Refrigerator how much clearance

Click to see full answer In this regard, how much clearance is needed in front of a fridge? The NKBA offers these guidelines for minimum landing space : Near the fridge and wall oven: 15 inches on both sides if necessary, one side can be 12 inches. Similarly, how much clearance do you need for a French door refrigerator? Ventilation Space Air has to be able to circulate around the refrigerator to help it run efficiently and last its full life span.

Make sure you have these minimum fridge clearances: 2 inches between the back wall and the back of the fridge. The general rule is that you will need at least 42 to 48 inches Following Standard Guidelines A minimum clearance of 36 inches is required from doorways wide enough for two people to pass through at the same time, in addition to the allowance for the door swing.

Even with a sliding door or a folding door , a minimum inch clearance is required for traffic flow in front of a door. The following are general minimum clearances for upright freezers : Less than 9 cubic feet: 4 inches of clearance on top. Standard refrigerators are typically 32 to 36 inches deep or more, and since countertops are normally about 25 inches deep 24 inches for the base cabinet with a 1-inch overhang this means that a standard refrigerator will stick out from adjoining countertops by 6 inches or more.

This can mean gaps or vents need to be added to any cabinetry surrounding the appliance in the appropriate areas. Use the top of your refrigerator for storage.

That's right, those precious few inches between the fridge and your ceiling is now a home for your pots, pants, cereal boxes, skillets, tin cans, Mason jars, blender, coffee maker, and anything else that will fit. Typically, the standard size for a professional-grade refrigerator falls between 30 to 36 inches width, 67 to 70 inches in height, and 29 to 35 inches in depth.

When it comes to the interior, the refrigerator itself should provide you with 14 to 20 cubic feet of space. If you enclose a fridge inside a cupboard that can 't happen. The inside of the cupboard will heat up and the fridge compressor will run more and more the hotter it gets and use lots of power, and the contents of the fridge won't stay cool.

Freestanding refrigerators can also be installed in the cabinetry. The full depth means that refrigerator will protrude from the standard 24" cabinets. Built-in refrigerators , on the other hand, are typically 84" tall and have a 24" cabinet depth to ensure the units fit flush with surrounding cabinets. Built-in and integrated refrigeration have a dedicated open space with a grill built into the unit that allows for proper cooling of the compressor.

However, with standard and counter depth units , you still need the compressors to breathe from the bottom of the refrigerator. If the refrigerator is too tight, the heat will seize the compressor.

Rear: You should leave a minimum of 1-inch, and preferably 2-inch of clearance. Typically, because of the electrical or water connection, this will help push the fridge out slightly away from the wall, but Inches is ideal. In the past, refrigerator coils were usually on the rear of the units, which helped push it away from the wall and allowed the heat to dissipate properly. Now the coils and components are located below the units.

Ideally, if the fridge has proper spacing the grill below the unit will pull in cooler air as the coils and components heat up. The warm air will travel behind the rear of the fridge and dissipate through the top channel. This keeps the coils and components cool, so they do not overheat.

A fridge without proper ventilation will show specific symptoms, some right away, and some over the course of a few years. If the compressor runs at an above average temperature for a prolonged period or is unable to properly cool down you may see the following issues: Poor cooling, unusually loud compressor noise and vibrations, an increase in electricity bills, and compressor or condenser issues including component failure unusually early.

You should take all these dimensions and factors into consideration when measuring for your new refrigerator. It is better to err on the smaller side and leave additional space for the unit to cool rather than trying to fit in the biggest unit for the space. You can prolong the life of your refrigerator.

An ideal temperature for a fridge to operate at its most efficient state is between degrees. Note that if you plan on putting a backup fridge in the garage, oftentimes the temperature swing is far outside of the maximum range of degrees especially in winter. You can buy special refrigerators for this application. Low humidity typically would not be a cause for concern.

The condenser and compressor will have to work extra to cool the air down in the unit. A retired municipal judgem Reynolds holds a degree in communications from Northern Illinois University. Her six children and stepchildren served as subjects of editorials during her tenure as a local newspaper editor. By Laura Reynolds Updated December 17, Related Articles.