Amana Top Mount Refrigerator

Refrigerators consume more energy than any other household appliance alone and use up to a sixth of all electricity in a typical American home. Considering that an average fridge will last you 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, so before going shopping it is wise to be informed as to what’s out there.

Most American’s grew up with top mount refrigerators, with the freezer on the top and the fridge on the bottom. Until fairly recently they were the most popular type of fridge simply because that’s what was available on the market. Now there are a number of different alternatives to the top mount, none-the-less, top mount refrigerators still has a special places in many people’s hearts. Until today, it’s still the most affordable model on the market—sometimes surprisingly cheaper–and believe it or not, also the least prone to malfunction. Due to today’s difficult economic times, the top mount is once again becoming more and more popular for people who care more about their wallets than their convenience and décor. We’ve put together a guide to the basic things you need to know before purchasing a top mount refrigerator to help you make your decision without popping your top.

Pros
The advantage of top mounts is that the freezer is located at eye level, making it easier to find those rarely used frozen goods, although this is also a disadvantage since the more commonly used produce section of the fridge is only accessible by awkwardly bending down. They are also among the most energy efficient types of refrigerators out there next to bottom mounts. They also typically offer the most usable storage for their size.

Cons
As mentioned, top mount refrigerators can be annoying, since the more frequently used fridge is less accessible. The full sized door is also a drawback for smaller kitchens or kitchens with an island, since the door can block aisle space when fully opened. It’s also unlikely to find one with the popular in-the-door ice and cold water dispensers.

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. Top mount widths typically run from about 30 to 33 inches with 22 cubic foot interior. Frigidaire, GE, and Whirlpool make the smallest top mount models with 24 inch widths and 10 cubic feet of space. GE makes the largest top mount with 25 cubic feet of interior space. If you need more space than that, a top mount is not for you.

Additional Features

Most fridges out there today are made by the Whirlpool cooperation under different names, so most of the differences are for the most part, 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 top-mount fridges come with internal ice makers—a valuable feature for most homes.

In Summary
We hope this helps you make your shopping experience more enjoyable. At the end of the day, a top mount refrigerator will keep your food cold just as well as any other type of fridge for less. It’s really just a matter of personal preference, style or added convenience. If you choose to go with a top mount fridge, we hope you find it to be the top of the line!

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