A built-in refrigerator? (grill, installed, room, cabinets)

[blueberrie]

In magazines and on home shows, I always see the refrigerator "built-in" with cabinet panels on the sides and top. I think it looks nice, but I'm wondering about the possible air flow problem. Doesn't a fridge need air to circulate around it, especially to the back where the fan is?

[Sage of Sagle]

Built ins are set into a framework with usually a flow vent above or below (or both).

[desertsun41]

There is a built-in look and there are true built-ins. The built-in look is simply side panels, we call them refer panels, and an upper cabinet of different heights depending on your upper cabinet heights 30", 36" or 42" high and the height of you fridge which will range from 66" to 72" high. Generally we build in about an inch gap up top. Your fridge will always be a half inch smaller then it's advertised. A standard 36" wide will be 35.5" giving it room to slide in the fixed 36" opening. This leaves plenty of room to breath all around.

A true built-in like Sub Zero brand actually mounts to the refer end panels and/or cabinets which ever way it's designed. These fridges have an upper grill where the compressor motor sits as opposed to all other fridges where it sits at the bottom and in the back. So these types also breath just fine.

Nothing to worry about.......

[southgeorgia]

this is a built-in refrigerator. the house is being remodeled, which is why its already here and sitting under a plastic wrap. this is an older model.



(sorry the pics are so big; i uploaded straight from my cell phone)


Front. those black panels can be removed allowing cabinet matching panels to be installed.




Top compressor housing. there are hinges on the backside, and this easily folds down.




These are the door hinges. they allow the door top open directly out so you can have it inside of a cabinet.