Things to know before buying a Refrigerator Online in Nepal

Here is the list of things, you must know before buying a brand new refrigerator.

• Overall Capacity
• Type
• Defrosting Type
• Power consumption
• Additional Features

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Overall Capacity

The capacity of the refrigerator is measured in cubic feet. This is the measurement of the volume of the complete inside portion of your refrigerator. It is also called net volume. The outer dimensions are represented on the sticker on the inside of the doors. It is also called Gross volume. This inside volume represents the actual volume of food and beverage that can be stored in the refrigerator. It is also called net volume.

Based on the number of people, your refrigerator size can be determined as:-

Number of People	Size
1-2 people	50-80 litres
2-3 people	150-250 litres
4-5 people	250-330 litres
6 or more people	350-490 litres

Based on the size of the refrigerator, refrigerator models can be classified as:

Size of the Refrigerator	Model
50-80 litres	Single Door
150-250 litres	Single Door, Double Door, Triple Door
250-330 litres	Double Door and Triple Door
350-490 litres	Double Door and Side by Side

Type of Refrigerator

By combining the old and new modern designs, we can classify refrigerators into 7 basic categories. You can pick the one suitable model for your kitchen style:-

• Built-In Refrigerator

It is designed to fit your kitchen cabinet to give that aesthetic finish to your home. However, we recommend you must consult your designer for the perfect matching color and design for the interior of your house.

• Top Freezer Refrigerator

If you reach the freezer of your refrigerator frequently, this is a suitable type for you. You don’t have to bend over every time to reach your freezer. Currently, this is neighborhood friendly model, you can find it in every house.

• Bottom Freezer

Contrary to the top freezer model, it has a freezer at the bottom of your refrigerator. It is suitable for the family who uses the fridge part more often than the freezer. It has various sizes of adjustable drawers to arrange your groceries properly.

• Side-by-Side Refrigerator

With the fresh food section on one side and the freezer on the other side, this model allows you to access both compartments side by side. The larger size of this model can accommodate larger families without taking up much space. Apart from the better accommodations, this model also comes with ice- makers, an energy-efficient system, and a digital display for controls.

• French Door Refrigerator

Gradually, this model is gaining popularity very fastly. The French door is upsized side-by-side fridge and fridge at the bottom. Such types of refrigerators offer easy access to both compartments and come in impressive sizes to accommodate the bulky goods easily inside the fridge.

• Wine Cooler

It seems like a luxury model. If you are a wine lover and hosting parties, this model is perfect for you. It creates a suitable environment for wine storage. Therefore, you can store your wine for a longer period.

• Classic Refrigerator

This model is suitable for small families and office spaces. This is the most sold model of refrigerator. They are simple in design and affordable in price.

Defrosting Type

No matter what brand of refrigerator you buy, one basic function of every refrigerator is cooling and it must lower the temperature inside it. During the refrigeration cycle, the air inside the refrigerator is cooled down below freezing temperature forming ice. Due to the high frequency of this process, ice crystals accumulate inside the freezer which in turn decreases the performance, reduces efficiency, and decreases the life expectancy of components over time. To avoid this situation, refrigerators are equipped with the process called defrosting. There are 2 types of defrosting available, namely:-

• No-Frost / Automatic Defrost

Automatic defrost refrigerators works automatically on a time-based system or user-based defrost system. Depending on the model, these defrost work automatically after every 12- 15 hours. The defrost system activates the defrost heater in the evaporator section at the rear of the freezer.

• Manual Defrost or Partial Automatic Defrost (compact refrigerator)

In this method, you have to leave the refrigerator and allow it to cool down to room temperature. There is no heater in the evaporation section. You must manually defrost when the ice is 1/4 or 1/2 inch thick. However, the fresh food section defrosts automatically when you turn off the refrigerator.

Power Consumption

While buying a refrigerator, you must consider the power consumption. For your information, the power consumption depends not just on the frequency of usability. Here, we have pointed out several factors that add up to your electricity bill every month:-

Compressor Technology:-A refrigerator with inverter technology uses less power than one without inverter technology.

Size:- The larger the storage volume, the more power consumption. A single-door fridge uses less power than one with a double door.

How full is your fridge:- This might seem funny but it matters. The more stuff you put inside your fridge, the less electricity it consumes. Yes, just the opposite of what we might assume. So, the science here is, that if we put more stuff in the fridge, there will be lesser air. This implies that the compressor has to cool the lesser volume of air. Hence, it consumes less electricity.

