What is a left-handed refrigerator?
There are many things that you are going to want to
consider before you choose a refrigerator. Things like size, capacity, and a
variety of features are going to be extremely important. What you need and
what you choose to have affect the costs of the appliance as well as how
long it will work and the energy needed to run it.
Once consideration that you may not think about,
but is no less important, is how the door opens. As one of the few features
of a refrigerator that does not affect energy levels or cost, there are both
left handed and right handed refrigerators, and both of these may be options
for your house.
Choosing a Model
The obvious main reason to choose one of these
models depends on your dominate hand. People that are left handed want a
left handed refrigerator model, because it will allow them to open the door
more easily than a right handed version. Left handed refrigerators are less
common, and may not be ideal for an entire family or your guests, but for
someone that uses a left hand as a dominate hand, it makes a great deal of
sense to purchase a left handed refrigerator for yourself.
Most refrigerator models are going to be designed
with a latch that opens for right handed individuals (ie, swings from the
left side to the right side, so that you reach over and pull the door toward
yourself rather than into you). Left handed models are less common, as a
right handed person, though they would easily be able to reach the door,
would be more likely to find it awkward to pull it open.
Other Reasons to Choose a Left Handed Model
Over a Right Handed Fridge
If you are not left handed, however, you may have
other reasons to purchase a left handed model. One such example would be if
opening the door a certain way would affect the flow of traffic in your
kitchen. If opening a right handed door would get in the way of those
walking by, but opening a left handed door would not, this may be something
to consider.
In addition, as mentioned previously, left handed
doors are still more easily opened with your right hand. The door is
directly in front of your hand, and it is just a few inches to move your
hand forward and grab the door. For some right handers, however, this can be
irritating as you have to move your body out of the way as you open the
door.
Getting a left handed or right handed refrigerator
is not a major decision. It is one of the few features that does not
generally affect cost, efficiency, or quality. But you will be using the
refrigerator you ultimately decide to purchase for years to come, and you
may find that those years are more pleasant when you decide correctly
between a left handed and right handed refrigerator.
Return to Refrigerators Guide Home Page