Choosing well: fridges
It’s the appliance you keep the longest, often ten years or more. Three criteria weigh on all that time: capacity, noise and energy use.
What to check
Measure the space before anything else
Height, width, depth, but also doorways and the room needed to open the door. A 91 cm wide unit doesn’t fit everywhere.
Noise is underestimated
In a kitchen open onto the living room, the gap between 36 and 41 dB is audible in the evening. It’s the criterion buyers regret most.
Compare kWh per year, not the class
Two appliances in the same class can differ by 30% in real consumption. The figure in kWh per year is the only comparable one.
Frost-free cooling avoids defrosting
It also keeps the temperature more even between shelves. It has become a standard, not a luxury option.
What you get for each budget
Under €600
Capacities of 250 to 320 litres, often class C or D. Fine for one or two people.
€600 to €900
The most sensible bracket: 340 litres, frost-free, class B, around 36 to 38 dB.
Over €900
Large capacities, double doors, dispensers. Useful above four people, oversized below.
Frequent mistakes
Going too big: a half-empty appliance uses energy for nothing.
Looking at the energy class without looking at the stated consumption in kWh per year.
Forgetting to check which way the door opens relative to the worktop.