Many people find it difficult to really know the difference between refrigerator types. Finding the right model and brand of refrigerator to buy depends entirely on your own personal refrigeration needs. You might require a basic domestic fridge for in-house use, a low-temperature freezer for frozen goods, or a laboratory refrigerator for scientific supplies. As an appliance, a refrigerator is somewhat of an investment. That means that you'll want to make sure you've done all you can to pick the best one.

Laboratory Refrigerators

Laboratory refrigerators store important medical and scientific materials at specific temperatures. Some are therefore very low temperature refrigerators for items that need to be kept extremely cold. Others reduce humidity so that sensitive specimens stay safe or intact in a highly controlled environment. As you might be able to tell, it is usually people in a specific profession who use these types of refrigerators. They are not used in households. With their specific temperature regulation capabilities, laboratory refrigerators are designed with much more detail and fine-tuned requirements than a typical home refrigerator.

You can buy laboratory refrigerators in many designs, shapes and sizes. Generally speaking however, they exist in two main categories: the chest freezer and the upright freezer. These models differ mainly in the respective quantities of space that each one needs. Depending on the layout and available space in a laboratory, it is appealing to have a refrigerator that can fit conveniently under a lab counter. Small refrigeration units like these will reduce the risk of accidents because they are tucked out of the way of any traffic.

An upright refrigerator takes up a smaller amount of space in the lab than the chest freezer, but still has a comparable storage capacity. They are more effective at maintaining and trapping cool air than the upright model as well. Chest refrigerators can bounce back quickly to their regulated temperatures even when the door has been opened, exposing them to the laboratory air. Upright refrigerators are less efficient and take up more space, but they have more room for organization. This way, important samples are not misplaced or mixed up, and they can be accessed easily.

Domestic Refrigerators

We typically keep our household refrigerators around 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike the laboratory refrigerator, the items we store do not require quite such careful temperature regulation. Domestic refrigerators do not vary as much in the sizes and shapes that they come in. Most are a standard size with a top or bottom freezer compartment. You can store your frozen foods here, or purchase a separate sub-zero refrigerator, commonly called a freezer. While laboratory refrigerators sometimes have more than one solid or sliding glass door, domestic refrigerators open with a single, outward-pull door. They usually feature sliding drawers for produce and compartments on the door for eggs and cheese.

You can adjust the temperature of your domestic refrigerator with a dial at your own leisure, whereas most laboratory refrigerators are equipped with an alarm system. As soon as the internal temperature undergoes any sort of change, the alarm will go off to notify lab personnel. Now that you know the difference between refrigerator types, you can see how the refrigerator's intended use largely defines the model you will choose to buy. Most people only require a domestic refrigerator, but now you are familiar with the higher-tech functions of laboratory models as well.