Smelly Ice and Other Stories in Refrigeration

If you're anything like me you assume refrigerators work much like they did when you were a kid, (maybe minus that giant crust of frost in the freezer that occasionally you had to defrost the refrigerator to get rid of). Major advances that you're aware of include Stainless Steel and bottom mounted freezers (we all know heat rises!). So what is up with these refrigerators that cost upwards of $6,000? Is it just their enormous commerical size?

Two words : Dual cool refrigeration. Most of our everyday-bought-at-Sears refrigerators are single refrigeration systems, meaning that a single compressor and evaporator produces the frozen air in your freezer, and then this cold dry air is pumped into your refrigeration, then circles back into the freezer and the cycle continues. Dry air is not good for your perishables, especially fruit and vegetables, and this is exactly where it goes to find and eat away the moisture, which causes decay. According to Sub Zero, 14% of our purchased groceries are not consumed due to 'improper storage techniques'.

Conversely, onCe the humid air from the refrigerator hits the freezer it causes frost crystals that contain all the odors that come from the food in the fridge. These frozen particles are attracted to the coldest items in your freezer, aka, ice cubes. This is where you get 'smelly ice'

So with *two* compressors, once can be dedicated today freezer air, and one can be dedicated to the humid air that your produce craves (FYI most refrigerators feature 25% humidity, while dual cool gives you the optimum 85%!). No air, odors etc pass between the two. I have seen claims that your food will last 65% longer with dual cool and average savings are about $1,000 a year. So in 6-8 years you have paid off your refrigerator in food/energy savings!

You might think "OK, so I shell out the money up front and my food lasts longer, but won't my energy consumption go up?' Not the case. Because the two compressors have to work less than the single compressor to keep each temperature constant, they are just as efficient. Your coldest air is shut tightly in the freezer which is opened typically less than your refrigerator so your system is working less to bring the temperature back up.

Ready to buy? Beware that some of the descriptions for less expensive refrigerators hint at dual cool refrigeration but don't truly employ the same technology. According to Richie Craig, my salesperson at Yale Appliance & Lighting, the brands that currently feature dual cool are SubZero, Thermador and Miele.

Things can change in a minute....

Part of the reason it's been a while since I've posted anything, is that my father has been having some major health issues. It started last fall, where he had 4 stents put into his heart and has been a roller coaster ever since. He's been home for small periods of time, and the last time he fell and broke his hip. He's recovering from that injury now in a rehabilitation center, and I've been putting a lot of thought into how we're going to get him home.

No one wants to go from being a productive family member to someone that needs waiting on for every basic human need. I want to make sure that we do what we can to give my father independence, while also preparing for the possibility that he may need some aid. (A caregiver requires more space in the bath and therefore some planning)

My parents live in a raised ranch, so the entrance via the garage is on the ground level and the living spaces are on the 'second' floor which requires a set of stairs to get in and out of the house. While there is finished space in our basement, putting a bedroom down there would be cutting my father off from most of the house. So that means that the easiest solution is to have a stair climber put into the house for him.

We just finished remodeling my parents' bathroom last year, complete with curbless shower and several grab bars. So at least in that regard, we are ahead of the game. However, can it fit a wheel chair if necessary? No. We would have to widen the doors, and there is not enough room to wheel a chair into the shower or radius for a wheelchair to turn (required space for this according to the NKBA guidelines is 6o" - consider that space in your typical New England home!). I think the best bet if the wheelchair becomes a necessary aid is to remove the tub from the second bathroom and install another curbless shower in its place (or perhaps a transfer tub). This would also provide space for any assistance if needed.

I know, you're already adding these things up in your head : Stair climber maybe $10k, new bath remodel $30-40K. These are reasons why every person going through a remodel needs to carefully consider all the health possibilities of both aging in place, sports -related injuries or accidents etc. I know it sounds really grim while you're busy at work planning your gorgeous new bath, but think of the savings in the long run. These changes don't have to look like a hospital. It won't affect your chances of resale because ALL of us can benefit from these changes. (Maybe you're thinking, but I thought I needed to have a tub for re-sale? You can still get a child's size temp tub and use a hand held on a slide bar in the shower replacement.)

Other changes you should consider:

• All light switches should be placed at a height where someone in a wheelchair can comfortably reach. Rocker switches are much easier to work for all hands.
• Some light fixtures are quite difficult to switch out and require a short ladder.Replace incandescent lamps (bulbs) with fluorescent or LED diodes. This means that you won't have to change lamps out once a year.
• When remodeling your kitchen, make sure you vary counter heights to accommodate all heights and abilities. Leaving knee space under sinks and range tops will allow a person in a wheelchair, or someone who can't stand very long to be able to sit and cook/wash dishes/help out with cooking rather than be relegated to the sidelines.
• Consider appliances with several sensory functions - dishwashers that light up the floor below while on, control panels that have pictures to reinforce function, refrigerators/microwaves with verbal alarms when left open/done cooking, Smoke alarms with flashing lights etc.
• Think about safety while choosing your kitchen stove. Gas is wonderful to cook with, but potentially dangerous. Your safest option is an induction range - cool to the touch and only works when the burners are in contact with a magnetically charged pan.
• Whenever possible plan a full bath and a room that can function as a bedroom on the first floor so that someone who cannot climb stairs has a place to bathe. This makes the bulky and expensive stair climber unnecessary.

As you can imagine, it's much harder dealing with these items when you're already stressed out and emotionally worn down. If you plan for them while you're remodeling, you take a huge weight off your shoulders when the need arises.