"Pico Rico" wrote:
>"Nancy2" wrote:
>>
>> Here is the thing about "new" players in large appliances. Do they have
>> more than a couple years of production behind them
>> so you know you will have access to parts and service for as long as they
>> last? I would worry a little about
>> Samsung because of this, and would rather go with a brand that has been
>> around for a while.

The major mechanicals of fridges are made by a company that makes say
compressors that are interchangeable with several brands... Samsung
may not make any mechanical/electrical parts for their appliances,
they likely contract most if not all manufacturing of parts that can
break down, they may only produce the cabinet, trim, assemble, and
market... I worked for a few major appliance makers, that's all they
did (sheet metal and paint). There are companies that just stock
after market parts... it might be 50 years before you can't get parts
for a fridge.

>> Also, I have read that a refrigerator that is so large that it is about
>> half or more empty most of the time is much less
>> efficient to operate than a smaller one which is mostly full most of the
>> time. I would rather have one inconveniently
>> full at certain times, than one that would be half empty and more costly
>> to operate.

With modern frost free technology it matters not how full, costs the
same to operate full to the gunwales or empty as the day you first
plugged it in... what makes a fridge cost more to operate is
constantly opening the door, and the ambient temperature where it's
located ... if one lives in a hot climate and has no AC any fridge
will cost more to operate. Refrigerators are designed to operate most
efficiently at 72ºF, too cold makes operation more expensive too, due
to thickening of lubricating fluids.

>> Plus, there is always Murphy's Law: available space will get filled up.
>> Then you maybe would be throwing a lot of
>> stuff out because you didn't get around to using it before it spoiled.
>> Except for things like flavored vinegars, oils,
>> and salad dressings and condiments, for example, things that have to be
>> refrigerated have a relatively short "fresh"
>> life, and a small family or one or two persons can use only so much in a
>> week or two. Just my take on fridge size.

Oils and salad dressings have a relatively short shelf life and I
don't know of anyone who keeps vinegar in the fridge. However most
folks toss foods they didn't get around to using before it spoiled,
and has nothing to do with the fridge... foods spoil in the pantry
too.

>bigger is better:
>
>1. if you don't open the door a lot, the energy difference is negligible.

True of all fridges, size has nothing to do with it... just that the
larger the unit the higher it's operating expense regardless.

>2. you need the extra space for your "banquets" with family and friends.

Yes, if one entertains often more fridge space is handy... but I
prefer having a 2nd fridge to one large one.... having a fully loaded
large fridge go on the fritz on a holiday weekend made having two
fridges a no brainer.

>3. you can fill containers with water and take up extra space when not
>needed - increase the thermal mass, greater hold time with power outages,
>and you have water saved for an emergency.

That concept has the most effect with the freezer, not so much with
the fridge. I don't recommend having ones emergency water in the
fridge, that would necessitate opening the door, not wise.... during a
power outage don't open the fridge/freezer door for any reason. Most
of what one normally keeps in their fridge is not all that perishable,
much of what one keeps in their fridge doesn't require refrigeration
anyway, it's the freezer that contains the most perishables.

>4. you can more easily "slack" food items (thaw in fridge rather than on the
>counter, in the sink, etc.).

I don't think people do much mass thawing on a daily basis that they
can't find space in any size fridge... and normal people plan to have
space for thawing their holiday turkey.

There is no way to advise with any degree of accuracy what size fridge
someone should have... where food is concerned everyone has different
priorities and appetites. Some folks get by just fine with no more
than a no frills fridge not much more than dorm size... some find a
top of the line 40 cu ft behemouth inadequate. I think in the US a
lot of people are compulsively obssessed food shoppers, they never
feel like they have enough food in their house, perhaps when they were
raised they often went to bed hungry. I don't know why so many in the
US need a big chest freezer filled with a ton of meat... in the US
meat is on sale every day. I can understand having a few meals worth
as a convenience, not a years worth like it's their retirement
investment. I think people who need to horde frozen meat for a year
have some sort of deep rooted psychological issue.