Refrigerators are an essential purchase for every household and in recent years, brands have looked to diversify their features and functionality in order to set themselves apart from the competition. In today’s market, most new models – over a certain price tag – now come with a water and ice dispenser, allowing families to get a cool glass of water straight from the fridge without opening the door – a handy function for those who only drink cold water, and households who like to entertain. Learn all you need to know about fridges with water and ice dispensers with this Canstar Blue guide.
What’s in this guide?
What is a water and ice dispenser?
Water and ice dispensers are components that may come attached to your fridge. They are generally built into the appliance’s exterior and may require extra plumbing to be effectively installed. Your fridge may also come equipped with an ice maker, which will likely come as a small box that sits in your freezer compartment. Water and ice dispensers are handy features to have, as they not only allow your family and guests to keep cool during hot summer days, but they may also help you save energy in the long run, as there is no need to open the fridge door and allow the cool air to escape.
Who sells fridges with water and ice dispensers?
A variety of brands offer fridges with water and ice dispensers in Australia. This includes Electrolux, Fisher & Paykel, Haier, Hisense, LG, Samsung, Westinghouse and CHiQ.
Electrolux fridge with water and ice dispenser
Electrolux offer a range of fridges with ice-making and water dispensing capabilities. You’ll find several in the French door range, as well as in some upright and bottom mount models. Electrolux has designed its water dispensers to be ‘ultra-slim’ and most offer continuous cool filtered water, as well as cubed and crushed ice at just the touch of a button.
Electrolux fridges offer other nifty functions like a SnackZone storage compartment (to keep your snacks fresh) and a TasteLock vegetable crisper.
Fisher & Paykel fridge with water and ice dispenser
Fisher & Paykel has long been a respected brand within the home appliance community, with years in the industry as well as a wide range of products making it a go-to option for many consumers. With a variety of fridges available, including integrated, French Door, bottom-mounted, as well side-by-side models, Fisher & Paykel gives consumers plenty of options for those after a water and ice dispenser, with the feature available across most model types.
Fisher & Paykel’s ice makers are designed in a dedicated freezer bin, which can be turned off to increase freezer space. While Fisher & Paykel will have a water and ice dispenser available on at least one model per range, consumers will have to look at the other features of the fridge before deciding on which one to walk out the door with. Most models in the range are equipped with humidity control, chill mode and adjustable shelving.
Haier fridge with water and ice dispenser
Haier is best-known for its range of budget-friendly home, cooking and laundry appliances. For its fridges, the brand uses FresherTechs (a set of refrigeration technologies) to keep all different foods in your fridge optimally preserved, while maintaining their nutritional value, appearance and flavour.
Haier offers a number of fridges with ice and water dispensers. Some models also come with a refillable water dispenser, which removes the need to connect a water pipe to the unit. Plumbing-free fridges typically use a water tank to make ice and water. Most Haier fridges also feature flexible storage and Wi-Fi capability.
Hisense fridge with water and ice dispenser
Offering a cheaper option for consumers, Hisense still has a large range of fridge varieties and models to suit all household sizes and preferences, with French door, side-by-side, top and bottom-mounted fridges all available in a range of capacity sizes and finishes.
Models across the entire Hisense range feature ice makers, with water dispensers being slightly less common. Hisense’s French door range most commonly hosts both water and ice dispensers. Other common features from Hisense models include LED displays with touch control, a super freeze function and interior LED lighting. Hisense’s ice makers are all moveable twist units, allowing for easy access.
LG fridge with water and ice dispenser
A heavyweight of the home appliance and electronics markets, LG has a variety of fridges available for Australian consumers to choose from, with all styles and capacities catered for. LG’s fridge range includes both bottom and top-mounted fridges, as well as the popular side-by-side and French door models, with integrated fridges also available to suit your kitchen aesthetic.
For those after a water dispenser, the majority of LG’s French door range contains the feature, with LG catering for users by expanding the dispenser to fit a water bottle size container. Additionally, LG also offers digital controls for easier filling, as well as a child lock to prevent spills. LG also offers a Slim Indoor Ice Maker, allowing for more freezer space for households, with the ice maker built into the fridge door.
Samsung fridge with water and ice dispenser
An electronics company that has been making moves into the home appliance market, Samsung has become an increasingly popular choice for households, with technological features making the simple fridge exciting to use. Samsung has a wide range of fridges to suit all kitchen styles and needs, with French door, side-by-side and traditional models all available.
Samsung offer fridges that come with either plumbed or non-plumbed water and ice dispensers. Some Samsung models won’t have an ice maker but will have an ice dispenser, meaning you can still cool your drink without limiting your freezer space. The higher-end models also offer the Family Hub feature, which is a display set up on the fridge door, allowing households to leave notes, order groceries as well as search the internet for recipes.
Westinghouse fridge with water and ice dispenser
Westinghouse is a common name in appliances, with the company providing possibly the largest fridge range on the market for Aussie consumers to check out. Offering all types of finishes to suit your kitchen’s aesthetic, Westinghouse also offers a wide variety of large-capacity models for larger households.
For those after water and ice dispensers, the French door model may be the best option to consider, as there is more variety in terms of capacities and functions. Otherwise, consumers will still be able to grab a cold glass of water from Westinghouse’s bottom-mounted models. Most Westinghouse models host adjustable storage, electronic temperature control and an energy efficiency mode.
ChiQ fridge with water and ice dispenser
CHiQ, one of China’s leading designers and manufacturers, are a well-known refrigerator brand. It offers a number of refrigerator styles including French door, side by side, bottom mount, top mount and single door. Some CHiQ models come stocked with water dispensers, most of which are refillable non-plumbed models.
CHiQ non-plumbed water dispensers host internal tanks that can hold up to 4L of water at a time. Most CHiQ fridges also come stocked with internal LED lighting, an energy saving holiday mode, door alarms, fast freeze and a multi air flow system that ensures chilled air reaches each shelf quickly and uniformly.
How much does a fridge with a water and ice dispenser cost?
The price of a fridge with a water and ice dispenser will depend largely on size, brand, design and any other additional features that may be included. Cheaper fridges with this feature will cost around $1,000, while more expensive models may cost more than $10,000.
Considerations for fridges with water and ice dispensers
There are a few things to note before you set your heart on a water dispenser and ice maker:
- Some water dispensers will require plumbing installation to work, meaning you may have to fork over more cash than you were expecting in order to properly set up your fridge.
- Depending on what water lines you’re connected to, you may need to also install a filter within your fridge, which will cost extra and have to be replaced and maintained.
- Ice makers are handy but will take up space in your freezer, which could leave you playing Tetris every time you go grocery shopping.
Looking for more product reviews?
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Purchasing a fridge with a water and ice dispenser
If the only requirements you have for purchasing a new fridge are a water dispenser and ice maker, you may find the whole process confusing and stressful, as fridges have evolved to offer more for households to use and enjoy. Capacity, energy efficiency, adjustable storage space, and even display screens are all available across a range of models and brands, meaning that it’s best to do your research before you purchase. If you’re up to the task, there are plenty of brands and models available with water dispensers and ice makers, meaning you’ll have plenty to choose from. To explore some alternative models and help you decide which appliance is the best fit for you and your home, check out some of Canstar Blue’s best-rated refrigerators.
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