Replacing your fridge – a quick checklist
June 24th, 2015
Has your fridge just died? Need a new one straight away, before your ice melts and your veggies go off? Not enough time to shop around in-store for the perfect replacement?
Here’s a quick guide to how to take control of your situation and get your fridge problem solved!
Don’t Panic
You’ll probably be feeling a few different emotions just now. Likely a fair bit of frustration, a sprinkle of anger, possibly topped with a piquant aroma of annoyance.
Take the advice of Douglas Adams and stay calm and collected. Take a deep breath and make a plan, rather than rushing into what could be some poor decisions.
It also doesn’t hurt to know where your towel is. Just in case.
Check your food supply
While you’ll obviously want a new fridge as soon as possible, you may have a little bit of time available before your situation becomes truly critical.
source: wikipedia
Is there anything in your fridge that will quickly spoil if left un-refrigerated? And how long will the rest of your food last?
Keep in mind that you won’t necessarily need to throw everything out immediately – fridges are designed to be remarkably well-insulated, and as long as you keep the doors closed, they’ll maintain their temperature for longer than you may expect. You’ll want to dispose of your perishables to be on the safe side, but you can keep drink bottles and the like stored there for the time being.
Can you get a direct replacement?
If you’re looking to replace your fridge, the most obvious thing to do would be to find an identical make and model from the same manufacturer. But while it sounds sensible, this isn’t always your best choice.
For a start, if your fridge is more than a few years old, it’s very likely that its manufacturer no longer produces that particular model. In such a case, your most realistic chance of finding an identical model would be to go looking for factory seconds or second-hand fridges, which come with their own set of risks, not the least of which is a lack of manufacturer warranty.
It is possible that your old fridge’s manufacturer may have a next-generation model in the same line as your original, with a similar size and specifications, plus a few modern additions.
But if one of these isn’t available, it may be time to start looking for something different.
Assess your new fridge requirements
Think about your old fridge and how you’d been using it. Was there anything about it that left you less than completely satisfied?
If your old fridge was completely fine to use up until it carked it, you can quickly and easily find a replacement fridge in a similar size and style.
source: Michael Lehet on Flickr
But consider this – was your old fridge always full to the brim with food? Was it half-empty more often than not? Did you struggle to find the items and ingredients you wanted? Was the awkward configuration of doors, shelves and storage containers getting on your nerves?
Now may be a great time to consider making a change in fridges. Choose a larger design to store more food, or a smaller, more energy-efficient model if you had more capacity than you really needed. Think about a top or bottom mount fridge to provide easier access to frozen or refrigerated goods, or a side by side or French door fridge that makes even more storage capacity available.
Don’t get over-excited
You may choose to view the untimely death of your fridge not as a problem, but as an opportunity. Good for you! That’s a nice, positive attitude to have.
But even if your dreams of buying the shiniest, most feature-packed oversized fridge possible for your home dances through your head, it’s important to keep your feet on the ground and stay realistic.
That uber-fridge you have your eye on may look and sound incredible, but may come with all sorts of unforseen problems.
An oversized fridge may be too large to fit into your home – there’s nothing more embarrassing than having an appliance delivered, only to discover it won’t fit through your door!
Some premium fridges need to be custom-made, and may take a long time to be delivered – time you may not have when your fridge has already died.
Finally, even a simple new fridge can be a major purchase, which shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Don’t bite off more than you can financially chew when you’re buying a fancy new fridge!
Order online and get free delivery, connection and removal
Once you know what type of fridge you’re looking for, make your order at Appliances Online.
In metro areas and selected regional centres, you may be able to enjoy free next day delivery and connection of your new fridge, plus the free removal of your old fridge, all as part of our Legendary Service!
If you need any help, contact our team of experts on 1300 000 500 – we’re here 24/7 to help you choose the best fridge for your needs, and to help get it ready to use in your kitchen as soon as possible.
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