How to choose and install a built-in refrigerator

Types of built-in refrigeration equipment

Built-in refrigeration equipment is divided into partially or fully built-in. Both types of equipment are installed in a separate cabinet. In this case, the fully built-in unit is covered with a decorative panel (door). It opens with the refrigerator door. For equipment that is partially built-in, the facade is usually open or the doors of the unit and furniture are installed independently of each other.

Reference. Not every cabinet is suitable for installing such equipment. Often pencil cases are made to order, to fit the dimensions of a specific model of household appliance.

The built-in appliances come with special fasteners. They come in two types: round hinges and sliding guides. In the first case, the decorative panel is hung on the door of the unit. Its opening occurs together with the facade of the refrigeration equipment, the maximum opening angle is 90°.

The second method is based on the fact that the unit door moves sideways along the guides when it is opened . There is a gap between it and the decorative panel. In this case, the refrigerator door opens within 90°.

Depending on the layout, built-in equipment is divided into:

single-chamber - the freezer and refrigerator compartments are located behind one door;
two-chamber - compartments are closed with different doors;
three-chamber - the unit is equipped with a freshness zone with a separate door;
Side-by-Side - the freezer and refrigerator compartments are located parallel to each other.

Built-in wine refrigerators are also available on the market. They are distinguished by improved insulation and maintain the conditions necessary for storing wine in the chamber - optimal temperature from 10 to 12 ° C, humidity - 50-70%. The devices vary in their capacity.

When choosing technology, we focus on its accessibility and comfort. They look to see if the shelves are conveniently located. Take into account the height of the unit.

Reference. The height of a built-in refrigerator, according to experts, should be no more than 2 m. The optimal parameter is considered to be 1.5 m.

The internal volume of equipment is selected according to the number of users. If one or two people live in a house, a chamber volume of 120 liters or less is considered optimal. For three users, 150 liters of volume is enough, for four – 180 liters. For a family of five or more people, the recommended chamber volume increases to 300 liters.

When buying a unit, pay attention to the type of control. It can be electronic or electromechanical . The electronic system is a touch field with buttons and a display. It allows you to control the device with minimal user intervention. To find faults, use the “self-diagnosis” function. A mechanical control system is simpler than an electronic one and is considered more reliable. It is represented by a work intensity regulator. In dual-compressor models there are two of them.

There are two types of compressors installed in household appliances: conventional or inverter. The operation of the first is cyclical; it periodically turns on and off. The second type operates without interruption, maintaining the specified temperature. It is more durable, economical and less noisy.

When choosing a unit, take into account its energy efficiency. More economical devices are indicated by the symbol “A” and “A” with a plus.

When purchasing, look at what kind of cooling and freezing system the device is equipped with (drip or No Frost). Models with drip defrosting are classified as budget ones. It is recommended to defrost them manually at least twice a year. Equipment with the No Frost system is expensive - you need to take care of it as needed. Take into account the presence of additional functions, such as “super cooling” and “super freezing”.

Advice. It is advisable that the equipment be equipped with a sound indicator that notifies you of an open door. This is important if the unit is hidden behind a furniture facade.

What does embedding refrigeration equipment into furniture provide?

Built-in technology has its advantages. It is aesthetically attractive and fits into any interior . The fully built-in unit is hidden behind a decorative panel; it will be difficult for an outsider to guess where it is located. Therefore, it can be installed not only in the kitchen, but also in the living room, office, etc.

Since the refrigerator is mounted in the furniture frame, additional thermal insulation is created. As a result, it consumes less energy. It also works almost silently. The built-in unit is compact, it allows you to optimally use the free space of the kitchen, which is important for small spaces.

The disadvantages of built-in refrigerators include high cost. In addition, their volume is smaller than that of free-standing models. The back of the equipment is difficult to clean from dust. To carry out cleaning or repairs, it is lifted and taken out.

Reference. If there is a need to replace the unit with a larger one, new furniture will have to be made for it.

Is it worth building a regular refrigerator into a set?

Some craftsmen build ordinary refrigerators into furniture. To do this, they make a special cabinet with holes in the bottom and back wall. They provide air circulation necessary for thermoregulation of the unit. Or these elements are removed altogether. To ensure proper operation of household appliances, a distance of at least 2 cm is left between them and the cabinet. The furniture door is attached to the refrigerator using a special hinge mechanism.

This setup has its drawbacks . Due to the small amount of air, the unit will heat up, which will lead to its premature failure. The materials from which the furniture is assembled may ignite. If you remove the bottom and back wall of the cabinet, its stability will decrease, which is unsafe. To eliminate this problem, the cabinet is attached to the wall, but this again makes air circulation difficult.

