Not everyone can boast of a spacious apartment with wide corridors and a large kitchen. In most cases, average families in Russia have to huddle in small "Khrushchevs", the layout of which leaves much to be desired. In conditions of a catastrophic lack of space, sometimes it is necessary to use not quite standard layouts for equipment and furniture. This article will discuss the location of the refrigerator on the balcony square.
The principle of operation of the refrigerator
Knowledge of how the equipment in question works is necessary in order to follow the safety rules for its operation, storage, maintenance. After all, the service life of the refrigerator depends on proper operation.
One of the most important elements of the system is the compressor. It is hestarts the movement of freon through the tubes, providing cooling in the chambers. The capacitor returns the thermal energy emitted by the compressor and dissipates it in the environment. The condenser tubes are located on the back of the refrigerator. Freon boils in the evaporator, turning into a gaseous state. Heat is absorbed and the air in the chamber is cooled.
The number of freon pumping cycles with a change in its state of aggregation depends on the temperature regime in the chambers. Until the desired indicator is reached, the engine will work. As soon as the temperature drops to the desired value, the control board will send a signal to the start relay, which will stop the engine.
Recommendations from refrigerator manufacturers
Precisely because of the release of a certain amount of heat by the refrigerator during operation, the manufacturer recommends not placing the device near batteries and other hot objects. Overheating may occur, resulting in a malfunction.
Each refrigerator model belongs to a certain climate class. Class N refrigeration equipment can be operated at a temperature of +16 … +32 degrees Celsius. Refrigerators of class SN-T can be used at a temperature of +10 … +43 degrees Celsius. If you do not follow these recommendations, then there is a high probability of a breakdown. In this case, your refrigerator automatically "flies" from the warranty, as the cause of the breakdown will be a violation of the rules for operating the equipment. So is it possible to putfridge on the balcony? Let's try to figure it out.
Potential hazards when installing refrigeration equipment on a balcony
There are a lot of dilapidated housing in Russia. In every settlement, you can find residential multi-storey buildings that need major repairs.
Carefully study the design of the balcony. If the stove itself is dilapidated and flimsy, as in the top photo, it is strictly forbidden to put a refrigerator on the balcony. The weight of the unit is quite impressive for such unreliable structures, a collapse may occur. A collapse may damage people or their property, for which you will have to pay.
Even if the balcony looks proportionate and reliable, problems can arise. Think for yourself: in the case of glazing and organization of a warm floor, heavy frames, floor beams, covering, metal or wooden frame for walls, etc. are installed. All this already puts a significant load on the bearing plate of the balcony.
The refrigerator itself can weigh about 70-90 kg. If it is filled with products, then the mass will increase by another 10-20 kilograms. The plate can simply not withstand such a load. Plus, the constant vibration of refrigeration equipment has a destructive effect on concrete elements.
Kitchen layout with attached balcony
Increasingly, you can see rooms or kitchens with a broken partition between the room and the balcony. So people increase the living space of their cramped apartments. Balconyinsulated, glazed with 2- or 3-chamber double-glazed windows. It turns out a spacious kitchen. The refrigerator on the balcony will be part of the common space.
Such kitchens look very nice and harmonious. In modern apartment buildings, the area of \u200b\u200bthe balcony can reach 5-6 m2, so this connection to the main area of the room can significantly expand the kitchen space. In some cases, windows are placed on the floor, which makes the kitchen bright, spacious and comfortable. On the additional area, you can place a dining table, part of the kitchen set or other kitchen equipment.
Refrigerator on the glazed balcony
A refrigerator can be placed on a warm glazed balcony if all the conditions for its operation meet the requirements set by the manufacturer. Before installing the refrigerator, it is necessary to diagnose the condition of the concrete slab in order to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances (cracks from the load, deformation of the slab, collapse of the balcony)
Diagnosis should be carried out by a competent qualified engineer. Do not try to save money, invite him to inspect the capital elements of your apartment. After all, the possible consequences can impose much greater expenses on your family budget.
When you are convinced that everything is in accordance with the norms, you can proceed with the installation of the refrigerator. Remember that next to it there should not be heating appliances. The design of the balcony with a refrigerator can be supplemented with a small table and a comfortable sofa. In such a zonespending time will be incredibly pleasant, and chilled drinks will always be at hand.
Can I put a refrigerator on the balcony in winter?
In the winter season, when the temperature outside drops below zero degrees Celsius, it is forbidden to use refrigeration equipment on the balcony.
A refrigerator at low temperatures simply will not function. The thing is that modern food storage devices have a special sensor that starts the compressor when the temperature rises from +4 to +10 degrees Celsius, it all depends on the settings and model of the equipment. At sub-zero temperatures, the compressor simply will not start.
In Full no Frost refrigerators, temperature sensors are located in the freezer itself, so such refrigerators will work on a cold balcony, since the operating temperature for them is in the range of -16 … -24 degrees Celsius. If the ambient temperature is higher then the compressor will start. But you need to remember that the switching cycles will be very short, which will have a negative effect on the compressor. The oil will cool and thicken. Equipment will fail over time.
Safety rules
If your refrigerator has been standing on a cold balcony for some time and you decide to use it, you should not rush to connect it to the network. Let the device stand for some time in a warm room. The oil inside the constituent elements will warm up and become more liquid. Only after a few hours of "acclimatization" it will be possible to start launchingequipment.
Passing any electrical equipment onto an open balcony is dangerous. If water gets on the appliance, a short circuit will occur in the network. Do not operate the refrigerator in high humidity conditions.
Constantly monitor the condition of the balcony slab. It should not give cracks and chips. Remember that you risk not only "flying" into a major repair, but also causing damage to someone else's property, and maybe even he alth, because people also live on the lower floors, who also have balconies, and they are located under your heavily loaded concrete slab.
Damages associated with storage of refrigeration equipment on the balcony
If the refrigerator is on the balcony for a long time, there may be problems associated with its functional elements. For example, due to low temperatures, the compressor will fail. With prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the coating on the refrigerator will begin to crack and crumble, the rubber inserts on the doors will dry out.
Metal parts will corrode over time, as condensation will occur on pipes and other elements due to temperature differences in air and refrigerator parts. Over time, the refrigerator will become unusable.
All rubber elements that are in the design of the refrigerator will become unusable with prolonged exposure to low temperatures. The seal will no longer be flexible, which will lead to loss of tightness of the closed door. From this ariseproblems associated with an increased load on the compressor, which will turn off less and less, as in summer warm air will enter the refrigerator through the slots in the seal.
Cases when storing refrigeration equipment on the balcony is strictly prohibited
You can not store a refrigerator on an open balcony. Precipitation and aggressive environmental conditions will very quickly make themselves felt: problems will appear both in the functional part and in the external one. Moreover, you can not turn on the refrigerator in such conditions.
It is forbidden to install a refrigerator on a balcony support, which is distinguished by its unreliability and dilapidation. This could lead to collapse.
If a fire escape is attached to your balcony, then storage of such dimensional objects on it is not allowed. This is due to the fire safety rules of the building. The passage must be free and accessible.
In conclusion
Before you put the refrigerator on the balcony, think carefully. Such a temporary shelter can cause severe damage to the equipment, which will result in a number of performance problems or even cause a complete failure of the refrigeration system. When storing in a warm and comfortable balcony room, do not neglect the opinion of a competent engineer. It is he who will be able to determine with high accuracy whether your balcony is suitable for such purposes.