Frequency of opening the door:- This is the one mistake, we commit knowingly. Every time we open the door of the fridge, warm atmospheric air enters the fridge. Now, the compressor has to cool the air again which increases the power consumption.

Ventilation of your refrigerator:- We neglect this most of the time but it matters. While cooling the air inside the fridge, it pumps the warmer air into the atmosphere. If the refrigerator is not properly ventilated this warm air will heat the compressor and hence increase the power consumption.

Additional Features

If something is exciting about the refrigerator in 2022, it’s the new features. This year, we are expecting some of the very latest technologies and IoT ( internet of things) with the refrigerator.

Here, we will talk about some of the exciting additional features in the latest refrigerator:-

• Door Configurations
• WiFi connectivity
• Energy Efficiency
• Edge to Edge Shelves
• Automatic temperature Controls
• Special Ice-m Makers

Refrigerator FAQs

1. What are the best-rated refrigerator for home and commercial use?

Answer:- Mostly, ACs are rated from 1 to 5, and the higher the rating means higher the energy efficiency. Refrigerators with 5- star rating consumes the least amount of energy and causes the least pollution. Therefore, you must pick the AC with the highest ratings.

2. At what temperature should I maintain my refrigerator?

Answer:- It is suggested to keep your refrigerator at 3 to 4℃. You can maintain the upper limit of temperature to be 7℃ and the lower limit of temperature to be 0℃.

3. What should I do if I find water at the bottom of the self-defrosting refrigerator?

Answer:- The main behind those water is the defrost drain tube getting blocked because of some object or the tube getting ice-clogged. In order to fix this, you have to remove the defrost drain tube and clean the tube to remove the blockade.

4. What to do, if I find an unpleasant odor inside my fridge?

Answer:-The smell is mainly due to the accumulation of dirt and water for a longer period. You can simply clean the fridge with detergent to get rid of the odor.

5. Is it important to understand the size, capacity, and usage of the refrigerator?

Answer:- Yes, it is really important to understand the size, capacity, and usage of the refrigerator. If you buy a refrigerator larger than the capacity you need. It will simply be costly and consume more electricity. Also, you should be well aware of the type of refrigerator you need.

6. Does my refrigerator need annual maintenance?

Answer:- Yes, your refrigerator needs maintenance, at least once every year. You can consult the product manual given to you by your manufacturer to check if your product needs special consideration.

7. Is there any difference between a beverage refrigerator and a regular refrigerator?

Answer:- Yes, there is a difference between a beverage refrigerator and a regular refrigerator. Basically, a beverage refrigerator is designed for the purpose of presentation. They have a sleek stainless design, a glass door that allows us to display the products and drinks, and shelves designed for cans and bottles.

8. Where should I place my refrigerator inside my home?

Answer:- As long as you keep the refrigerator out of the direct sunlight and source of heat like oven, you can place it anywhere you want.

9. How long can the food inside the refrigerator last without electricity?

Answer:- Your refrigerator will keep the food safe for up to 4 hours without the power supply. After that, your food may deteriorate depending on the type of food.

10. Can we transport the refrigerator lying down?

Answer:- Yes, you can transport the refrigerator lying down. However, you must allow it to rest for 24 hours before plugging in the power again. While lying down, the refrigerant gas will be unevenly distributed throughout the refrigerator. Therefore, you must let the gas settle before plugging in the power again.

11. Can you put cans or bottles inside the freezer?

Answer:- Yes, you can put the cans or bottles inside the freezer but you must be cautious. Liquid expands when frozen so, you must leave the empty space in the bottle while freezing to prevent it from blasting.

12. Can I put the microwave on the top of my refrigerator?

Answer:- No, you should not put anything on the top of your refrigerator. Remember that refrigerator needs some space clearance on the top as well. This facilitates ventilation; putting the microwave on the top of the refrigerator will block the air and heat. Therefore, the refrigerator has to put in extra work to keep cool, increasing electricity consumption.

13. Can I turn off the refrigerator overnight?

Answer:- Definitely not. The refrigerator needs to maintain temperature to prevent the food from spoiling. Turning it off will increase the risk of food spoilage.

14. How long does it take to make ice?

Answer:- It may take up to 4 hours. Some of the new refrigerators are equipped with the express ice-making functionality that can make ice in fewer than 2 hours.