Fridges, Freezers and Fridge-freezers buying guide
Do you need a fridge, freezer or fridge-freezer?
With so much choice available, it's important to decide on a fridge and freezer combination that meets the needs of your household and makes the most of your available space.
Fridges
Available in two basic styles, under-counter, (standard height 85cm) designed to fit under a work top, and tall larders (standard height over 145cm) - offering more storage space, and will stand alone in the kitchen. Under counter fridges have the added flexibility of containing an ice-box, whereas larders do not. Integrated, built in fridges and freezers featuring a panelled front to match your cupboard units are also available.
Freezers
How much freezing capacity do you need? There are three styles to choose from under-counter, (standard height 85cm) chest (80-112cm) or tall freezers (standard height over 145cm). Chest freezers are ideal for freezing food in bulk, while tall freezers are a good choice if you need to organize large quantities of frozen food and want to keep your freezer in the kitchen. The freezer star rating lets you know what it can freeze and for how long.
Fridge-freezer
A great space-saving solution, fridge freezers are available in a variety of widths and heights - Look at the split between the fridge and freezer areas and choose the combination that best suits your needs and the type of foods you eat.
How much space do you have?Back to top 
Fitted kitchens may offer an obvious home for a fridge, possibly next to kitchen units or slotted under a worktop. Consider whether floor space can be maximised with a combined fridge-freezer, or is there room for a separate freezer? If space is tight, it's worth considering other options - a fridge could be housed in a room close-by to the kitchen, while a garage makes a great home for a chest freezer
If space is not an issue, and you require a lot of food storage space, an increasingly popular choice is the American style fridge. Double doors open to house a fridge on one side and a freezer on the other. Available in almost every colour imaginable to suit your design scheme, these models are an eye-catching feature in their own right and often include desirable features such as water coolers and ice makers (don't forget though that these will need to be plumbed in!).
In order to help you with your decision, we have grouped our range together by width
How much storage capacity do you need?Back to top
Consider your shopping habits and the size of your household. How much fresh produce will you need to store in a fridge, and how much of your food is bought in bulk and frozen? This will help you to decide on the split between cooling and freezing capacity.
Energy efficiencyBack to top
Each model is graded from A-G, with 'A' being the most energy efficient. Look for 'A' graded models, as although the initial outlay may be higher, the appliance will use a lot less electricity, saving you money in the long term, and will also reduce the impact of carbon dioxide on the environment.
Features to look forBack to top
Adjustable thermostat - allows you to control the temperature inside your fridge.
Temperature warning light - automatically alerts you if the fridge temperature is too low to keep food fresh.
Auto-defrost - this automatically regulates the temperature of your fridge to avoid frost build up.
Fast-freeze - useful for adding unfrozen food to the freezer or reducing temperature quickly after loading the freezer.
Frost free - you never have to defrost your freezer again!
Shelves and fixtures - In fridges look for split-level moveable glass shelves which are easy to clean, pull out trays for holding smaller items, bottle grippers for positioning bottles securely in the door and wine racks. Freezer baskets benefit from side handles, making it easier to carry the container when necessary, and over-sized freezer drawers are ideal for storing large items, such as the turkey at Christmas! Models are often equipped with special drawers for storing fruit or pizzas, and look for ice storage drawers, sometimes combined with an ice-making system.
Homebase buyer's tips Back to top
'Look out for adjustable shelving, it will allow you to customize your storage space.'
'Old fridges must be disposed of carefully - older models may contain CFC gases that are harmful - if in doubt, contact your local council for details on how to dispose of an old fridge.'
