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 the right choice.
Description and history
For many, American refrigerators are side by side units. Invented by American experts in the middle of the last century, this example of household appliances embodies comfort and luxury. The thing is that American side by side refrigerators have two doors. Behind the left door is the freezer, and behind the right is the refrigerator compartment. This is very unusual for the domestic consumer, who is used to the fact that the freezer is either above or below.
This structure of the Americanrefrigerators is due to the fact that average Americans are accustomed to making grocery purchases for a long time. And since in the 1950s the average family consisted of at least four people, they needed a lot of space to store food. This is the reason why American refrigerators are so big.
Manufacturing companies
It is now quite easy to find American-made appliances in the domestic market, and refrigerators are no exception. The list of the most popular brands includes the following companies:
- General Electric;
- KitchenAid;
- Maytag;
- Whirlpool;
- Viking;
- Amana.
It is natural that each company's products have their own advantages and disadvantages, and now it is very difficult to name the best brand of American refrigerators. Nevertheless, the main contenders 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 American-made household appliances 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 dimensions of such refrigerators can vary as follows:
- width - 80-120 cm;
- height - 170-180cm;
- depth - 69-76 cm.
In terms of depth, American refrigerator brands have gained such huge popularity in the European market that some manufacturers have decided to adjust the depth to 60 cm, which is the standard size for kitchen furniture in this market.
Insides
In addition to the huge size, American refrigerators attract a large number of consumers with increased comfort in operation. We are talking here about the zonal distribution of cold inside such a unit. To be more precise, there are the following four zones:
- Zero-sealed chamber 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 via the control panel.
- Beverage compartment located on the door.
- 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 traditional units for the domestic market. In general, it is two times different. Thus, the average power of a 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 affectsincreased electricity consumption, which, in turn, leads to high costs for its payment. This is one of the significant disadvantages of such refrigerators.
Durability
It's safe to say that endurance and 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 body and doors are reinforced with steel reinforcement, and the outer panels are covered 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 great addition to any interior. As for the fastenings and door hinges, they are also of the highest quality, since a standard door can easily support up to 60 kg of weight.
Given all of the above, we can safely believe that the service life of such American refrigerators is quite close to that indicated by manufacturers in the relevant documentation - and this is from 10 to 15 years. The most surprising thing is that many refrigerators are designed to operate 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 ofdomestic analogues. Large dimensions, high power, longer service life, a world-famous manufacturer - these are far from all the factors that can justify high prices.
To understand the full extent of the difference, it is 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. Such a cost is quite an impressive amount that could be paid for the purchase of a unit of household appliances.
However, do not forget that the most expensive models were used as an example, which not every American can afford. As for the refrigeration equipment that is also popular among its average compatriots, you can buy American refrigerators in Moscow and throughout the Russian Federation in the range from 3,000 to 4,600 US dollars. Despite the fact that this cost is many times less than the one that was indicated earlier, it still remains quite high for domestic buyers.
Conclusion
American refrigerators are a fairly popular product in the global home appliance market. This state of affairs is explained by the fact that manufacturers pay great attention to detail in order to make their products of high quality and durability. Despite all their efforts, American-made refrigeration equipment still does not usehuge demand in the domestic market, which can be explained by its high cost.
