There are a few kinds of bar fridges.  Some are meant to hold only beverages like cans or bottles.  Others are made specifically for wine.  Still others are designed for a combination of food and drinks, like a mini bar.  Although sizes vary, usually bar fridge dimensions range from very small with a capacity of under 2 cubic feet to quite large, although a bar fridge for sale usually doesn’t get much bigger than 5 cubic feet or 3 feet tall.  Any bigger than that, and you can just get a normal upright fridge.  Here are the types of bar fridges available and the best models.

Normal Bar Fridges

For everyday normal use, there are lots of bar fridges to choose from.  You should think about what you might want to put in the fridge before you choose one.  If you are primarily going to use it for cans and bottles, you might want to get one without drawers, so you can fit more beverages inside.  Here are some of the most popular models available:
The Sanyo SR-3770S is a great little refrigerator.  It is quite large, standing at counter height, which is almost 3 feet.  This Sanyo is a stainless steel bar fridge, which means it will look great anywhere you put it.  It features a built-in vertical can dispenser and plenty of space both inside and on the door.  Another great feature that this fridge has is a full-width freezer, which comes in very handy when you need some ice.  A small bar fridge usually won’t have a good freezer like this.

The Glass Front Bar Fridge

There are great bar fridges available that are specifically designed to hold lots of cans.  These fridges are called “beverage centers”, and are a great solution

if you need to chill lots of cans.  They are used in all kinds of places, from snack bars to boats to workplaces and schools.    This type of refrigerator is rated according to how many cans it can hold.  Sizes vary from 60 cans up to 150 or more.  The Haier 150 can beverage center is a great little fridge.  Its bar fridge glass door lets you see what is inside without having to open it.  If you are looking for a light-use commercial bar fridge, this type would work well.  It is reasonably priced as well, at just $200, although you can get cheaper beverage centers that hold a smaller quantity of cans.

Mini Bar Fridges

The mini bar fridge is the most common type of bar fridge.  These are the ones that you see in practically every decent hotel room in the world.  Although they are technically just a mini fridge, they do have some distinctions that differentiate them from their little cousins.  The biggest feature that sets them apart is that the good ones use a different method to produce cold air. While other refrigerators use compressors to chill the air, a good mini bar will use what is called the absorption technique.  The result is a completely silent mini bar fridge.  Hotels don’t want noisy refrigerators waking up their guests, and they are willing to pay a lot of money for these silent fridges.  One of the leading manufacturers of mini bar fridges is Summit.  The Summit mini bar fridges features the silent technology and a door lock.

Other Types of Bar Fridges

There are a few other types of bar fridges that are designed for specific uses.  One of them is the wine bar fridge.  Unlike the beverage centers, these fridges are specifically designed to hold bottles of wine.  They come in various sizes, ranging from 6 bottle to 28 bottles or more capacities.  They also have glass doors and thermostats that are far superior to normal fridges.

Another type of fridge is specifically designed for use at a bar.  There are models that are built more sturdy and can hold up to heavy everyday use, such as a back bar fridge.  You can also get an under bar fridge that fits right under your bar, making it conveniently out of sight from customers.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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Running on three different power sources is one of the great things about 3 way camping fridges.  It provides campers complacency in food storage.  You never have to settle for food chests that are not capable of keeping food fresh for a long time.  A 3 way camping fridge is an all in one solution, with batteries, gas and regular 110/220 volt electricity as sources of energy.  However, just because they offer you three options does not mean you’re never going to have any trouble with keeping it running.  There are a few things you need to know in order to use these 3 way camping refrigerators the way they were intended.  If you are using your 3 way bar fridge in an RV or caravan, there is a good chance that you will have other appliance that you need to power as well.  Some of them will require electricity, such as a tabletop dishwasher or a Here are a few simple tips that you might want to remember to keep your unit running its best:

One of the 3 way camping fridge’s power sources is a 12 v battery.  This draws charge from your own vehicle’s engine but may require a solar panel for better performance and recharging.  It allows you to use the fridge while in transit, but it easily drains out and has to be recharged.  Your running vehicle engine can easily provide this when your vehicle is turned on.  This is usually the last option when all else fails, since powering the fridge requires the vehicle to be running.  Many people power the fridge with the 12v coming from the vehicle when they are on the road, and then switch it over to the power hookup when they park for the night or reach their destination.

