When it comes to buying a new refrigerator, you may be interested in choosing one with a built-in ice and water dispenser. These modern fridge features have become increasingly trendy amongst homeowners in the US and Canada, where cold drinks are a household staple.
Having your own ice and cold water dispenser includes several advantages. They’re convenient to have, easy for people of all ages to operate, and they look great in every kitchen.
However, a refrigerator filtration system isn’t perfect, so it comes with some drawbacks too. If you’re contemplating the installation of a refrigerator water dispenser and ice machine, this post will help you to separate the pros from the cons.
Getting a refrigerator water dispenser and ice machine: The pros
Having your own refrigerator water dispenser and ice machine at home comes with many benefits. Apart from the fact that it has become a standard feature in many modern homes in Canada and the US, these systems bring with them a range of exciting advantages worth looking into.
1. Convenience
The biggest pro of having a water and ice dispenser in your home is convenience. Instead of needing to refill a jug of water in the refrigerator every few days, you have access to fresh, cold water at the press of a button. Similarly, fresh ice is always quite literally on tap.
This makes it easy for you to go about your daily business without needing to think about where you will get your cold water or ice from. For entertaining guests, this can also be very useful. There’s no need to fill several ice trays ahead of time or to buy bags of ice that take up valuable freezer space.
2. Improved smell and taste of water
The water and ice that comes out of a refrigerator dispenser automatically runs through a filtration system, giving you a cleaner, better-tasting, and better-smelling product. If you’re sensitive to the quality of the water and ice you consume, this is a huge advantage.
3. Increases sell-ability of house
Many of the people seeking to buy homes in the US and Canada prioritize a modern, high-quality kitchen. By installing a refrigerator with a built-in water dispenser and ice machine, you can make it easier to sell your home later down the line.
Any additional appliances and technological features you add to your home make it more appealing to buyers and help to increase the overall value of the home itself.
If you’re considering selling your home at some point, investing in a high-tech refrigerator can result in a faster, more agreeable sale in the future.
4. Chic, modern appeal
There’s something intrinsically satisfying about having automatic dispensaries in your home. They may not be 100% necessary, but they make life feel easier and more luxurious. For the perks it provides, a water and ice dispenser is well worth the investment.
Getting a refrigerator water dispenser and ice machine: The cons
Just like anything in life, these high-tech refrigerator systems come with both positives and negatives. While water and ice dispensers can make life more convenient, there are other variables which contradict that idea.
1. Expensive to purchase and run
Buying a refrigerator that comes kitted out with both a water dispenser and an ice machine is a costly affair. These features have been carefully designed to give you the smoothest, cleanest, and highest quality experience possible, which naturally comes at a high price.
The average cost of a refrigerator with water freezing and filtration systems is in the range of $1,000 – $2,000, making it one of the most expensive types of refrigerators to buy.
Not only that, but these fancy fridges also require more electricity to run, elevating your monthly energy bill. There’s no doubt that cost is one of the main disadvantages of this appliance.
2. Requires maintenance
Unfortunately, refrigerators with water and ice dispenser features tend to need repairs more often than those without. This can be frustrating for a few reasons.
First, it requires the admin of organizing contractors to fix your refrigerator when the dispenser stops working, which can take up time and energy from your life. Second, those repairs can become expensive. It’s a finicky job that requires a specialized contractor to properly fix. Last, most systems require regular replacement of the water filter, which is an extra chore and expense that some may not enjoy.
3. Reduces capacity for storage
All that water and ice must be kept somewhere—and that somewhere is in the door of your refrigerator. When you have a refrigerator that features these dispensers, it diminishes the amount of storage space available in the rest of the appliance.
Even though many of these refrigerators are designed to take up as little space as possible, the dispensers and storage still steal significant space that you could use for keeping other products cool.
4. The filtering system is fundamental
Not all refrigerators with ice and water dispensers include a robust filtration system. The water that passes through these systems will be an improvement from straight tap water. However, if you’re particularly sensitive to poor-tasting or smelling water, it may not be enough.
Should this be the case for you, a full-house filtration system may be necessary to achieve the quality you seek. Because the filtration system is fundamental to the outcome of your refrigerator’s water and ice, you may need to set up a whole-house system that costs a pretty penny to install.
The verdict
At the end of the day, determining if installing a refrigerator water dispenser and ice machine is a good idea is up to you.
Clearly, there are both positives and negatives, but the decision ultimately lies with your budget and lifestyle preferences. If you are happy to take on the financial responsibility of maintaining the water filters and other necessary components and you love the idea of cold water and ice on demand, installing one is a good idea. However, if you are working with a smaller budget or have a busy schedule, this piece of kitchen technology may end up being more of a drain on resources.
