<p>I've combed over all the info I can find on this subject but I'm still a little confused. Housing guidelines state dorm refrigerators should be no more than 6 cubic feet, then gives measurements of something like 2x3x1 (I may have the order wrong but still get 6). This is very confusing because even an advertised 3.2 cu. ft. frig has larger dimensions. In fact, even the frig that Housing offers for rent like the one in the model room at Craige has larger exterior dimensions. I saw a 4 cu. ft. advertised that was over 40 inches tall but narrow & shallow that I thought would be a great space saver & although it is under 6 cubic feet, the dimensions are different, so I don't know if it would be "legal" it not. Do they mean INTERIOR space? Anyone have any more insight on this? I've seen several models on sale this holiday weekend & would love to take advantage but hesitant to do so because the guideline is confusing. I may just buy one the same size as what they have in the model room....I would think that would be safe. (?)</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Many of Housing’s requirements are unclear and pretty arbitrary. I rented a fridge/microwave combo from the school and not only was it dirty and overpriced, I didn’t use it that much.</p>
<p>What meal plan are you taking? This will affect the kind of fridge you will want to buy.</p>
<p>My roommate and I rented a microfridge from the university and it was brand new! We were both OOS and it certainly was easy having it in the room already when we checked in and just leaving it when we left in May. We used it mainly for snacks, drinks and left over stuff we took from the dining hall. Neither of us cooked so it was mostly for conveience rather than necesseties.</p>
<p>Block 200 + $250, but the frig will be for juice, water, yogurt, & ice cream.</p>
<p>I honestly think any kind of mini-fridge is fine as long as it isn’t jumbo… I wouldn’t worry too much about the guidelines. I’ve never heard of anyone getting in trouble over their mini-fridge. I even knew people who rigged up two mini-fridges in their room (despite the warnings about exceeding voltage), and they were fine. My roommate and I kept all kinds of snacks and stuff in our fridge - milk for cereal, orange juice, yogurt, jelly, bread, string cheese, cokes, baked goods from home, etc.</p>
<p>I just returned from Home Depot where they have a special buy on a 4.0 cu. ft. Frig that is very tall (49 inches) but only 18 inches wide. My husband thought it was a stretch for a dorm frig but was still just 1k Watts. Seems better b/c the shelves were taller which is nice for milk & juice + the freezer has 2 shelves (adjustable) instead of one which makes it nice for sharing space. So, with it being under 6 cubic ft. capacity & within wattage limits, but outside the 2x3x1, do you all think it would “pass?” I still keep thinking back to the ones they rent, which are bigger than those dimensions. The HD one is on sale this weekend for $178…cheaper than a year’s rent so it’s easier on the bank account but if they say it’s too big then we haven’t saved anything. Any further thoughts now that you know my dimensions & wattage?</p>
<p>Best I can tell - no one paid attention to any of this - I think as long as it is a small fridge, not full size - no problems.</p>
<p>I found the rental info about the Microfridge combination m’wave & frig on Housing’s website. They offer 2 different models for rent and there is actually an option to buy the smaller one but can only rent the larger one which is puzzling. At any rate the larger unit they have is actually larger than the one I found at Home Depot so I think Ill be compliant or at least as compliant as Housing’s offerings. I doubt it is as reliable as the Microfridge which is designed for industrial use though, but to buy the unit directly from the Microfridge company, it’s over $600! The Magic Chef brand @ Home Depot is $178…less than rent. Also, after digging deeper, the energy consumption of the of the HD frig is exactly the same as the smallest rental, so I feel pretty good about it. We shall see! Thanks all, for your input!</p>
<p>No one cares so long as you don’t bring a full sized fridge that you would buy for your home. Enforcement depends on RAs who aren’t going to be taking out the measuring stick. Use common sense in deciding what to buy. Talk it over with his roommate and see if he is willing to chip in to get one.</p>
<p>I think a reasonable amount of frigging happens in the dorms.</p>
<p>I am going to be an RA next year. My RA from last year, when asked about this, echoed what other posters have already said: it doesn’t really matter as long as it’s not a jumbo fridge. As a frame of reference, I had a GE miniature fridge with a separate freezer, a common trend with newer fridges. I bought it on sale at Walmart for $125. The current model isn’t listed, but any of the models listed [URL=<a href=“http://www.walmart.com/cp/Refrigerators-and-Freezers/90791]here[/URL”>http://www.walmart.com/cp/Refrigerators-and-Freezers/90791]here[/URL</a>] would work fine. </p>
<p>I recommend getting the separate freezer section. It came in handy for me because my mom would sometimes make soup at home and give me several tupperware containers of it. (It also helped that I’m only from Raleigh and can therefore transport frozen soup and frozen meals.)</p>
<p>Ok, so I did more research on the Microfridge offered through RHA. They offer 2 models, a small one & then a larger, 4.5. Cubic ft. The one I bought has the same exterior dimensions as the larger one but the same energy usage as the smaller one so I think my kid will be compliant. Thanks for everyone’s input!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>icwatudidthar.</p>
<p>I brought a fridge I had lying around that didn’t meet dimensions. They’re not super-Nazi about measuring everything to the nearest mm.</p>
<p>I just got a fridge. I don’t know the dimensions. I’m going to take it. That is all I will trouble myself with on the matter.</p>