FREEZERS

Modern appliances are designed to last for a reasonable number of years. When choosing a new or used freezer, its important to consider carefully the features you need, how much you can afford to spend, size, warranty, energy efficiency, and the reliability of various brands. Here are some tips to help you.

Tips for Freezers
Here are some handy tips to help you choose a freezer that is right for you:-

1. Determine Your Needs
  • How much can you afford to spend? Good freezers can be found in all price ranges.
  • Will you need credit; to pay for it over time? If so, determine if you can qualify for credit and the monthly cost. Also look carefully at the APR (Annual Percentage Rate). These vary widely but in general terms, credit obtained in-store is likely to carry far higher interest rates than that obtained through independent loans or through your bank. There are many 0% interest offers but you may find that the cost of credit is hidden in a higher purchase price for the freezer.
  • Freezers come in many shapes and sizes; whether a chest freezer (with an opening lid at the top and perhaps a drawer underneath at the front) for the garage or an outbuilding; or a built-in freezer or fridge freezer combination.
  • Which type will be of the greatest use to you? Will you realistically traipse to the garage on a regular basis or will your food be simply stockpiled there?
  • In general terms, the larger the freezer storage space, the better but you may need to adjust your food buying habits to ensure that you rotate the food as, even when frozen, food does not have an indefinite life span
  • Size matters. How big should your fridge or freezer be? Be sure it will fit in the space you have. This may seem obvious but thousands of appliances are returned very year simply because they wouldn't fit into the allocated space!
  • If you are buying a built-in or under-counter freezer, on which side should the door open? Be sure the door wont bump into your cabinets.
  • What kind of internal layout do you need? Some freezers come with drawers, others with wire cages. Drawers have the advantage of potentially helping to reduce frost accumulation through water evaporation in any given compartment but make it harder to identify the contents without opening the drawer. Wire baskets on the other hand may lead to greater frost accumulation but allow you to see the contents at a glance. Some offer labelling systems for drawers but be realistic: very few people actually bother to use them in practice!
  • If the freezer is going to be visible in your kitchen (as opposed to a garage chest freezer or a built-in model covered by a matching cabinet door front), what colour or finish will best suit? Stainless steel has been popular for some time and many models are available in this finish but it requires regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure the finish stays finger mark free and clean. White is ever popular and there are many other colours on offer to go with almost any kitchen style. Be wary of virulent avant garde colours: they may look great in a showroom but this appliance should last you for many years: will your tolerance of the colour go the distance?
  • We all have favourite brands but different manufacturers excel at different appliance types. You may decide that you want to match the brand with that of your other appliances. Equally, you may find that there better value for money alternatives. Consumer magazines and online reviews are a great source of information and honest appraisals.
  • How good is the warranty on the freezers you are considering? A years manufacturers warranty is standard. Many offer extended warranties to 3 years and retail stores may try to sell you third party warranties. Some of these are worthwhile, others are not: again check the consumer reviews.
2. Find Energy Efficient Appliances
Energy efficiency isn't simply a matter of social responsibility: it has a significant effect on the long term running costs of an appliance. Freezers are among the few domestic appliances that run 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year so, over many years, even a modest energy saving can mount up.
  • Look for a freezer that has the Energy Saving Recommended label. Only the most energy efficient products have this label, usually the top 20 percent.
  • In addition, some freezers will have the European Union (EU) energy label, which also indicates a high level of energy efficiency. If a freezer is rated A+ or A++, it is highly energy efficient.
  • Buy the smallest freezer that will meet your needs. If a small and a large appliance are both A rated, the larger size will still use a lot more energy than the average or smaller sized unit. Cooling a space to freezing point and below is an energy intensive process: it makes no sense to do this for a volume considerably in excess of that needed.
  • The more functions the freezer has, the more energy it will use. This includes fast freeze options, ice makers and the like.
3. Specifics for used Freezers
Many people are nervous of buying used kitchen appliances. Aside from hygiene concerns, transportation can be difficult and there is a perception that 'there must be a reason for sale' - and not a good one! In practice, modern aplliances are reasonably durable. Many people buy an appliance and soon after make changes to their kitchen or garage layout which means that the appliance no longer fits their needs. Others may be for sale as a result of a house move or even as part of the estate of someone recently deceased. As a result there are a good many perfectly good appliances for sale (including here at classifieds). When buying a used freezer always make sure you see it working. The interior and any contents must clearly be frozen; there shouldn't be any excessive 'motor' noise from the compresor; there should be no signs of any coolant leak onto the floor (not only messy but potentially toxic); door seals should all be intact; and the unit should have a clean, well cared for appearance. Having bought yourself a bargain, always enure that the unit is transported upright as a failure to do so can cause refrigerant leaks and cause other problems with the appliance's systems. Once you have it safely at home leave it for at least 24 hours before switching on to allow the refrigerant to stabilise. Always make sure that you get the user manual and any applicable warranty documents.

