September 2008
Inside CR test labs
We ran our performance tests in our environmental chamber, where we control room temperature. Precise sensors recorded the
temperatures in multiple spots inside the refrigerators.
Temperature performance. Unlike most full-sized refrigerators, these compacts have a single temperature control for both the main space and freezer sections. In most models, that made it impossible to adjust the main space to 37º F—ideal for refrigerators without making the freezer too warm. Warm and cold spots were another problem in some models. The upper rear of the small Avanti RM1711B, for example, was 8º F warmer than the center area.
We varied temperatures in our environmental chamber between 55º F and 90º F to see how well each model compensated for changes in ambient temperature. Refrigerators that flub this test could require manual temperature adjustments during a heat wave in rooms that aren't air-conditioned.
We also checked reserve capacity, a severe test that simulates frequent door opening during hot weather, putting warm food in the refrigerator, and other tough conditions. Some models couldn't get their refrigerator space down to the desired 37º F with the test chamber cranked up to 110º F. The small Haier HRT02WNC, a thermoelectric model with no compressor, rose to a steamy 73º F.
Freezer performance. Keeping food frozen for long periods requires a temperature of 0º F. The tall Avanti 308YWT was the only model with a separate freezer door and the only one that could reach 0º F. But its refrigerator performance was poor mostly because its compartment warmed as the room temperature rose. The freezer compartment in the tall Frigidaire FRC05L5D[B] bottomed out at about 19º F—just low enough to keep an ice pop frozen. Others couldn't even manage 32º F and turned our ice pops into slush. The small Haier HRTOWNC cube lacks a freezer compartment.
Energy efficiency. This test measures energy use in relation to capacity. Tall models scored highest. But even those were far less energy-efficient than a typical full-sized refrigerator, and cost nearly as much to run.
Case in point: The Kenmore 7787[2], a full-sized top-freezer we've tested, claims 18 cubic feet and uses 407 kilowatt hours per year, according to its EnergyGuide sticker. That adds up to $44 per year to run, using the government's specified residential rate of 10.8 cents per kWh, compared with $38 and $39 per year for the much-smaller Frigidaire FRC05L5D[B] and Haier HSA02 compact models.
Temperature performance. Unlike most full-sized refrigerators, these compacts have a single temperature control for both the main space and freezer sections. In most models, that made it impossible to adjust the main space to 37º F—ideal for refrigerators without making the freezer too warm. Warm and cold spots were another problem in some models. The upper rear of the small Avanti RM1711B, for example, was 8º F warmer than the center area.
We varied temperatures in our environmental chamber between 55º F and 90º F to see how well each model compensated for changes in ambient temperature. Refrigerators that flub this test could require manual temperature adjustments during a heat wave in rooms that aren't air-conditioned.
We also checked reserve capacity, a severe test that simulates frequent door opening during hot weather, putting warm food in the refrigerator, and other tough conditions. Some models couldn't get their refrigerator space down to the desired 37º F with the test chamber cranked up to 110º F. The small Haier HRT02WNC, a thermoelectric model with no compressor, rose to a steamy 73º F.
Freezer performance. Keeping food frozen for long periods requires a temperature of 0º F. The tall Avanti 308YWT was the only model with a separate freezer door and the only one that could reach 0º F. But its refrigerator performance was poor mostly because its compartment warmed as the room temperature rose. The freezer compartment in the tall Frigidaire FRC05L5D[B] bottomed out at about 19º F—just low enough to keep an ice pop frozen. Others couldn't even manage 32º F and turned our ice pops into slush. The small Haier HRTOWNC cube lacks a freezer compartment.
Energy efficiency. This test measures energy use in relation to capacity. Tall models scored highest. But even those were far less energy-efficient than a typical full-sized refrigerator, and cost nearly as much to run.
Case in point: The Kenmore 7787[2], a full-sized top-freezer we've tested, claims 18 cubic feet and uses 407 kilowatt hours per year, according to its EnergyGuide sticker. That adds up to $44 per year to run, using the government's specified residential rate of 10.8 cents per kWh, compared with $38 and $39 per year for the much-smaller Frigidaire FRC05L5D[B] and Haier HSA02 compact models.
