The compact refrigerator was truly a marvel in its heyday. This miniaturized appliance still offers significant utility for a number of purposes. The mini refrigerator can be found in dorm rooms, game rooms, and bedrooms. Although this type of refrigerator is generally not recommended for use as the only cold storage unit for an entire family, it serves many purposes and can make keeping beverages cold and edibles fresh much easier.
Compact refrigerators were first patented by Carl von Linde, a German engineer, doctor and professor. Linde was known for his work in refrigeration as the innovator of gas separation technology. In his lifetime, Linde claimed the patents on a number of technologies used in many appliances.
What are Compact Refrigerators?
Simply stated, a compact refrigerator is a small unit. These come in a number of different designs, however most feature the standard top freezer, bottom refrigerator layout. The number of doors used may vary. Some units feature a single door and may not be able to reach deep freeze temperatures. Other units have two doors, with a separate freezer compartment. Crisper drawers are optional and some manufacturers have added can dispensers due to this model’s popularity as a beverage cooler.
Benefits of Compact Refrigerators
The compact refrigerator is versatile due to its size. While a full, family sized refrigerator is very large and heavy to move, compact refrigerators are far easier to place. The smaller size also means the unit will take up less space as a whole. The trade off, of course, is a lower capacity. Most compact refrigerators are designed to act as an auxiliary appliance or convenience item that allows for cold storage outside of the kitchen.
Compact refrigerators have also helped many individuals find solutions to their cold storage needs in various living situations. For example, many students put them in their college dorm rooms. Due to the smaller size, the mini refrigerator has proven a very useful appliance in this and many other tight living spaces.
Is the Compact Refrigerator for You?
It is important to note that if you plan to purchase a compact refrigerator, you should be aware of capacity limitations. This model is not ideal for large families, unless used for overflow food storage or beverages. Many modern compact refrigerators utilize the available space very efficiently, but their size is still restrictive.
Before adding a compact refrigerator to your household, every consumer should weigh the electricity usage against the need for extra cold storage space. If you plan to leave the unit plugged in, it will continue to consume electricity regardless of what is inside it. This can lead to considerably higher utilities, which may turn out to be money wasted if you don’t really need the extra space. Having a compact refrigerator on hand is a great thing, even if it is only plugged in when you really need it.
Features of the Compact Refrigerator
Consumers have numerous compact refrigerator models to choose from. Each offers its own list of features. Economical units will not include as many state of the art features, but will offer the basic functionality needed out of a mini refrigerator. Some designs include separate freezer compartments while others are entirely refrigerator. Outdoor models are also available and are built to withstand the elements.