this type of refrigerator has a freezer on the top and a fridge on the bottom. They are usually a more affordable option, but your freezer space can be limited. They also don’t usually have features like icemakers and water dispensers. Many folks have this fridge style as a bonus fridge in their garage.

Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators

This refrigerator style is the opposite of the last one. It has the freezer compartment on the bottom and the fridge on top. The freezer pulls out like a drawer, which you may find more convenient, and it might have an icemaker. But like the top-freezer option, your freezer space might be very limited.

French-Door Refrigerators

This refrigerator model combines the side-by-side and bottom-freezer styles. It has two doors on top that open into the refrigerator compartment and a freezer drawer on the bottom. Some even come with multiple drawers! These fridges tend to be more popular, often require less space to open the doors, and usually come with more high-tech features available.

Aside from these fridge types, you want to consider other stylistic factors like color and finish.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a big selling point for many people, whether they are taking more note of their environmental impact or simply trying to save a bit on their energy bill. If this factor is important to you, then you may want to know how to choose an energy-efficient refrigerator.

The good news is that most modern fridges are way more efficient than fridges of the past. If you want to help maximize your energy efficiency, check out the Energy Star website for the EPA’s ENERGY STAR rating. According to the EPA, “ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators are about 9 percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard.”

Special Features

Aside from the basics like size and style, you also want to check out some of the special features a fridge can have. If you haven’t purchased a fridge in a while, you might wonder what features to look for in a refrigerator. Below are some ideas.

• Water Dispenser and Ice Maker: These might not be the most high-tech features, but many people love the convenience of getting cold water straight from the fridge and not needing ice trays.
• Adjustable Drawers and Shelves: Another more basic feature, but the customization of adjustable shelving and drawers makes it easy to create the space you need in the fridge.
• Cameras and Windows: Tired of constantly opening the fridge to check what’s inside? Cameras and windows can let you see the interior of your fridge without needing to open the doors and let cool air escape.
• Smart Refrigerators: More advanced refrigerators can connect to the Wi-Fi, allowing you to check and control the fridge from your smartphone. Some even let you create shopping lists, view recipes, leave notes, and more right from a screen on the fridge.
• Fingerprint Resistance: Some fridges have a fingerprint-resistant finish that helps keep your fridge looking its best.

Budget

Your budget is another crucial factor to consider while shopping. Determine your max budget for the appliance, and look only at fridges below that price point. You don’t want to look at a fridge and get excited because it checks all your boxes, only to find out it’s hundreds of dollars over budget.

If you’re not financially ready for a new fridge and need something to get by, mini-fridges are a cheap option. You can temporarily use one to store your fridge basics (you’ll just be missing out on frozen foods). Once you have your real replacement, you can use the mini-fridge in cool ways, like to chill skincare items or keep extra sodas and juices cool.

When to Replace Your Fridge

Fridges can be a big expense, so you likely only want to replace them when necessary. Here are some signs that it might be time to upgrade your fridge to a better model.

Strange Noises

Weird noises coming from your fridge could be anything from items rattling on top of the fridge to a busted fan motor. Some fixes are more costly than others, so if the repairs just don’t make financial sense, it could be time to ice your fridge out and move on.

Only the Fridge or Freezer Section Works

Does your freezer work but the fridge is out of order? Or maybe your fridge is nice and cool, but the freezer is fully thawed. Either way, something is seriously wrong with your appliance. From fan issues to clogged condenser coils, countless issues could be the cause. Instead of spending money repairing an outdated appliance, you could put your funds toward a new fridge.

It Won’t Stay at the Right Temperature

Is your fridge not keeping food cold enough? Or is the freezer a little too cold and everything winds up freezer-burnt? You may have issues with the thermostat, temperature control board, or humidity. If your refrigerator was already on its last leg and it’s been a while since you got it, shopping for a new one might be the best move.

Get a Fridge That Fits Your Home and Your Budget at Rent-A-Center

Ready to find the perfect fridge for your home? Rent-A-Center has it all! From side-by-side options to top freezer refrigerators, we have everything you need from the brands you love. Shop Whirlpool, Amana, LG, and more, and enjoy flexible payment options and free delivery, all without using credit!

Plus, with RAC Exchange, you aren’t locked into a fridge that doesn’t work for you. As long as you’re within the first six months of your contract, you can swap your fridge—or any product—for a new one. And any payments you’ve made will count toward the cost of owning your new fridge. It’s really that easy. Shop online or in-store today!

*“RAC Exchange” program valid for agreements entered at select locations, is available to new and existing customers and applies to inventory obtainable by store location. Cash price of the item selected for exchange may not exceed approval amount, which is subject to validation and adjustment prior to exchange and may vary from original approval amount. Exchange requires execution of rental agreement for item selected for exchange, which must be completed within six (6) months following the first active rental date of item being returned for exchange. Agreement for item being returned for exchange must be in good standing (with all rental payments current) at the time of exchange and product must be in good condition. Rent paid for prior agreement will be applied to reduce the total cost to own for the replacement agreement but rent paid may not be applied in full to Same As Cash amount for replacement agreement. Any applicable Same As Cash period will apply to new agreement based on product selection and agreement term. The amount of rent paid from prior agreement eligible for application to Same As Cash amount for replacement agreement may vary from 40% to 66%, depending on your state of residence. Exchanges under program may not be combined with other discounts, offers or promotions. Participating locations only. Eligible items only. All items subject to availability and approval. See Store Manager for complete details.