Posted at 12:00 p.m.
Assess your needs
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY GE APPLIANCES
One refrigerator from the GE Monogram line, 36″ wide
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY KITCHENAID
The number of drawers varies according to the models, as well as the depth of the shelves in the doors, to meet different needs.
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BOSCH PHOTO, PROVIDED BY JC PERREAULT
The interior of the devices differs from one model to another. Here is a Bosch refrigerator.
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If an appliance needs to be replaced without changing the available space, the possibilities are more limited than during a renovation. In the first case, it is necessary to measure the height, width and depth of the area in which the device will fit. “That’s the basics,” says Daniel Burgess, buyer in the appliance division at JC Perreault. We then wonder about his habits. Do we freeze a lot of food or do we have a second freezer? Do we go to Costco and buy groceries every two weeks or buy fresh food every two or three days? This will have an impact on the sort of storage that best suits our needs. Some doors have deep shelves to put large containers of juice. But it’s not convenient for everyone. »
“We often ask people what they liked about their old fridge and what they would like to fix,” notes Jean-François Rolland, manager of the Corbeil Électroménagers store in Saint-Hubert. Many say that their old refrigerator made noise. Compressors these days are of higher quality and that makes a huge difference. Most devices are silent, but you have to find out. »
How many doors?
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY KITCHENAID
Models with two French doors at the top, in the fridge space, and a freezer at the bottom are particularly popular. The appliances above are KitchenAid brand.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY GE APPLIANCES
This matte black model, with two French doors in the top, in the fridge space, and a freezer in the bottom, is part of the GE Café range.
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Bottom-mounted freezers have grown in popularity over the past 20 years, says Jean-François Rolland of Corbeil Électroménagers. “The two French doors at the top, in the fridge space, have established themselves in the market,” he explains. They require less space in the kitchen. »
There are models with two doors at the top (for the fridge) and two drawers (fridge and freezer) at the bottom. But they are less popular than models with two doors and a single drawer, because they cost more, notes Thierry Lopez, director of marketing and corporate affairs, in Quebec, at Best Buy Canada. “The most popular sizes range from 30 to 36 inches wide,” he says. The new constructions give the possibility of having 36 in. of width. In terms of depth, devices are getting thinner and thinner. There is less waste of space inside. »
European depth
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY BOSCH CANADA
This Bosch brand appliance, equipped with a drawer to store bottles at the right temperature, is the same depth as the cabinets and the worktop (24 in.). It is 36″ wide.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY GE APPLIANCES
This one, with the clean lines of the Monogram range, 30 in. wide and 24 in. deep, fits perfectly into the kitchen. It has a transparent glass door.
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“In Quebec, we sell a lot of appliances with the same depth as kitchen cabinets, which is 24 inches,” says Daniel Burgess, buyer at JC Perreault. Only the door protrudes. Many people tend towards the European aesthetic and love this style. On the other hand, the devices will have a lower capacity. »
He cites as an example a refrigerator 66 or 67 in. high and 30 in. wide, which would fit in a condo. A 24″ deep model will have a volume of approximately 16′3 or 17 ft3while a deeper model will have a volume of 19, 20 or 21 cubic feet3.
Cabinet-depth models also tend to cost more than deeper models, because suppliers are often European and import their products in small quantities, he notes.
In Corbeil Électroménagers stores, counter-depth models are also in high demand, notes Mr. Rolland. “Customers compensate for the smaller volume by choosing a larger model, 36” wide for example, especially if they are doing a renovation. »
Appearance and technology
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LG PHOTO, PROVIDED BY JC PERREAULT
Some LG brand refrigerators feature a “door-in-door” feature for quick access to often-used items without opening the entire large door.
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PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Samsung branded smart fridges with a screen are connected to the internet. They are very practical, among other things, for finding recipes.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY GE APPLIANCES
GE Appliances still offers its model incorporating an infusion system from the Keurig company, in its GE Café line.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
To allow consumers to personalize their refrigerator, Samsung Electronics recently launched the Bespoke product line, offering panels in various colors.
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Stainless steel, which still dominates, is easier to maintain than before, says Jean-François Rolland. “Black stainless steel is still in demand, but people choose stainless steel a lot. »
Beyond stainless steel, which also represents the largest percentage of sales at JC Perreault, the fridges are distinguished by their number of doors, the color and the shape of their handles, points out Daniel Burgess.
Thierry Lopez, of Best Buy, notices a tendency to want devices that are out of the ordinary. “People like to have new things that look good and meet their needs. Take the LG fridge with a door in the door. You tap the glass twice, the light comes on to see what’s inside, and you grab what you use most often, be it milk, juice or beer, without open the whole fridge. It is energy saving and it is convenient.
“Samsung refrigerators that have a screen also enhance the kitchen,” he continues. They’re popular because they’re more accessible than before, with pricing starting at $2629. Technology speaks to consumers, who use their phones and understand all the benefits. They see themselves using the device, which will centralize communications. It’s no longer seen as a gimmick. »
“There are people who are looking for this technology outright, notes Mr. Rolland, of Corbeil Électroménagers. The consumer has changed. Some really want this type of fridge with an integrated screen, which allows you to watch YouTube videos, among other things. »
Manufacturers rack their brains to distinguish themselves, we can see. Wanting to allow customers to personalize their device, Samsung Electronics recently launched the Bespoke product line, offering panels in various colors.
GE Appliances still offers its model incorporating an infusion system from the Keurig company, in its GE Café range. Several manufacturers also hide the filtered water and ice dispensers inside some of their models, for a more streamlined look.
Food fresher for longer
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FISHER & PAYKEL PHOTO, PROVIDED BY JC PERREAULT
Some Fisher & Paykel refrigerators are divided into separate zones, which allow you to adjust the temperature at which different types of food are stored.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY BOSCH CANADA
Bosch refrigerators have a double compressor and a double evaporator to preserve the freshness of food for as long as possible and limit the transfer of odors.
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New technologies allow food to last longer, underlines Charles-Loïc Danand, head of the Strategy and Marketing Department for the Amiel Group, which notably includes Corbeil Électroménagers and Les specialists de l’égéménager.
“The multinational Blomberg, for example, integrates blue light into certain devices,” he says. The light is always on and prevents fruits and vegetables from quickly deteriorating. »
Fridges from various manufacturers are also equipped with a filtration system, which will capture ethylene, a gas emitted by fruits and vegetables that causes them to age, adds Jean-François Rolland.
“When you spend a little more money, there are options to go further in food preservation,” says Daniel Burgess of JC Perreault. Bosch, for example, has a system that absorbs ethylene and keeps food at a controlled temperature. Appliances from Fisher & Paykel have separate zones, to better preserve different types of food at different temperatures. »
Various possibilities are to be considered, to avoid waste.