1}{]£00~£ 0 §00£~©@ Susitna Joint Venture Document Number Please Return To DOCUMENT CONTROL 1986 CONSUI-1ER SELECTION GUIDE FOR REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS BY AHMI . _, ' - ··~ ...__, ·-·--- r· fi ~;;.:r:;;.;;~.':.~·· '' men \)CNO 33,78 \: ' \' 1986 j Co11 Jide for - 9S Jt11\T)l ·WR ~ E ~~~ ... '"CJ~, _,.111 )J J'C {LF - reezers ·,.-~ .. ;,. ... ~ _,., [ l "• .··•· I.I -·... • TM .. .,.:• ·-· ' ....~ . ~· .. ... '~~..,<"~ ;--; ""} ~ •1- .; f' I! , .. ~ J r. t 1. ~ •. ,. ,, t ; -~ ....... ~t;. ~~~~ !~~~;!~; ~ 0 ..... , ,. .. -~!~~·~.- 'l ··~· ·;' . • 1-fl' ; , ,.:;~ ',., ~:.~' \ '~ . "'· . ; f .t!•-~ ; '> lfI ,. ~ ·- : . r :' ' f"!!IW&ffiM:SZ&GSW* ·*· · · .u • ·tr I MW:::: 4 _ P '' - 1i; ~ f'------·-·~·-·- ~ 1}7 n __ ji n:=... ~_.J " Consumer Guide Key facts to consider before you buy: 1,r_,.This selection ~ide "'ill help you ch~ose the refrigerator or f~eezer that's right f~r .you. If _you>~e like most 1·t tonsumers~ you II keep your new refrigerator or freezer for 1 ~ years or 1nore, so It IS especially Inlportant you make the right selection. Storage Capacity f j I torage capadty is probably the If you live alone, seldom eat at home • Do vou often have leftovers? I • Do you entertain frequently? j most important buying considera­ and about the only time you open your tion. A "too large" model cools refrigerator is for ice cubes or a quick S A Word About Outside DimeHsions. more space than your family needs. A snack, a small -.r refrigerator may be Buy a model that will fit into your "too small" model will require extra the right choice for you. I house. Be sure to measure the space ! trips to the store or filling the unit too available for your new refrigerator or full for adequate air circulation, which On the oiher hand, if you answer .. yes" freezer as well as door and hallway results in higher operating cost. to many of the following questions, you probably should consider a larger clearances and compare these require­ The capacity of a refrigerator or freezer model. ments to the outside dimensions of the is measured in cubic feet of food stor­ model you plan to buy. Also check age space. All manufacturers partici­ • Do you have a large family? whether your room layout requires a pating in the AHAlvf Refrigerator­ • Do you live quite a distance from left- or right-hand door. Some models Freezer Certification Program use the grocery stores? have reversible doors. Ask your dealer same method to rate the capacity of • Do you usually buy some foods in for the specification sheets on the their models, so you can be sure that large quantities? models that interest you. These sheets the capacity of all units bearing the • Do you have a garden or live near will give outside dimensions, installa­ AHAM seal was measured the same seasonal fresh food suppliers and tion clearances and information on way. freeze such foods in quantity? features. I • Do you prepare meals in advance What capacity do you need? and freeze them? Defrost System the surfaces. The defrosted water and matically each time the unit stops t here are three ty?es of defrost ice must then be removed bv hand and running. Normal refrigeration is not T systems: the refrigerator restarted by setting the interrupted. The freezer section. l temperature control to the right setting. however, must be defrosted manually. • Manual. You have to turn the · .... efrigerator control to "off" or • Partial Automatic. (Cycle Defrost) • Automatitl. Frost is removed auto­ :P ~>: ,,;lefrose• so the cooling surfaces will The cooling surface in the f n•sh food maticaily in 1:-,'"'" ~he refrigerator and warm up and the ice will loosen from (refrigerator) section will defrost auto- freezer sections. 2 .\J -- .. ~~c~, Consumer Guide •• Door Style f oor styles are illustrated next to the capacity ianges, the temperatures in I the freezer (or low temperature compartment), and the defrost systems D currently available in the various styles. SI:\'GLE DOOR REFRIGERATORS Overall Capacity: From 1.5 to 19.1 cubic feet. Low Temperature Compartme"'+, Generally about 15°F for larger compartments, but smaller compartments have higher temperatures and may be limited to making ice. Check the use-and-care manual for the recommended storage time of food already frozen, especially foods with a high sugar content, like ice cream and fruit juice concentrate. (If you plan to freeze food or store already frozen food, make sure the unit can maintain a cold enough temperature, 8 oF or lower.) !"'.: Defrost System: Almost all single door refrigerators have manual defrost. A few ' -~· ·." •. ~· . larger models have automatic defrost. ·. ~ .. 0 ~ COMBINATION REFHIGERATOR-FREEZERS 'i-· :: 0 TOP AND BOTTOM FREEZERS: "' Overall Capacity: From 2.8 to 22.6 cubic feet. Freezer Temperature: About 5 °F or lower for freezing food and for frozen food storage. .. .•. ~~ Defrost System: With the exception of a few smaller models, combination refrigerator-freezers have either partial automatic or automatic defrost systems. SIDE-BY-SIDE Overall Capacity: From 18.2 to 27.7 cubic feet. Freezer Temperature: About 5 °F or lower for freezing food and for frozen food ~ storage. "' Defrost System: All models have automatic defrost systems. '.:• ~ FREEZERS Overall Capacity: From 4. 