Since a conventional refrigeration unit has large dimensions, the size of the cabinet will be even larger. It looks bulky and massive. Cabinet doors attached to the refrigerator take up a lot of space when opened. If you assemble furniture with several doors, this will significantly complicate the use of the unit.

Thus, integrating a regular refrigerator into a set is possible, but it is not recommended. This will lead to negative consequences.

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Features of installation of built-in structures

Regardless of whether the installation is in a cabinet or under a countertop, the following rules must be observed:

The distance from the hob and radiators must be at least 0.5 meters.
The unit must not be placed near a sink.
It is not recommended to install the refrigerator opposite a window.
It is necessary to leave a gap between the wall and the rear wall of the unit.

If you are installing a built-in refrigerator, then usually you should take care of the availability of space for it in advance. This should be done at the headset selection stage. If the furniture is made to order, you must ask to make a niche in the kitchen set for the refrigerator.

How to integrate a refrigerator into a furniture set yourself

Installation of a built-in refrigerator begins with preparatory work. First, calculate the size of the cabinet into which the unit is planned to be built, and the size of its doors. At the same time, the need for ventilation is taken into account: the niche should be higher, wider and deeper than the device. To ensure better air circulation, the back wall is not mounted. Ventilation holes are provided at the bottom or dispensed with if the equipment is equipped with legs.

Reference. Recommendations for installing a specific model are indicated in the technical documentation. It provides information on the size of the gaps and shows a diagram of how to install a built-in refrigerator.

To make a cabinet yourself, the equipment is measured. The ventilation allowance from the operating instructions is added to the results (it must be at least 2 cm). Then they draw a simple diagram for installing a refrigerator. A basic cabinet consists of sides and a roof. Instead of the back wall, a pair of transverse reinforcing slats or boards are mounted.

When the pencil case is ready (made independently or to order), they begin to install the household appliance. It is taken into account that:

the unit cannot be installed close to the wall (the gap is at least 5 cm);
the back of the cabinet should not be placed near the wall with the heating radiator;
It is recommended to install household appliances away from heating appliances;
The device door must open to its maximum width without obstruction.

Advice. A slight inaccuracy during installation can lead to equipment failure. For this reason, it is recommended to entrust the installation to specialists who know all the intricacies of the process and will give a guarantee for their services.

Self-installation of a built-in refrigerator occurs as follows:

The equipment is unpacked and the protective films are removed.
Check the dimensions of the unit with the pencil case.
Remove the transport restraints.
They check the equipment for functionality; to do this, it is connected to the network; it must work quietly and smoothly.
After checking, the unit is disconnected from the network and installed in its permanent place, leaving space in front of the facade for the door.
Position and secure the wires.
Check that the horizontal and vertical levels are maintained; the vertical position is adjusted using bolts located on the bottom.
If fixation is required, install foam pads between the cabinet walls and the equipment.
Then the façade panel and mounting elements should be installed, after which the stability of the structure should be checked.
After installation is completed, the unit is connected to the network and its functionality is checked.

Facade fastening

Now we need to finish building a regular refrigerator into the cabinet. To do this, you need to fix the facades. This way the whole system will open at the same time.

This is done like this:

The ball guides are taken and the mounting location is selected - next to the original handle.
It is about 3 cm away from the edge of the façade.
A straight line is drawn corresponding to the length of the guide. For accurate results, use a level.
Then the outer corner of the movable guide is installed. This is done with bolts and nuts, which are secured with keys.
The other side of the corner is screwed onto the end of the door through a self-tapping screw and a press washer.
Then the same actions are repeated with other doors.

That's it, the system is ready to work.

Subtleties of connecting built-in refrigerators

Before installing the refrigerator, pay attention to the location and power of the outlet. It is recommended to use a separate grounded outlet. To avoid obstructing access to it, it should not be located behind the unit. The optimal solution is the space under the countertop.

If necessary, lay separate wiring from the distribution panel. The cross-section of the wire is selected in relation to the power consumption - it is indicated in the operating instructions for the device.

Reference. If several household appliances are installed in the kitchen, then the wire is selected so as to ensure the total load.

Fake a Built-in Refrigerator with Home Decor

You can change the “keeper of the freshness of your food” with your own imagination and decorative techniques. Fortunately, there are a lot of them.

Thus, you can use the following methods:

Painting. You can use enamel paints in your work. The main thing is to apply the spray paint evenly. A few layers of paint and your refrigerator will be unrecognizable. You can choose paint to match the headset, or you can use other colors. If you have a two-color technique, then you can select two colors at the same time. For example, you can repeat the white top and black bottom of furniture during decoration by making the top door white and the bottom door black, or vice versa;
If you are a connoisseur of extravagant techniques, you can use a stencil. With their help you can create expressive ornaments and patterns;
If you wish and have artistic skill, you can use a brush and recreate a true work of art.