3 Tips When Buying A New Refrigerator
Upgrading your home's refrigerator is always an exciting prospect. Yet if you don't do your homework when making your selection, you may find yourself up dealing with a host of unanticipated problems. If your old fridge is starting to get on in years, read on. This article will present three important things to keep in mind when shopping for a replacement.
Determine the energy consumption of your old fridge.
Buying an energy efficient fridge is a great way to cut down on your electricity costs. Yet there's no reason to spend extra money on a top of the line model unless you know exactly how much energy your old fridge is consuming. Otherwise the savings simply may not be worth the added expense.
Luckily, there's an easy way to determine the precise energy consumption of your fridge. You'll need to invest in a kilowatt meter. This simple device is plugged into your wall socket, and then the fridge is plugged into it, thus allowing the meter to record the energy consumed by your fridge. It will give you this amount in kilowatt hours, or kWh. Compare this to the efficiency ratings on the fridges you're considering buying, in order to find one that will deliver the most significant improvement.
Use stainless steel supply lines.
Nothing beats a fridge with built in ice and water dispensers. Yet these fridges present a greater risk of costly leaks--or even flooding--thanks the supply lines that are used to connect them to a water source. This risk is greatest for those who choose the least expensive option, plastic supply tubing. Not only will this plastic grow increasingly more brittle with time, but it is also vulnerable to the teeth of gnawing rodents.
You can reduce the chances of unwanted water damage by opting to install a much hardier type of supply line: those made out of braided stainless steel. These will recoup their slightly higher price tag by providing you with years of worry-free use.
Inquire about the possibility of haul away service.
Most appliance stores will include delivery service as part of their purchase agreement. But that doesn't always mean that they will also get rid of your old refrigerator. Avoid the headache of being stuck to dispose of your old unit on your own by inquiring about whether haul away service is provided. In some cases, this may be included in the delivery cost, while in others it may involve an additional fee. Be sure that you have a definite plan about what's going to happen with your old fridge. Contact an appliance store, like Collier County Appliance Service, Inc., for more help.