What Are the Top Disadvantages of Having a Double Door Refrigerator?

Choosing a refrigerator for your home is not an easy task considering the various options, technologies, sizes, and styles one can find in the market. However, the decision becomes relatively easier once you’ve decided if you want to go for a single-door refrigerator or a double-door refrigerator.

A typical double-door refrigerator has two doors, one for the refrigeration unit and the other for the freezer. In comparison, some models do come in three or four-door options.

Types of Double-door Refrigerators

Double-door refrigerators come in the following styles:

1. Side-by-side Refrigerators

These refrigerators have a full-length freezer compartment next to a full-length refrigerator compartment, allowing you to keep refrigerated and frozen items at eye level. If you tend to store different kinds of frozen foods, this is the ultimate choice for you as these models offer more freezer space than the other available options on the market.

The ample organization space also prevents food from being buried under other items, as is the norm in refrigerators with bottom freezers. Another benefit of side-by-side refrigerators is that most models come pre-installed with water and ice dispensers.

2. French Door Refrigerators

French door refrigerators have a continuous refrigerator space that is accessible by two doors that open individually. This style of refrigerator provides a pantry-style layout; hence, it is preferred by a lot of people opting for double-door refrigerators. It has a freezer drawer under the two doors and removable storage compartments, which helps organize the contents and make them visible and accessible.

Like the side-by-side refrigerators, these refrigerators also have ice and water dispensers. The latest models even have an ice maker in the freezer door that pops ice cubes whenever you require them.

 Top Disadvantages of Double Door Refrigerators

Double door refrigerators come in stylish designs and offer a large capacity, which means you and your family have ample space to store food for days and even weeks.

The large capacity means you get wider shelves, which means you can store that entire large pizza you couldn’t get through the night before. The advantages might seem attractive, but these refrigerators also have their fair share of issues. Here’s a list of top disadvantages of having a double-door refrigerator:

1. They are Costly

Double-door refrigerators are significantly costlier than single-door refrigerators owing to their bigger size and extra features. You are expected to pay a premium price for the elegance of design, more prominent size, and latest technologies and features compared to a single-door refrigerator.

• They Cover More Area

The two doors of a double-door refrigerator require a significant foot space, and families with small homes and kitchens will find them impractical as the bulky unit tends to take up too much space.

3. They aren’t Useful for a Small Family

Double-door refrigerators provide extra shelving and bigger freezers for larger families. Small families with two to three people might find little use for the bulky double-door refrigerators. They can save money on buying costs by selecting a single-door refrigerator instead.

4. They Produce Higher Electricity Bills

Most double-door refrigerator units are designed with frost-free technology. This technology requires additional energy to circulate cool air throughout the unit, increasing the fuel bill by 20-30%.

5. They Offer Narrow Door Storage

The side-by-side models of double-door refrigerators are not as wide as French-door refrigerators. The smaller width size automatically decreases the size of the door bins. So, in those models, you cannot keep large pitchers and tall condiment bottles in your refrigerator door.

Final Thoughts

Double-door refrigerators might offer some distinct advantages over single-door refrigerators, but their disadvantages are tough to ignore. It is best to decide what’s more important for all family members because a refrigerator is an appliance used and required by everyone at home. It is only fair that everyone should have their say.