India, Aug. 31 -- My old double-door refrigerator finally gave up, and suddenly I had a decision to make. Do I replace it with another double-door model or take this opportunity to upgrade to a side-by-side?

If your refrigerator has started showing signs of ageing, it may be worth asking the same question. Frequent cooling fluctuations, strange compressor noises, water leakage and a sudden jump in electricity consumption are all warning signs. Sometimes, though, the problem isn't that the refrigerator is failing - it's that your needs have outgrown it.

A refrigerator that worked perfectly for a couple can start feeling cramped when the family grows, grocery shopping gets bigger or you begin preparing meals in bulk. Entertaining frequent...