Bottom Freezer Refrigerator - Pros and Cons

If you are in the market for a new refrigerator, chances are you will choose a bottom freezer refrigerator. Every major brand features a bottom freezer refrigerator now and the choices sometimes seem to be endless. You can choose between a one door refrigerator with a swing door freezer at the bottom, a two door (or French door) refrigerator with a pull-out freezer drawer on the bottom, or a one door refrigerator with a pull-out freezer drawer on the bottom. Then you can choose which finish you would like; either stainless steel or paint.

Whichever bottom freezer refrigerator you choose, make sure it matches your lifestyle. If you use your freezer every day you might as well settle for a regular refrigerator with the freezer at the top.  However, if you spend all day long bending trying to see what edible food remains in the bottom of your fridge, it might be better if you invest in a new bottom freezer refrigerator.

Pros of Buying a Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

1. There is generally more storage in the bottom freezer
   
2. A bottom freezer is more convenient if you don’t use the freezer more often than the rest of the fridge
3. Bottom freezer refrigerators are more energy efficient. Since warm air rises, the top freezer refrigerator uses more power to keep the temperature cooler
4. The storage areas you use most often are at eye level; you can quickly see exactly what you have in the refrigerator
5. The fridge part often has different compartments with different temperatures for dairy, vegetables and drinks

Cons of Buying a Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

1. A bottom freezer refrigerator is usually more expensive than a top freezer refrigerator
2. There is more bending and a swing door bottom freezer is hard to access. People with bad backs are better to stick with a regular top freezer refrigerator
3. Higher repair rate. For some reason bottom freezer refrigerators break down more often
4. There is less choice of refrigerators. There seem to be fewer choices in the finish of bottom freezer refrigerators

Types of Bottom Freezer Refrigerators

Freezer at bottom has a swing door, only one door on top

Freezer at bottom is a pull-out drawer, only one door on top

Freezer at bottom is a pull-out drawer, two doors (French) on top

Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Finishes

White or other paint colors

Stainless steel

Manufacturers of Bottom Freezer Refrigerators

Maytag

Amana

Samsung

Whirlpool

GE

LG

Kenmore

KitchenAid