Issues with installing a fridge freezer in a confined area

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gebbel

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I would like to replace my broken fridge freezer with a larger model. The new unit will fit in the cabinet's available space, but only just. There will be about 50mm space at the top of the new unit, and maybe 1 or 2mm at the side.....if even that.

I have read that space is important on either side and above and below the freezer, as heat generation won't dissipate otherwise. I'm tempted to ignore this but would appreciate any advice here.

Thanks.
 
what does the spec for the new fridge say.

Ignore at your peril as they motor will be on 24/7, costing u a bomb and wont last any length: thats assuming it will keep the stuff frozen,

The top space is the key and good space underneath to allow the air pass up
 
Thanks. It is the sides where there will be hardly any space. There will be clearance at the top, not much but enough. I'm sure the bottom of the freezer is on small bungs to allow some air to circulate upwards but I must check again.
 
If it's a tall fridge freezer and you can't see over the top of the cabinet that its in you could always cut a section out of the top panel to allow for air circulation.
 
I don't think you need any ventilation to the sides. They are usually solid plastic anyway.

I don't think you need ventilation above the main body of the fridge... just at the back,.. and some way for the air behind the firdge to circulate. Same with the bottom.. like you say, if it needs it feet will be built in.


You need ventilation space at the back, and ventilation above and below the space at the back. So if the cabinet or space is higher than the fridge then the cabinet above should not go right back to the wall.. it should be possible to look upwards and see the ceiling, through the gap.

You need about 200cm squared of space, both above the back, and in the kickboard at floor level... so a 60cm gap, about 4cm tall would be plenty. Manufacturers tend to go overboard with these specifications, so you could probably go with less ventilation and still be ok.


Obviously you need to check your own manual to see what it says.
 
Thanks for the replies.

If I may explain better with a photo, perhaps somebody could advise me if what I intend to do is feasible. The photo shows the existing fridge freezer which I hope to replace with a much larger one (I need more freezer space and don't really have much space for a separate under-counter freezer).

To install the replacement fridge-freezer, the kickboard will have to be removed, and the unit will occupy all the available space from the floor-tiles to within 40mm (1.6 inches) of the drawer at the top. I am not sure about the consequences of removing the kickboard. The horizontal side panel (on the right) would not be anchored at the bottom obviously, but there is a side panel half-way down at the back which would still hold it. Could this in itself be a bad idea?

The replacement fridge-freezer I have in mind is also 100mm (3.9 inches) more deep than the exisiting one so would protrude out a little bit...by 30mm to be exact.

And as I mentioned, there will be no space at the sides once the new unit is in.

Here is the photo:

http://s698.photobucket.com/albums/vv345/facepucky/Fridge%20Freezer/

I would appreciate any more guidance before I make a potentially ridiculous decision!
 
what is not clear from foto, because of the angle is if the rhs runners of the drawers are screwed to the long vertical sheet that is on LHS of fridge.

Can u take a foto from the other side and make it close enough to let us see the make up, if u open the top drawer and take another foto of the rhs of how it is supported will help a lot.

Another foto of how the wall hung unit is made wil help also.

My guess is that they are both self-contained units but cant tell.

Is that a drawer unit above or a lift up door?
 
Make sure that when you open the door on the new one that it opens withing the overall width of the fridge or else you may have to fit it protruding more than the 30mm of the opening (as I found out!!!).
 
you could install a false back in the overhead press and cut out an opening in both the top of the unit and also the base of the overhead press - this will allow heat dissipate.
 
PetrolHead said:
If it's a tall fridge freezer and you can't see over the top of the cabinet that its in you could always cut a section out of the top panel to allow for air circulation.
Click to expand...

nai said:
you could install a false back in the overhead press and cut out an opening in both the top of the unit and also the base of the overhead press - this will allow heat dissipate.
Click to expand...

There is a gap for air to circulate already...only noticed it today. A cavity at the top of the overhead press at the back.
 
I would remove the shelf and door over the fridge and replace the shelf above the new fridge and get a new door made for the narrower space.

You will need to cut out some of the top for ventilation as per the current top shelf

Given that the shelf in the top press over the drawers is accessible the top of the fridge even on the existing shelf wont be too high, keep the beer there during lent!!

If you remove the kickboard and put fridge on floor it will always look like a dogs dinner
 
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Thanks. You may have hit the nail on the head.....if removing the kickboard makes it look like a dogs dinner, which it might, then I'm not sure about going ahead with this.
 
More info would be useful, such as the width and height of your existing opening.

Most integrated fridges require an opening of about 565mm wide, and a height of 1,780mm, and a depth of around 60cm. The fridge stands on the base of a cabinet, as per your picture, so 1,780mm from base to top of opening. There would be a gap left to the right hand side of the fridge, (if hinged on right).. this is necessary to allow the fridge and cabinet doors to open together. (So fridge is often about 540mm wide, in an opening of 565mm minimum)


Is your existing opening this size? (565 x 1,780)
Is your new fridge larger than these dimensions?


It might be possible to re-attach the kickboard after fitting... it may depend on the fridge model.
 
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