Types of Refrigerators

In essence, a refrigerator is a device that serves as a warehouse for different food-related things, keeping them cool and possibly extending their shelf life. Various versions that may meet the needs of end customers have arisen in the market based on user expectations. Let's examine the different refrigerator models to see which would work best in your home. 

1. Direct Cool Refrigerator –

   
   
   Direct cool technology, as the name suggests, cools the Refrigerator naturally, without any external help. The cooling happens only across the freezer on top, and cold air flows from the freezer to the shelves in Fridge. 
   Since the cooling is restricted to natural convection (air flow), it is difficult to maintain precise cooling temperatures in different zones (shelves, Vegetable box etc). 
   
   Also, opening lets moist air to enter inside the Refrigerator which leads to formation of frost on the Freezer walls. Single door Refrigerators thus need to be defrosted (either manually or automatically) on regular intervals. 
    

2.  Frost Free Refrigerator –

   
   
   Unlike Direct Cool refrigerators, Frost Free refrigerators have a cooling mechanism on the side walls/ behind the Refrigerator. The cold air is circulated inside the Refrigerator with the help of a fan motor. 
   Frost-free refrigerators have 2 or more doors, with one section assigned to the Freezer compartment and another pantry compartment. 
   If you are looking for more convenience, Frost Free refrigerators with no frost formation are useful and come in more sizes. 
   Different Types of Frost Free Refrigerators are as follows:

   1. Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator –  As the name would suggest, it has a freezer unit at the top and a fresh food portion below. This may be preferred by users who only have limited access to the freezer and are more likely to use the fresh food sections.
   2. Side by Side Refrigerator – A side-by-side refrigerator will have the freezer on one side and fresh food section on the other. Those who need additional storage space and have enough room in the kitchen to fit a refrigerator tend to like it. In comparison to other refrigerators, they are larger and may be opened side by side.
   3. French Door Refrigerator – The French door refrigerator's design is similar to that of a French door, which has two doors that may open widely. Each of the two units—the fresh food unit at the bottom and the freezer unit at the top—has two independent doors. Large families would benefit most from the wide shelf's ample storage space.
   4. Bottom Mount Freezer Refrigerator - The purpose of the bottom freezer refrigerator is to alleviate end users' pain caused by their limited access to the top-mounted freezer compartment. As a result of its relocation, operating the fresh food unit has become simpler.
       

Best Refrigerator for you?

With so many refrigerators in the market today, varying by technology, capacity, star rating, features, finish – it’s difficult to make an easy choice. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to follow before making your refrigerator purchase. 

Refrigerator types:

The first thing you need to evaluate while making the purchase decision is the style/ configuration of the refrigerator, which is based on the cooling mechanism and the door facility type. 

Compressor Type: 

Cooling devices like Refrigerators and Air Conditioners need a compressor that is the heart of the cooling system. There are two types of compressor choices available 

• Inverter Compressor – An inverter compressor works on the principle of variable speed, changing as per the cooling requirement. They start at low speeds and pick up only when there’s a cooling loss, thus making them energy efficient 
• Fixed Speed Compressor – As the name suggests, they continue running at a constant speed, even if there is no cooling loss. Also, they start off at a high speed, which requires more energy. 

Features to look out for: 

Refrigerators have come a long way from being just a cold storage boxes. Nowadays, Refrigerators offer a wide array of features, that help in your day-to-day functionality

1. Farm Freshness – Keeping your food fresher for longer requires the food to be stored at a precise temperature. 
2. Energy Efficiency – Refrigerator once installed, is always on. It is thus important to look at the star label, which tells how much electricity your refrigerator consumes. 
   The higher the star rating, the lower the energy consumption of the product. 
   While a higher star rated product (5 star is the highest) may require a higher initial investment, it helps in cutting down the cost over a longer run, in comparison to a lower star product.  
3. Space – To ensure you can easily store your food items inside Refrigerator, space becomes an important criteria. Look for Refrigerators that offer wide storage shelves, large vegetable tray, large aqua space so that you can store more with ease. 
4. Door Pattern – Refrigerators are an integral part of your home setup and can have a huge impact on the décor. Chose a fridge that blends with the interiors of your kitchen. 
   Steel finish is one of the most popular colors among customers along with floral patterns. Some new refrigerators also come with a Glass door finish and black steel finish, which is not only easier to maintain but also less messy. 
5. Food Disinfection – Some Refrigerators, like Godrej Frost Free refrigerators, come with an advanced Nano Shield Technology that provides 95%+ Food surface disinfection. Thus, your food stays as healthy from the inside, as fresh it looks from outside. 

Conclusion

It is ultimately up to the consumer to select a refrigerator that best fits their needs out of the wide variety that is available on the market, with different models, sizes, capacities, and features. The information provided will help you make an informed choice and assist you through the refrigerator search process.