So you’re remodeling your kitchen, or maybe just replacing an older model, and you’re looking for the best rated refrigerators. Pretty common situation for any homeowner, but where do you turn for the best ratings, from a non-biased source?
There are several ways to research various brands and models of refrigerators, both on the internet and off. Consumer Reports is one of the best sources. They do regular features on most major appliances, refrigerators included.
You can either find a recent back-issue of the magazine that has a comparison review, or check their website for the most up-to-date information.
The only problem here is that they might not have reviewed the particular refrigerator brand and/or model that you’re considering.
Another option is to check review sites where other consumers can post their thoughts. This is actually one of the better sources of information, since it’s coming from other people who are actually using the fridge on a daily basis.
Amazon has a good review system on their website, as do most major retailers like Sears or Best Buy.
If you’re relying on a salesperson to give you the information when you’re shopping for your new fridge, just keep in mind that they tend to be biased towards a particular brand or model, for a couple of reasons.
First, the store might have an in-house brand that they prefer to sell, such as Kenmore at Sears.
Second, they could be swayed by a higher commission on one brand over another, and that can cloud their judgement. That’s not to say all salespeople are dishonest, but some are more concerned with their own payout than with finding you the best refrigerator for your needs.
In addition to comparing different brands, like Amana, Sub Zero and Dometic for example, you can also compare different types of refrigerators when you look at ratings.
For example, you might see how people rate side-by-side models, freezer on top models and freezer on bottom models. They each have advantages and disadvantages, and each are more practical in certain situations, so getting some feedback from other people using each can help you make the right decision.
The other factor you should consider when checking the best rated refrigerators is reliability and service for each brand. The particular model you’re looking at might not have been around long enough to get any good reliability information, but it’s a good idea to check on the brand in general.
If you find a lot of complaints about past models from that brand, it might be a red flag warning you to look elsewhere.
Choosing a refrigerator can be a little overwhelming, with all the different models (and price ranges) out there today, but if you do your research ahead of time, you should be able to find one that you’ll be happy with for years to come.