They may not be particularly convenient or efficient, but they keep doing what they were made to do, year in and year out, often without the slightest hint of regular maintenance. First, refrigerators are still simple appliances, consisting of a compressor, refrigerant coil, and an insulated box with shelves. And, as such, the marketing focus these days is on size, storage features, door shapes, and add-ons, such as water dispensers and ice makers. While that's probably still true, the overall picture has changed slightly. Starting this year, manufacturers are no longer allowed to use ozone-depleting freon or plastics made with high concentrations of CFCs.
Manufacturers can sell existing inventories, but that's it.
This year, and probably this year only, you can choose between a traditional model that runs on freon, or a new freon-free model that has no track record yet. It's a tough choice, but a temporary one. When shopping for refrigerators, make size and compartment options your top priorities. Sizes range from a stingy 13 cubic feet to a whopping 28 cubic feet. As a rule, upright models, with both upper or lower freezer compartments, are less costly to buy and to operate.