Feb 14, 2024 12:46 AM
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We were hunting for a refrigerator that was on the larger side. We had a Whirlpool refrigerator for the last 15 years that is still going strong. But it was lacking in new cutting-edge technology and the freezer would literally freeze with excessive frost. If we switched on the defrost mode, the melted ice would collect at the bottom of the refrigerator at the rear, in a small crucible. If we didn’t remove the crucible and dispose of the contents, the contents would start smelling foul. This was a regular feature in our house every month or so, moving the refrigerator, removing the crucible which was kind of difficult and emptying and washing it before repositioning it and then setting back the refrigerator in its place. Other than this one inconvenience the refrigerator worked absolutely fine. But 15 years is too long a period, especially when technology has developed exponentially. Also, 315 litres would have been considered capacious 15 years ago but times have changed so much that it now appears sensible to invest in larger-capacity refrigerators. And that brings me to the hunt for larger capacity refrigerators.
After researching and physically checking out products of various brands, some with good features but less capacity and some with large capacity but with average features we were none the wiser. This was certainly an unexpected conundrum difficult to resolve. When technologies are not dissimilar in various brands, then capacity, brand and local service become a matter of choice for the buyer. Finally, we zeroed in on the Haier 712-litre Frost Free Side by Side refrigerator which was launched recently.
Brief Description of the Refrigerator:
It is a Bottom Mounted Refrigerator(BMR) meaning the top works as a conventional refrigerator and the bottom works as a freezer. It may sound like a useless innovation or a marketing gimmick but in reality, it is very convenient as my experience is we tend to use the refrigerator more than the freezer, so we need not bend every time we open the door of the refrigerator. It is a four-door refrigerator and this design is very practical and energy-saving. This requires proper thought and placement of items on the shelves so we can open the respective door if we need those items instead of opening the full-length door as in other refrigerators.
What bowled me over instantly was the fact that the refrigerator part does not have a central partition that could restrict the size of the items you can keep. You have access to the entire width of the refrigerator thereby allowing you to place larger items in it. Haier calls it the refrigerator with a French door. You will realize in large side-by-side refrigerators this is a welcome feature and you’d want to make use of it. The highlight is you can convert the bottom right freezer into a refrigerator if you need more space for refrigerating. This feature can be reversed if you need more space for freezing items.
The entire front has a toughened glass panel in a scintillating black finish. It raises the aesthetics factor a few notches providing an elegant, classy look. So, no more scratches or smudges. Though glass sounds delicate in theory, this is the same hardened glass used in modern-day stoves that are easy to clean and maintain. I have yet to see one cracking or chipping. All the internal shelves are of toughened glass too, again making them easy to clean.
Of course, these behemoths have wheels so they can be moved around easily. These large side-by-side refrigerators have an unmistakable presence in our dining room and the guests vouch for it with eyes turning a shade of green.
Specifics:
These large side-by-side refrigerators ooze technology. It comes with a twin inverter technology and if I understand correctly it means both the compressor and fans run on DC current. This amounts to cutting out fluctuations in current. Also, the dual fans provide for better and faster cooling.
It has an excellent, bright LED panel that is quite large and throws white light spreading to every nook and corner.
The controls are outside, embedded in the front glass panel. They are touch-sensitive and easy to set the cooling levels of both the refrigerator and the freezer.
Dual-zone, super cool and super freeze, 10 years warranty.
Energy rating: 5 stars.
No Frost.
Weight: 141 Kgs. Yet, it is easy to move around because of the wheels provided at the bottom.
MRP: Rs. 2, 20, 500/-
We bought the refrigerator at Bajaj Electronics during the off-season sale for Rs.1, 31, 500/-
I wish to add here the Bajaj Electronics staff members were quite courteous and helpful and we had a pleasant experience.
It has been close to 50 days since we bought the refrigerator and it has been proving its worth so far, touchwood. I hope it lasts the distance like our old Whirlpool refrigerator.
mbfarookh