Freezers Summary
When choosing a new or used freezer, determine precisely the size of the unit you will need. Make sure that it will fit comfortably into the planned space and that the colour will go with your current (or planned) room and will be tolerable in the long term. Check warranties carefully as these vary in value. If financing the unit, be sure to shop around as interest rates vary widely. Energy efficiency matters and you are well advised to opt for the most efficient unit your budget can support. When buying a used freezer, check its condition thoroughly and make sure you see it in action. Transport it carefully and wait 24 hours before switching it on, once you have it at home. A well chosen freezer can be indispensable, particularly if you have a growing family. Take a little time to do some reasearch and planning and you should be able to find a freezer that will give you years of reliable service.

FRIDGES

Modern appliances are built to last for some time. When choosing a new or used fridge, its important to consider carefully the features you need; how much you can afford to spend; size; warranty; energy efficiency; and the reliability of the various brands on offer. Here are some tips to help.

Fridges - Some Tips
The following are some handy tips to help you choose a refrigerator that is right for you. Unless you already have a model in mind, even if buying second hand or online, it is well worth taking some time to look in your local showrooms to get a feel for the range of models on offer, layouts and usability.

1. Determine Your Needs
  • Consider your budget carefully. Good refrigerators can be found in most price ranges.
  • Do you need to arrange finance. Many shops offer 0% interest, however the cost of the credit may be built into the cost of the fridge. You may feel that it is worth shopping around for alternative funding such as a bank loan or third party credit. Always check the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) as these vary widely and will determine how much the fridge finally costs you in real terms. Credit obtained in-store can be notoriously costly.
  • Must you have an ice maker or cold water dispenser in the door? These are becoming increasingly popular. Whilst undoubtedly a useful option, they introduce more cost and complexity to the fridge. Although they are starting to appear on some 'budget' models you may be well advised to steer clear of them unless the fridge is from a higher end manufacturer as ice dispensers in particular have a habit of jamming, resulting in regular engineer visits.
  • Consider the internal layout carefully in the context of your family's food consumption. Some people need a lot of space for salads; others for large pizza boxes.
  • Take a long hard look at the layout of the inside of the fridge door. The plastic shelves and holders there can be flimsy on some budget models and may not go the distance, leaving you with unusable space.
  • Do you really need an egg holder? Are any plastic drawers sturdy?
  • Perhaps the most important question for many people is whether or not you need a freezer section as well. If so, what should the split be between the fridge section and the freezer? Some come with a simple freezer compartment at the top or bottom of the fridge, others come with separate doors to the fridge and freezer sections. What are you used to? How much do you really need to freeze?
  • Be very aware of the dimensions of the space you have allocated to the fridge. That double American style fridge freezer may look great in the shop but it may not fit in your kitchen or may end up dominating it! Thousands of appliances are returned every year because the buyers failed to measure the intended space accurately enough. Always allow for a couple of centimetres clearance around the unit (more for the back of fridges as they require air space to allow the heat they generate as part of the cooling process to dissipate). Similarly, the door may require a few centimetres clearance for the hinge mechanism to work correctly. These requirements are usually to be found in the specification or installation sections of the owner's manual.
  • On the subject of doors, make sure that yours will open the right way. Many models are available with left or right hand opening variants. You need to check this carefully in the context of your kitchen layout. Make sure than when it opens, it is not going to be slamming into something.
  • Colour matching is another important issue. Unless you are buying a built-in model which will have a matching kitchen cabinet door to cover it (and be sure this will fit); you will need to choose a colour or finish to compliment the rest of your kitchen. Fridges are available in most colours of the rainbow. Stainless steel is proving to be increasingly popular although this surface requires regular cleaning to keep its appearance. White is ever popular and, if choosing one of the more 'modern' colours, think about any future plans you may have to remodel your kitchen and whether you will still love the colour in question in a few years' time!
  • Everyone has their own favourite manufacturers. You may decide because you have Bosch appliances elsewhere in your kitchen that you'd like a Bosch fridge. Not all manufacturers are good at all appliance types (or indeed even make them). It is worth spending some time looking a user reviews both online and in consumer magazines to see other peoples' views of a particular brand and / or model.
  • Also look at any warranty. New fridges come with a manufacturer's warranty which may be between 1 and 3 years in duration. Many retailers will try to sell you an extended warranty but some of these are frankly not worth the paper they are written on. Again, you should be able to find some views in consumer magazines and internet review sites.
2. Find Energy Efficient Fridges
Energy efficiency is a hot topic. It isn't just about being a responsible consumer. Fridges run 24 hours a day and as such are significant power users. Given that a fridge is designed to run for many years, even a relatively small improvement in power usage can make a big difference to its lifetime running costs.
  • Look for a fridge or freezer that has an Energy Saving Recommended label. This is reserved for the more energy efficient products, usually the top 20 percent or so
  • In addition, some fridges will have the European Union (EU) energy rating label, which indicates the level of energy efficiency. Here, if a fridge is rated A+ or A++, it is highly energy efficient.
  • Don't go mad on the size of the fridge. Cooling any area requires a lot of energy. If you are single and buy a giant American fridge, you are likely to be cooling an enormous space for little or no reason.
  • The more functions the fridge has, the more energy it will use. This also applies to the size of the freezer compartment or section as freezing takes more energy than simply chilling. It also includes ice makers, chilled water dispensers in the door, etc.
Buying a used fridge
A fridge is, to some extent, quite a personal purchase. It stores your food and many of us feel that other people don't live up to our own hygiene standards and thus shy away from purchasing a used fridge. There are many perfectly legitimate reasons why people may wish to sell a fridge: a new kitchen; a house move or of course as part of the estate of someone deceased. As a result there are a lot of bargains out there (including here at classifieds!). Assuming that you can find a used fridge that has clearly been kept to an acceptable standard of cleanliness, there are a few key points to consider (in addition to the general criteria above). It is important that you see the fridge actually working: is the interior cool and is the freezer section frozen? If you can't see it working, don't buy it. Listen to the fridge: excessive 'motor' noise of rattling may mean that the compressor which lies at the heart of the cooling system is on its way out. This is probably uneconomical to repair. Are the door seals all intact? Are all trays, shelves and door fittings present and unbroken? Also make sure that you get the owner's manual.

