Think before you "refrigerate!"
Apr 13 '00
A couple of years ago my better half got the bright idea of putting in a new kitchen. Actually it was a good idea but later its execution left much to be desired. The one big mistake we made was the selection of a 20 cubic foot side by side refrigerator. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot! The refrigerator has 12.90 cf of space and the freezer side has 6.79 cf to equal about 19.7 cf total. The freezer size is only about 9.5 inches wide while a ice cube tray is 11" and most frozen dinners need to be mashed into that space of 9.5" to fit sideways. The side by side has only 12" shelves inside on the refrigerator side but a conventional has 24" plus for an 18 cf or larger.
Energy usage is also a problem as this unit takes an average of 777 kwh's of electricity per year while the range for equivalent units is 702 kwh to 796 kwh according to the tag inside. Since it has to run so much it also creates a lot of continuous noise during the day which one must put up with. Of course maybe with teenagers playing loud music it might be a blessing but for many of us it is plain "noise pollution!"
Consumer Reports has while running tests concluded that the bottom freezer model is the most energy efficient, the top freezer second most efficient, and the side by side the worst. I agree from actual experience with all three over the years. Because you have two large doors in a side/side with a large area to seal you must be careful to not have any objects hang up to prevent the doors from sealing effectively. The bottom line is my wife told me "if I think about buying another side by side refrigerator please shoot me!" Well I wouldn't do that but the point is that this fad with side by side refrigerators is just that a fad! They are not handy, not efficient, and a real pain to use in the "real world." Thankfully we have an old 18 cf top freezer refrigerator downstairs to store what can't fit into that poor choice of a side by side. And 12 years ago I only paid $40 for that "obsolete" top freezer!
Please take our actual experience if thinking side by side-two words-"DO NOT!" It is not worth it!
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Epinions.com ID:
Boston987
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Reviews written: 17
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