Another source of power is its LPG supply, otherwise known as liquid propane gas.  This is a great alternative to running the bar fridge off the battery, and will provide the necessary cooling for your food and drinks.  If the fridge was plugged in at home for an appropriate time prior to your journey, your LPG source can just be the on-call buddy.  The main power source is enough to sustain your fridge’s cooling capacity for a few days, but just in case your kids request for an extension, that would be the time that you can turn on your LPG source.  Refrigerators are not heavy users of propane, and a small tank can last quite a while.  While you can get a gas fridge that only runs on propane or kerosene, these aren’t going to be as versatile as one that can be powered by electricity as well.

Most camping trips involve a bit of wild-cards.  It is more of a test than an experience, actually.  Learning to survive without the urban basics such as electricity will teach you more than just camping stuff, but since camping has been a regular activity observed by schools, campsites these days are often complete with  luxuries like electricity, bathrooms, showers, etc.  The best thing to do is to call ahead and find out if where you are going has power.  That way you can be prepared with propane if you need it.

As for the durability of these 3 way camping fridges, they will eventually show signs of wear and tear like all other appliances.  If you are an outdoor lover, then you would definitely want your fridge to last for quite some time.  Before stashing it out in the basement for storage if you are not using it regularly, clean it thoroughly as per manufacturer’s specifications.  And right before you use it, check if it is functioning properly.

Finally, remember to be prepared before setting out on a camping trip.  Check your propane tank to ensure you have enough, and always be prepared in case you need to spend more time than you expected.  It is not much of a burden to load up your vehicle with enough stock to sustain your outdoor adventure.

Tags: Outdoor Kitchens, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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If you are thinking about buying a SMEG fridge freezer, chances are you have asked yourself “which refrigerator is right for me?” The answer to that question depends on a number of things, including your taste, personality, budget, personal preference, and of course what you need out of your refrigerator. Aside from the scores of different colors and designs out there for you to shoes from, there are four different models, or ranges, of SMEG refrigerators for you to choose from.  Each one is a bit different than the others, so you want to make sure you think about what you need before making a choice.  Keep in mind that your local store might not display all of the models, but you can probably order it if you want something other than what you see.
The smallest model of the SMEG fridge freezers is the FAB10 range. The FAB10 has a 107 liter fridge capacity and a 13 liter compartment for frozen foods. This range also comes standard with a fruit and vegetable drawer and 2 fully adjustable glass shelves.
After the FAB10 comes the FAB28 range. The FAB28 is a midsized refrigerator with a 256 liter capacity, 26 of which are reserved for frozen food storage. This model also comes with 3 adjustable glass shelves, a covered storage container, a full width vegetable crisper and one chrome wine rack with a five bottle capacity. Due to its smaller size, this model would probably work pretty well as a bar fridge.
Next in line is the FAB30 range, which is a large capacity refrigerator and freezer combo.  The freezer occupies the top portion of the fridge body and has a 68 liter capacity, while the refrigerator has a capacity of 242 liters. The FAB30 comes standard with all the features of the FAB28 and a fast cooling switch.
The fourth and last model is the FAB33, which is the largest SMEG retro fridge freezer available. The FAB32 has a fridge capacity of 205 liters and a freezer capacity of 103 liters. This is the only range of SMEG fridge freezers which has two compressors and two thermostats as well as two salad crispers. The FAB30 also comes standard with all the same feature of the other two full size SMEG refrigerators.
Knowing the characteristics of each range may help you decide which one is best for you, so that you can move on to the most important part of selecting a SMEG fridge, choosing which outrageous retro style suits you best.


Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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Coolers are literally everywhere these days.  We use them for camping, picnics, at the beach, and nearly everywhere else outdoors.  Many people don’t even take them anywhere – they just leave them in the backyard to keep frosty beverages close at hand.  Although Igloo coolers are great, with lots of wear some of those little parts do break once in a while.  Although the tiny little ones are so cheap that people usually just replace them, the larger, more expensive models are definitely worth finding parts for.  Here are the most common Igloo cooler parts that you can easily replace yourself.  Keep in mind that you can find cooler replacement parts for other brands as well, but Igloo is by far the most common manufacturer.