Unlike a new fridge purchase where the retailer will deliver the appliance to you, you are likely to be transporting a used fridge yourself. In doing so, make sure that you always transport it in an upright position to avoid problems with the cooling system at a later stage. When you get it home always leave it to stand in its positiuon for 24 hours before switching it on this will again give the coolant time to settle and prevent later problems.

Fridges Summary
Whether buying a new or used fridge, there is a lot to think about. Be realistic about your requirements; don't buy more fridge space than you really need; choose a colour and finish that will go with your existing (and any planned) kitchen. Check the real costs of any finance and the real value of any warranty carefully. Look hard at energy ratings as this will determine the real cost of ownership in the longer term. When buying a used fridge, check it carefully; always see it working and transport it upright. Be patient and allow it 24 hours to settle before switching it on. A wisely chosen fridge should provide you with years of service and, if you shop around, you may be able to grab yourself a real bargain.
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05 May 2008
bosch fridge freezer..
White, upright, large fridge freezer. very good condition.
£150
BS10
01 May 2008
ZANUSSI FRIDGE FREEZER..
Good condition, approx 5 years old. full size 166cm (h) x 55cm (w). 50/50 split: fridge on the top, freezeer on the bottom. £60 o. n o pick-up only. lower parkstone, poole. .
£60
BH12
30 April 2008
MOVING TO CANADA SALE - All Electrical Appliances Must ..
All items 2 yrs old. samsung 32" widescreen, slim profile flatscreen w/ stand - £300. zanussi washer (5. 5kg) and condenser dryer (6kg) - £200 each or £300 for pair. zanussi fridge/freezer 180l capacity - £150. hinari 800w silver microwave - £25. dys. .
RG18
06 April 2008
swan fridge for sale..
Swan fridge for sale onluy 1 year old barley used, good condition, reason for sale- moved house and have integrated appliances.
£50
DN5
01 April 2008
Nearly New Fridge Freezer..
Beko fridge freezer only 1 year old in exec. condition. absolute bargain as selling due to house move. .
£50
HR2
31 March 2008
5 FT hoover fridge..
Larder fridge 2yrs old excellent condition, glass shelves, drink dispenser in door great for when we have hot summers, selling as it is to big for family now. cheese draw, salad draw, meat tray. .
£60
CH62
19 March 2008
Beko Fridge freezer. ..
Beko fridge freezer. 3 cu freezer,5 cu fridge. in good condition. bargain selling due to house move. .
£55
SO18
16 March 2008
Integral fridge / freezer..
Seperate fridge freezer. standard unit sizes. price negotiable. .
£50
BA15
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