What is a "french door" refrigerator?
Though refrigerators have not been around for too
long, they have gone through a wide variety of difference changes – both in
features and in design. In features, things like water dispensers, crisping
trays, humidity monitors, etc., have all become standard features in most
refrigerator models. But in terms of design, there is still no “popular”
design that has run the industry. The original three models (bottom freezer,
top freezer and side by side) have been around for a while, and while top
freezers are more common, they have not really established themselves as the
design of choice.
However, in recent years another type of model
known as French Door refrigerators has begun to gain popularity rapidly.
These types of fridges have a more unique design that actually combines two
designs in one.
The Design of French Door Refrigerators
French door refrigerators are “bottom freezer”
models. The freezer generally pulls out much like the drawer of a dresser,
and many varieties actually have two freezers for easy organization.
The refrigerator sits on top of these models and is
designed quite differently. The fridge section opens with two doors, a lot
like with a side by side model, except both sides open for the same fridge
section. This makes it easy to open and close these fridges without worrying
about the swing of the door, as both the freezer and refrigerator do not
need a lot of space to open.
Features
The features of French Door refrigerators generally
varies from model to model, just like with standard types of refrigerators.
Many have a water and ice dispenser, primarily because they are easy to
install with the dual door options of French Door fridges.
Capacity on these refrigerators is smaller in cubic
feet, but arguably wider in width. There is often a great deal of room in
these fridges thanks to the dual doors over the refrigerator, and the large
and deep cubic feet of the freezers. However, the overall cubic feet are
often on the smaller end, closer to 20 cubic feet rather than the 24 that
you often see with pricier models. Still, 20 cubic feet is very large, and
often more than enough for a decent sized family.
Cost
The cost of French Door refrigerators can be quite
high. In fact, the lowest cost models still hover near the $2,000 mark. Some
of the most expensive refrigerators available are actually French Door
fridges, with prices up near $12,000. Still, it is easily possible to find a
French Door model at around $1600, which is still very high, but standard
cost for most high end refrigerators.
Overall, the French Door refrigerators are good
units that are easy to use, look great in the home, and provide enough space
for the vast majority of your food items. They can be quite pricy, but they
are a design that is rapidly catching on and only growing in popularity with
each passing day. Over time, expect to see more affordable French Door
refrigerators as the trend continues on.
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