In the United States and many other developed countries, refrigerators are taken for granted. But the truth is, the refrigerator is a relatively recent invention. Refrigerators first came into being at the turn of the century, but it wasn’t until the mid-1940s that they were mass produced. With every decade, they have become larger, safer, more convenient, and more efficient.

Is your refrigerator over the hill? If it’s noisy, frosty, costly to run, and too small, your answer is probably yes. The good news is that today’s refrigerators have solved nearly all of these issues. They are typically frost-free and offer features such as chilled water and ice in the door, adjustable shelves and trays, cooling zones, and even a power-failure warning. They’re made in a range of sizes, from small under-counter models to huge built-in, side-by-side refrigerator/freezer combinations.

When a standard refrigerator/freezer combination just doesn’t offer enough space for frozen food and, there are separate freezer units. Freezers are usually used for more long-term storage of bulk and seldom-used food items.

In this section of HomeTips, you will find plenty advice to help in selecting a new refrigerator/freezer or stand-alone freezer. Or, if you just need to get your current appliance working properly, the articles here will walk you through solving the most common problems.