It can be inconvenient to find food stored in freezers low to the ground, unless you have roll-out or pullout baskets, and they may be harder to locate. A family of four might need at least an 18 cubic foot size, but families who entertain frequently, freeze garden and other fresh produce, or do grocery shopping in quantity may need more refrigerator space. Before you shop, measure the width and height of the space available for the refrigerator. You should allow at least one inch on each side of the refrigerator for installing and cleaning the refrigerator, as well as door swing. Furthermore, blocking air circulation above, below and around the refrigerator may make it work harder to keep cool.
Operating costs depend on size and type.
Manual defrost refrigerators cost less to buy and operate. However, they may not keep ice cream hard or provide longtime storage of frozen food without also freezing foods in the refrigerator compartment. Manual defrost refrigerators are more commonly found in the smaller sizes. Most people prefer a frost-free refrigerator so they will not have the regular chore of defrosting the freezer portion. Some ice makers tend to add to service or repairs needed, and require plumbing.