Repsol YPF

There is no doubt that the fridge is one of the electrical appliances that has most revolutionised the home. The possibility of having a permanently cold place to store food has helped to change our way of life as well as consumer habits.  

Furthermore, in recent years we are seeing greater diversification in terms of the range of products available on the market. There is a tendency to buy larger fridges, models with two doors and a large space for frozen food. 

Summer is also the time when portable fridge sales increase, an interesting alternative when you plan to spend the day out. There are models which are powered by gas and do not have a motor, which means that they are not noisy and do not vibrate. They can have a capacity of as much as 35 litres and have wheels which makes them easier to move. 

Nowadays, the daily shop has been replaced by a weekly or monthly shop, which includes large amounts of frozen foods, which even means having to have additional chest freezers. The calorific value of gas is also used to chill and you can find chest freezers on the market that are powered by this source of energy. This kind of domestic appliance is interesting for households with a large number of people, but if there are just a few of you, you can purchase a smaller model, which will always be cheaper. 

Gone are the classic fridges with a small freezer section, since the available space is usually one of the main factors when choosing the type of fridge. The advantages of two-door fridges are their low lost and consumption. However, their performance is poor, the temperature must be regulated and they are not advisable for families with more than four members. 

Another option is the “combi”, with the fridge above so that it is easily accessible and the freezer below containing drawers, which is highly convenient if you need to freeze food. Although they are more expensive, they perform well and allow you to regulate the temperature in the different compartments separately. In fact, they are one of the most popular options when purchasing a new fridge. 

In fridge freezers, as well as traditional ones, there is another type of fridge that works with the no frost system. The freezer works without forming frost or condensation and has a uniform temperature in all of the drawers in order to prolong the freshness of the food. The problem with this system is that it slightly dries out the foods, as such it is essential to use protective containers or packaging. These models chill food quickly, however they consume more energy. 

In recent years, fridges with home automation services have appeared, which enable you to programme the appliance using the Internet or SMS messages so that it performs a task when no one is at home.  

Aesthetics are another important aspect and, in this respect, it is often interesting to have panelable appliances, in other words, those which can be covered with panels that match the kitchen design. That way, the fridge is camouflaged amongst the kitchen cupboards.

Energy consumption

There is one aspect that is worth taking very seriously: energy. When buying a fridge, you should check whether it has the corresponding energy label. This provides information about consumption, performance and noise levels. Despite the fact that consumption does not appear to be high, it must not be forgotten that it is permanently plugged in, which is equivalent to 8700 hours per day. 

Nowadays, many models are fitted with efficient compressors which enable low energy consumption. These are what are known as class A electrical appliances which guarantee considerably lower consumption (barely 30%) compared to conventional models. Although they initially appear more expensive, they can provide significant savings throughout their useful life. It is also important to know how much time the freezer takes to fully chill the food. The less time it takes the better the proteins and vitamins in the food will be preserved. 

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