Whirlpool Bottom Mount Refrigerator

Refrigerators consume up to one-sixth of all electricity in a typical American home–more energy than any other household appliance. Considering that an average fridge will last for close to 20 years, it pays to make a wise decision when purchasing your next one. There are a number of different styles on the market nowadays, providing added convenience and efficiency so before going shopping it is wise to be informed as to what’s out there. A Bottom-mount refrigerator is a very popular model these days, with the freezer on the bottom instead of on the top as in classic top-mount models. Here is a list of some of the pros and cons of a bottom-freezer model to help you make your decision without hitting rock bottom.

Pros
Bottom-freezer models are clearly more convenient than top-freezers because the more popular refrigerator compartment is located comfortably at eye level, without any need of bending down to get to most items. Bottom mount refrigerators are also the most energy efficient model on the market, beating side by side fridges by as much as 16%, and even beating top mounts by a few percent. New French door models add even more convenience and efficiency to a standard bottom mount (link to French door).

Cons
The only draw back of a bottom mount refrigerator is the price. Although more convenient and efficient, bottom mount refrigerators are as much as 1.5 times more expensive than top mount models with only a little extra convenience, making it a difficult comparison. It can also be difficult to find rarely used items that get buried in the back of the freezer. The full sized door in the standard models is also a drawback for smaller kitchens, since the door can block aisle space when fully opened unless you go with a French door. It’s also unlikely to find one with the popular in-door ice-making and cold water feature.

Considerations
The main difference you will find in various bottom mount models is the type of door on the freezer. A standard swing door requires you to get down on your knees whenever you need to get something from the back of the freezer, but a convenient pull out drawer will cost you—in some cases as much as several hundred dollars more. A pull door is also less energy efficient, since you loose much more cold air every time you open the freezer. Slide out baskets are a good compromise, making a swing door much easier to handle. Additional features include shelf material and internal layout, which is more a personal preference than a qualitative difference. KitchenAid is the only company to make a bottom mount refrigerator that is a narrower counter depth model, lying flush with the cabinetry.

Additional Features
Most fridges out there today are made by the Whirlpool cooperation under different names, so most of the differences are mainly purely cosmetic. The following features are available from almost all manufacturers:

• Glass shelves are the sturdiest and easiest to clean, although plastic shelves are also fairly durable. Adjustable shelves such as pullout shelves or bins, split shelves, and full-extension drawers are a must to make room for oddly shaped or oversized items. Most must be raised by hand while some have a crank system. Anti-spill shelves are also highly recommended as are fridges with larger door shelves for gallon containers.
• Mini-doors provide easy access to most popularly used items. They also save energy by allowing you to open the main door less frequently.
• A fridge with a manual defrost uses half the energy of an automatic defrost model but obviously has the major drawback that it needs to be defrosted regularly.
• Refrigerators with anti-sweat heaters that prevent condensation consume 5-10% more energy.
• Accessible controls located in the front of the compartment make adjusting the temperature and humidity much easier. Some extras include humidity and temperature controlled drawers for meat and vegetables.
• A fridge with insulation to help dampen the sound of the compressor will be substantially quieter than one without although most fridges are quiet enough it.
• Some models now have digital controls that display the actual temperature of the various compartments of the refrigerator. However, electronic controls and thermometers are likely to fail at some point, which may make it more headache than it’s worth. As the kitchen becomes the new living room, more refrigerators are being made that incorporate high-tech equipment such as TVs, digital-picture or music devices, and family-organizing centers, although it will cost you much more than it would to purchase each item separately.
• Most bottom mount fridges come with internal ice makers—a valuable feature for most homes.

Size
It’s important to purchase a fridge that is the right size for your family. Too large a fridge wastes expensive energy while too small means overcrowding. Bottom mount refrigerator widths run from 30 to 36 inches, with 18 to 26 cubic feet of storage space although usable space doesn’t quite match that of comparable top-freezers.

In Summary
In summary, a bottom mount refrigerator is a great option for anyone who can afford it, provided you get a pull out freezer drawer. Otherwise, it may be more trouble than it’s worth, rummaging through the freezer on your hands and knees to find that lost item. Either way, bottom mounts are extremely efficient and will do a great job at keeping your food cold. The bottom line is that if a more popular French door is out of your price range, most Americans feel that a standard bottom mount is the second best choice. Bottoms up!

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