Small, efficient, and meant for business! This refrigerator COOLS!
Written: Apr 19 '03 (Updated Apr 21 '03)
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Pros: Great size, holds an amazing amount since it's well designed, and energy efficient.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Great for the office, dorm room, basement, or anywhere else you need a small fridge for snacks and drinks.
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| briandalsmom's Full Review: Kenmore 91171 (1.7 cu. ft.) Compact Refrigerator |
This is the 3rd and final unit in our quest to buy a compact refrigerator for our son. The first turned out to be a cooler, not a refrigerator (Hammacher Schlemmer) , the second froze absolutely everything (Haier America HSE02-WNAWW 1.8 Cubic Foot Capacity Compact Refrigerator ), and the third is just right!
What we settled on was a Kenmore compact refrigerator that features a vertical can dispenser and gallon jug holder in the door, a small ice compartment, a moveable main shelf, and adjustable cold control. While it would be perfect for an office, basement, trailer, dorm room, etc. My son will be taking it to college with him when he leaves, but for now it’s stocked full of soft drinks and coffee coolers in his bedroom. He enjoys the novelty of inviting friends over for a drink and it’s one less purchase we’ll need to make when he leaves.
It’s small, only 3.0 cu ft and weighs 40 pounds—easy enough to be moved by one person. It’s 18-7/8” high x 18-5/8” wide, and 19-7/8” deep. It’s an energy efficient model which uses 299 Kilowatt Hours per year which means the cost to run it averages $24 a year (the price of power in your area will affect this total). It comes with a 1-year general warranty.
My son has used this unit since January and has been please. It’s exceptionally quiet and maintains its temperature beautifully (checked occasionally with a digital thermometer to be sure it’s cooling to a safe temperature for perishables), and looks great.
The temperature was the main selling point—the previous two units were rejected because of their cooling problems. One was too warm, the other too cold (I’m starting to sound like the “Three Bears” here!). We’re sticklers about safety and follow the Government Services Administration (GSA) guidelines for kitchen safety. They recommend a refrigerator stay between 37°-41° F (5 C) —this is important because it slows the growth of most bacteria. The temperature won't kill the bacteria, but it will keep them from multiplying, and the fewer there are, the less likely you are to get sick from them. Most home refrigerators are closer to 50°.
TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE IT WORK AT ITS BEST
The temperature and energy use can be affected by many things. To help maintain the temperature remember what your mom used to say—“don’t stand there with the door open!” It turns out your mom was right. Opening and closing the door means you loose your cool and the refrigerator has to work harder—using more energy! It also means it will have trouble maintaining the optimum temperature. Check the door gaskets—make sure they’re in good condition (pliable) and seal properly. Replace them if they don’t. Don’t place the refrigerator in direct sunlight. Seems logical but with the curtains in my son’s room open during the day it was bathed in sunlight, only no one was home to notice. Once we did figure out what it was running nearly constantly we moved it and all is well. Don’t put hot foods in the refrigerator—let them cool slightly before placing them in.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Be sure that there is at least a half inch of clearance on all sides—my fire fighter husband insists on 3” of clearance on the back as the heat from the coils can cause problems, but it's advertised as having a flat back so you can place it right up against a wall--go figure. He’s also strapped my son’s down with an earthquake strap—something to think about if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Never use an extension cord—it’s not recommended by the manufacturer or the fire fighter, so be sure to place it near a 3-pronged outlet. Also, always unplug the unit if you work on it or clean it.
CARE AND CLEANING
Simple care is required to keep it in peak condition. An occasional cleaning of the condenser coils with a soft brush (especially important as we have a cat and dog who shed) and a swipe or two with mild soap and water to keep the interior clean and smell-free--that’s it!
SETTINGS
Simple dial control 1 to 5 (1 being coldest)—I recommend using a digital thermometer to set yours instead of relying on the “if it freezes it’s too cold method”.
RECOMMENDATION
I’m not looking forward to my son leaving, but if he has to, I’m glad he’ll have a bit of home to take with him. It’s a brand I’ve grown to trust and feel confident that this will last him for many years. He’s making the refrigerator his own by adding band stickers and magnets so it’s a keepsake as well--a reminder of his high school days when it only held pop...
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99.00
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briandalsmom
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Member: Mom
Location: USA
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