7 to 28.0 cubic feet (chestfreezers); from 1.3 to 3 L 1 ~ cubic feet (upright freezers). Temperature: 0 °F or lower temperatures for long-term food storage and for . •... " >l' freezing food. ..' Defrost System: All chest freezers have manual defrost. A few upright models have automatic defrost systems. 3 -:-""-:-.-,..-·...,--·---·-·-c--·"---~--,.~·---.r--··~~-----~----·· .. ::--·-----···~····· ---~·~········--··-~ ··-··--····~·····-"· ...... --_, .. ,. ·-···~ ~ ~·-'"--------~· ------------- "------·----·· . -"' ~7-~'"s.( ~" -~~ ~ ~ Consumer Guide 1'', I \• ~v I Energy Cost l his is the cost of energy (electricity} needed to operate the T refrigerator or freezer. This cost varies from model to model along with the capacity, freezer size and tempera­ ture and the type of defrost system. Energy cost also depends on design Name of manufacturer and Type of appliance and Estimared annual operating model number of the features you cannot see such as the capacity, cost for this model only. appliance on which this efficiency of the condenser and motor, label appears. and the type and amount of insulation. Generally, larger models and models (Name of Corpora11onj All model numbers are listed Refr1gerator·Freezer Model(s) AH503. AH504. AH507 if the label appfies to more with automatic defrost systems will Capactty 23 Cub1c Feet Type of Defrost Full Automahc than o'le model. use more electricity than smaller National a~rerage cost models or those with manual defrost. for ele<:tricity upon which the estimated annual All brands and models compared in the scale on energy cost figure is ---1- A ~~nua1 defrost unit, however, can this label fall within this base<l. use considerable energy if the frost capacity range. build-up is thick (over lf.t inch). This ~~~oc:el wJtt\ makes the unit run longer, work harder, hoghesl EstNted annual operating er:eq;y cos1 Estimated annual operating and use more energy. After defrosting, cost for th-c; :tlodel in this $129 cost for the model in this size range that costsltuiSI $105 size range that costs mas: energy is again required to lower the to operate. to operate. temperature for the resumption of food storage. Cautions that ttoe customer's Scale showing loll""-'-t and not necessarily be "EnergyGuide"' Label. Once you decide highest estimated operating 1he same as the cost figure costs for models within 'tliven above. which capacity, door style, defrost this size range. These models represent different Cost per system and other features you want, brands, not just those of kilowatt tne company fosted in the hau: look for the bright yellow EnergyGuide. upper right· hand corner. You'll find this label on the front of practically every model displayed in the store. (Note: Some of the latest models are very energy efficient but display no EnergyGuide label, because they use a technology that cannot be tested according to Federal test procedures.) Where the estimated annual Warning that it is ur.lawful A grid to help determine cost of this pamcular model to remo~re label, more closely the co.rtomer's The energy label will tell you the falls in comparison to all operating costlll'...-1 on other models in this size local utilitY rates an:-. use estimated annual operating cost of that range. habits. particular model. This cost is based on • the amount of energy used under the laboratory tests specified by Federal test procedures and • an average national electricity rate (stated on the label). Here is a sample EnergyGu.ide with an mind that, on the average, refrigerators Remember, the prominent cost figure explanation of the various parts. manufactured today use about 34% .~ is a national average. Other information less electricity ... freezers over 45% /T' ~;m the label will help you calculate Today's refrigerators andfreezers use iess electricity ... than the one you've your cost to operate the model based less energy. When you shop for your had in your home for the past twelve on your local electricity rate. new refrigerator or freezer, keep in years or more. 4 -I Consumer Guide .. I Makes and Models I TM i An explanation abouc fhe directory Hslliig which follows ... T his listing is grouped as follows: lowest to the highest operating cost. 1982 for l'1C's energy labeiifig For each model you will find the program. The second estimate is based Refrigerators Page followiTlg information in this order: on 7. 75 cents per kWh- the rate Single Door-Manual Defrost 6 established March 1985. Single Door-Automatic Defrost 6 • BrandName • Model Number If you're interested in the size of the Refrigerator-Freezers • Total Volume in Cubic Feet freezer versus fresh food storage areas Top Freezer-Partial Automatic • ITC Energy Cost of specific models, ask your dealer for Defrost 6 the current edition of A HAM's Directory Tv? Freezer-Automatic Defrost 7 Appliance energy costs are part of the of Certified Refrigerators and Freezers.