Refrigerators are an indispensable element in any modern kitchen. What seemed like a luxury item just a century ago has now become a necessary attribute for any family. Given the large number of both domestic and foreign manufacturers, it is sometimes very difficult to choose the right unit. Therefore, this article will tell you all the details about American refrigerators and help you make your choice.
Description and History
For many, American refrigerators are units like side by side. Invented by American experts in the middle of the last century, this example of household appliances represents comfort and luxury. The thing is that American side by side refrigerators have two doors. There is a freezer behind the left door, and a refrigerator compartment behind the right door. This is very unusual for a domestic consumer who is used to the fact that the freezer is either above or below.
This structure of American refrigerators is due to the fact that average Americans are used to purchasing products for a long time. And since in the 50s an ordinary family consisted of at least four people, they needed a lot of space for storing food. It is this fact that makes American refrigerators so big.
Manufacturing companies
In the domestic market it is now quite easy to find American-made equipment and refrigerators - this is no exception. The list of the most popular brands includes the following companies:
- General Electric;
- KitchenAid;
- Maytag;
- Whirlpool
- Viking
- Amana.
It is natural that the products of each company have its advantages and disadvantages, and now it is very difficult to name the best brand of American refrigerators. Nevertheless, the main applicants for this title are General Electric and KitchenAid. The first manufacturer is the largest corporation in the world, and the second is famous for the highest quality of its products.
Dimensions
Given the large number of models, it is almost impossible to describe this type of home appliances of American manufacture unambiguously. The only thing that unites them in this regard is that all American refrigerators are large and roomy. To correctly understand the volumes, the sizes of such refrigerators can fluctuate as follows:
- width - 80-120 cm;
- height - 170-180 cm;
- depth - 69-76 cm.
As for depth, the brands of American refrigerators gained such huge popularity in the European market that some manufacturers decided to adjust the depth to 60 cm, which is the standard size of kitchen furniture in this market.
Insides
In addition to the huge size, American refrigerators attract a large number of consumers with increased comfort in use. We are talking about the zonal distribution of cold within such an aggregate. To be more precise, the following four areas exist:
- Sealed chamber with zero temperature for storing fish and meat.
- The variable humidity compartment is ideal for storing fruits, vegetables and herbs, while the humidity level can be set manually through the control panel.
- Beverage storage department located on the door.
- A freezer with a standard temperature of -18 degrees.
Power
Given the fact that the best American refrigerators are now associated with large sizes, it is not surprising that they are much more powerful than units traditional for the domestic market. In general, it is two times different. So, the average power of the side by side refrigerator indicates 550 W / h, while the power indicator of the usual domestic model fluctuates around 250 W / h.
It is quite clear that this significant difference in power directly proportionally affects the increased energy consumption, which, in turn, leads to large costs for its payment. This is one of the significant disadvantages of such refrigerators.
Durability
We can safely say that endurance and a long service life are one of the main goals of American manufacturers of household appliances. To do this, they use durable and reliable materials in the manufacturing process. For example, the case and doors are reinforced with steel reinforcement, and the outer panels are coated with special enamel, which is resistant to damage. The most interesting thing is that this coating can have a different structure, which makes the refrigerator a wonderful addition to any interior. As for the fasteners and door hinges, they are also of the highest quality, since a standard door can easily withstand up to 60 kg of weight.
Given all of the above, we can safely believe that the life of such American refrigerators is quite close to that which manufacturers indicate in the relevant documentation - and this is from 10 to 15 years. The most amazing thing is that many refrigerators are designed for use in harsh conditions. For example, a large number of such units are sent to hot countries with an average temperature of 40 degrees, where they prove their quality.
Cost
As you might guess, the prices of American refrigerators differ significantly from the cost of domestic counterparts. Large dimensions, large capacity, longer life, a world-famous manufacturer - these are not all the factors that can be used to justify high prices.
To understand the full extent of the difference, it's worth looking at the best models made by General Electric. After analyzing the market, you can find that the price of one of them can range from 10,000 to 15,000 US dollars. This cost is quite an impressive amount that could be given for the purchase of a unit of household appliances.
However, do not forget that, as an example, the most expensive models were used, which not everyone in America can afford. As for the refrigeration equipment, which is also popular among its average compatriots, you can buy American refrigerators in Moscow and throughout the Russian Federation in the range of 3,000 to 4,600 US dollars. Despite the fact that this cost is several times lower than the one indicated earlier, it still remains quite high for domestic buyers.
Conclusion
American refrigerators are a fairly popular commodity in the global home appliance market. This state of affairs is explained by the fact that manufacturers pay great attention to details in order to make their products quality and durable. Despite all their efforts, American-made refrigeration equipment is still not in great demand in the domestic market, which can be explained by its high cost.