French Door Refrigerators

French door refrigerators are a relatively new addition to refrigerator lineup. They combine a classic two door (French door) side by side refrigerator on top of a single or double drawer type freezer. The double drawer models are sometimes called four doors, though technically they should be called two door plus two drawer.

Cheaper models have internal water dispensers & ice makers (or do not have them at all).

They do not have any large advantages over other refrigerator types. Their popularity is partially due to their frequent appearance on home and garden TV shows.

Due to their novelty status, they were also comparably higher priced (over $3000), but are getting cheaper now with prices starting around $1000.

They are suitable for trendy people.

Pros:

• good access to refrigerator part due to twin door
• you can open just one side so less cold air escapes
• doors are narrow, but shelves are still wide enough to accommodate larger items like pizza boxes or cakes
• refrigerator on top - no need to bend down to see what is on the bottom shelf
• double doors do not need a lot of space to swing open, so can easily be fitted to smaller kitchens
• through the door ice makers & water dispensers (not on cheapest models)

Cons:

• large, one compartment freezer drawer – not so well organized as the multiple drawer or shelf type freezers. Double drawer models rectify this somewhat (also see side by side type)
• through the door ice makers & water dispensers are the most repair prone parts of a refrigerator

The number of models and brands that make French door refrigerators has increased in the past few years.

LG / LG Kenmore have probably the least expensive French door models available. They have basic features and are also available in stainless steel finish. They also have more expensive models with additional features.

Amana offer basic, lower priced models.

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