Hinges

After a few good years of faithful service, the plastic hinges often give out.  When this happens, you can still close the lid, but it won’t latch and can fly off in the back of a truck.  You can get a set of hinges here for around $5, and screw them on yourself.  Keep in mind that you need to get your own screws.  Another thing to remember is that you can also do this repair yourself with a couple of stainless steel hinges and screws that you can find at any hardware store.

Latches

After opening and closing the plastic latch a thousand times, eventually the plastic wears out and it breaks.  Buying this Igloo replacement part is a little trickier because you need to get the right size latch for your cooler.  To do this, you will need to know your model # in order to get the right size.  Click Here to See the Latches Available.

Drain Plug

This is an important part to fix, since it is what keeps all the water sloshing around the bottom of the cooler from leaking all over the place.  In addition, these are usually the first things to break on a cooler, since they are just made out of a thin piece of plastic.  This is another one where you need to know your model # or at least the size of it to make sure you get the right size.  It isn’t that hard to find though, since there are only a couple different ones.  Find Them Here.

Spigot

This is the most common of the Igloo water cooler parts that you will need to replace.  These water coolers are meant to take a beating, but the spigots break off eventually.  Fortunately, Igloo has a one-size-fits-all spigot for only a few bucks that you can screw right in.  Get it Here.

While there will always be people who will throw their cooler away when a piece breaks off, this isn’t necessary at all.  In addition to the environmental burden of having huge plastic coolers in the landfill that will most likely never biodegrade, they can be used for many years if you just replace the parts.  An alternative for outdoor use is to just get a bar fridge for the backyard.  You can turn it on only when you are going to use to save energy.  The same is also true for Igloo marine cooler parts.  You can get hinges, drains, and latches for them as well, and you can also get new seat cushions to go on top.

Tags: Freezers, Refrigerators, Uncategorized by Jeffrey
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Many people wonder if it would be smarter to just get a refrigerator that has a glass door. That way, you could stare into it and choose what you want without having to stand there with the door open for a long time letting the cold air escape. While getting a glass fridge may seem like a splendid idea, in reality it doesn’t turn out so well for home use. They do have their place though, so let’s take a look at where they come in handy.
The truth is that appliance manufacturers just don’t make a glass door fridge intended for home use. There are plenty of them available, but they are the kind that you see in convenience stores and restaurants. If you have a food business, glass fridges are pretty much a necessity. They are so useful because they allow both employees and customers locate exactly what they want quickly. Could you imagine store clerks opening three different fridges to find what they are looking for?
Glass door fridges come in all shapes and sizes. Some have a single door, and others have double doors that open out. Depending on your needs, there are refrigerators that will serve specific purposes. Since this type of fridge is mostly used to display beverages or food for customers, many of them actually are equipped with two doors – one on the front and one on the back. Having a rear door allows the refrigerator to be stocked easily from the back as items are sold. This is important because it ensures proper stock rotation – the older items are in the front and get sold first. Prices of these refrigerators vary widely, depending on size, style, and manufacturer. The cheapest ones start at just over $1,000, and they climb to $6,000 or more for extra large, durable units.
There is one type of glass front fridge that is intended for use in the home, however. There are compact refrigerators that are meant for use in home bars. Although you can easily use a normal bar fridge, a glass door can add some style. The drawback is that you will have to pay a bit more for this type of fridge than a normal compact model. Expect to pay somewhere in the range of $500 for a glass door bar fridge made by a reputable company like Summit.
If you aren’t looking to spend that kind of money, here is a tip: there is one type of compact glass fridge priced between $100 -$200. If you are going to use it for chilling bottles of wine primarily, you can get what’s called a wine fridge. They almost always have glass doors on them, and have very accurate temperature sensors that keep the wine chilled just right. One thing to keep in mind is that these fridges are meant for wine bottles, so fitting beer bottles or cans in them may be trickier.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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