Unless you're in the process of remodeling your kitchen or buying a new home and redoing the kitchen to reflect your own taste and image, you're probably not going to buy a new refrigerator unless you have to. That's understandable. The refrigerator is usually the most expensive appliance in the kitchen (there are exceptions, such as when you decide you want to outfit your kitchen with a "Professional" style range or wall oven), and can run anywhere from $600 to $3000 and possibly more.
Why the huge variation in price, you may understandably ask? I will get back to that in a bit. First, let me point out a few advantages in today's fridge vs. older units.
- Energy efficiency has been greatly enhanced. Even units that don't bear the Energy Star logo are dramatically more efficient than their predecessors. Most consumer see a notable drop in their electric bill.
- Units today are greener. Coolants are more environmentally friendly, as manufacturers work toward reducing their impact on our planet.
- Lighting is nicer. Most refrigerators use LED lighting, which is both more energy efficient and brighter.
- More options are available to the consumer. Refrigerators come in different sizes and shapes. Icemaker and ice/water dispensers are readily available (as are units that do not come with these convenience amenities.
- Refrigerators can be smart and connected. I wrote about that in a recent blog, so I am going to refer you there should you want to learn more about smart options.
We realize that if your fridge is broken and not keeping you food cold, you need to address this immediately! Here at Manny's we can usually deliver in-stock merchandise in three buisness days or less, with removal of the old carcass included. So, assuming for a moment you decide to replace rather than repair*, you will find more options and more choices (and more decisions to make) than other kitchen appliances.
*(Note that should you decide to explore repairing the fridge, we do have a full service department... call us for assistance.)
So, getting back to the question I posed earlier: Why the huge variation in price?
A lot depends on the style refrigerator you want to purchase. I'm going to walk you up the "food chain", from least expensive options to most expensive.
A note here: For the sake of simplicity, I am rounding refrigerator widths up to the nearest inch. For example, a fridge built for a 33" wide opening (very common in older homes!) is actually 32 5/8 - 32 7/8" wide.
First the basic, dependable top-freezer models (in our industry, refrigerators are classified by the freezer's placement (top, bottom, side).
These units keep your food cold and frozen just fine, while meeting current (and very strict!) energy and environmental mandates. They range in size from an apartment worthy 24" wide to a traditional kitchen width of 33", with proportional height options. Top-freezer models come in white, black, stainless steel (usually but not always fingerprint resistant). Price of a typical 18-22 cubic foot capacity top freezer (28-33" wide, 64-68" tall) ranges from $600-$1000. Most of these models do not automatically include an icemaker, but one is almost always available as an accessory in the $100-$150 range.
As I said, there's nothing wrong with a good ol' top freezer model. Having said that, more and more of our customers are leaning toward a larger, more modern style unit. Or, perhaps they want the convenience of an ice and water dispenser in the fridge's door. Here the side-by-side units (freezer on the left, fridge or "fresh food" compartment on the right) come into play:
Side-by-side (SXS) models tend to cost less than the currently more fashionable French Door units. Sizes range from 33-36" wide, depths usually 32-35" (excepting a handful of "counter depth" side-by-side models), and heights from 66-70" tall. With the exception of two Whirlpool made models, all these units will include an ice/water dispenser outside the freezer door.
Advantages to this format: The compartment holding the ice has a larger capacity then one finds on a French Door model. Pricing tends to be relatively cheaper than the more popular French Door units (usually $1000-$1500). Organization in SXS units is easier than in FD models, especially if you have a lot of smaller portioned items.
Disadvantages: One big one - the width of the freezer compartment!! The interior width of the freezer compartment in 36" wide units is 12-12 3/4" wide. If your kitchen only allows for a 33" wide unit, then the freezer width is closer to 10"! The frozen pizza, the 25 pound turkey... many people who have owned a side-by-side unit in the past complain about this one drawback more than anything else.
How did manufacturers respond to this complaint? Enter the modern French Door units!
(But first, let me touch on a style whose popularity has waned in recent years: Single-door bottom freezer units.)
These units are usually 30-33" wide, 65-69" tall, and are available in traditional black and white, as well as stainless, black stainless, and GE's slate color. They usually include an internal icemaker in the freezer, but do not have an option for a through-the-door ice and water dispenser. Pricing is considerably more than the corresponding top freezers (usually $1199 to $1999, depending on size, features, and color.) These units give you the advantage of having the compartment normally most used (the refrigerator, or fresh-food, compartment) on top, making access more convenient.
Due to the popularity of French door models, and the unavailability of both popular convenience options such as ice-water dispensers, and popular sizes (nothing larger than 33" wide models are available), model choices in this category are more limited than others.
Now, back to the French Door category:
Contemporary style. Plenty of space. Accessibility to your fresh food (not to mention an energy efficient, brightly lit interior.) This is the typical refrigerator found in a modern, up-to-date kitchen. These units are available in widths from 30-36", heights from 67-70", and have numerous options in both standard depth (34-37" including the handles) and counter depth (30-32"including handle, 28-30" without.) Color choices include the ubiquitous stainless steel (usually, but not always, fingerprint resistant) as well as what I call the "stainless alternatives" such as black stainless and slate. Traditional black and white models are still available, but you will find your choices in these colors limited as manufacturers focus on the newer more fashionable colors.
Price for these models usually run in the $1500-$2000 (although we've seem some models as low as $1299 when holiday promos are in play) for standard depth, and $1700-$3000 for counter depth.
Amenities available include: An ice and water dispenser in the left side fridge door (note - all French door models will contain an ice device, either an internal icemaker in the freezer, or an in-door dispenser), options for a fourth drawer (which serves, depending on the model, as a second freezer, an auxiliary refrigerator, or in some cases (as with the Frigidaire Gallery and Professional models) a flexible fridge-or-freezer compartment.
Yes, as you may have guessed, extra features add to the price tag! Models with in-door dispensers cost more than corresponding non-dispenser models. Counter depth costs more than standard depth. Four door costs more than three door. Depending on what you want in your fridge (or are willing to pay!) price can vary from $1299 to $3000!
Now, the above is just an overview of your choices; I could easily keep going for a while longer! For example, I haven't touched on the "Designer" 84" tall category, or on the handful of outlier models that don't conform to the standard sizes) I'll leave those questions, as well as any other questions ("Why would I want counter-depth?" "What models come in white?", etc.) to any of our professional sales associates in our eleven locations (addresses and phone numbers are prominently displayed on the front page of our site), or - if you'd prefer - I can answer them via email.