The biggest item in the kitchen is, of course, the refrigerator. Despite the fact that modern models usually have a rather beautiful appearance, this bulky household appliance still often spoils the design of the room, and also takes up a lot of space. Therefore, recently, despite the rather high cost, built-in versions of such household appliances are becoming more and more popular.
Key features
The advantages of built-in refrigerators, in addition to actually saving space in the kitchen, include:
- Greater economy compared to conventional models. Thermal insulation of such refrigerators is usually done much better.
- Less noise.
- Large capacity with relatively small size.
"Whole" models
The owner of large kitchens should build in this type of refrigerator. "One-piece" models in use are considered the most convenient. Structurally, they are similar to traditional, free-standing. That is, the refrigerator compartment and the freezer are located one above the other. In very large kitchens, headsets are often built in.two such refrigerators at once. The result is one large one with two doors.
As usual, built-in two-chamber vertical refrigerators can be equipped in different ways. There are both simple versions of such equipment on sale, as well as very expensive ones, with a large number of functions.
One of the varieties of "one-piece" units are small models. You can build a refrigerator of small dimensions, including under the countertop. Thus, this type is well suited for a small kitchen. The safety of using such equipment is ensured by a special ventilation grill.
Modular models
This refrigerator is more suitable for a small kitchen or a room with an original design. In this case, the freezer can be located both above the main one, and to the right or left of it. In addition, in addition to such models, various kinds of boxes, whatnots and wine boxes are often produced.
Key design features
The design of built-in refrigerators of any models is rather unassuming. And this is quite understandable. Indeed, in any case, the body of the unit after installation will be hidden by the decorative panels of the headset. Manufacturers of such household appliances give the main preference to improving its performance. The appearance of built-in refrigerators can be called more technogenic than domestic. Built-in models do not have a metal case. Instead, special loops are provided for whichdecorative panels are hung after installation.
Another feature of built-in refrigerators is the unusual design of the door. The layout of the kitchen in modern apartments can be very different. And therefore, you can’t say in advance which way it will be more convenient to open the refrigerator. Doors in built-in models are mobile. That is, you can open the unit in any direction. This allows the refrigerator to be built into the desired location in the kitchen.
Installation features
There is no general scheme for placing and fixing built-in refrigerators. For each specific model, the manufacturer attaches instructions in which the installation procedure is signed in detail. If the location is incorrect, incorrect operation of the equipment and even its rapid breakdown is possible. Therefore, the installation of built-in refrigerators is usually trusted to specialists. Doing it yourself is highly discouraged.
The general rules for installing built-in refrigerators are as follows:
- The closet in which the model will be placed must be roomy. If there is not enough free space around the refrigerator, it will overheat during operation.
- Ventilation holes must be provided in the back wall of the cabinet.
- The cabinet must be equipped with special fittings to open both its door and the refrigerator door at the same time. This will allow you to install the refrigerator without any problems.
- Some built-in models have very beautiful modern design doors. Such refrigerators are installed in open cabinets.
- During installation, a special grill is mounted in the basement of the kitchen set, designed to remove warm air from the unit and supply cold air.
As you can see, furniture for a built-in refrigerator, as well as for other similar equipment, is better not to buy in a store, but to order in a workshop, having decided in advance on the models of units and appliances.
Door fixing methods
Installing the refrigerator correctly - this, among other things, also means securely fastening its doors to the facade of the headset. The commit can be:
- With special hinges. In this case, the refrigerator door and the facade are fastened as tightly as possible and represent a single monolithic structure. Both doors can open very wide - up to 115 degrees.
- Through skids. The refrigerator door in this design moves along horizontal guides. The disadvantage of this solution is the difficulty in caring for the cabinet. Between the door of the unit and the facade with this fastening, a lot of dirt is packed. The refrigerator installed in this way can only be opened 90 degrees.
Features of operation: door hinges
Using a built-in refrigerator is no more difficult than using a conventional one. However, there are still some nuances. They mainly concern the door of the unit. This detail in many built-in refrigerators is considered a weak point. Hinge loadsuch models are quite serious, and therefore they become unusable more often than conventional units. Of course, the door of the built-in model should not be overloaded or opened wider than expected. If the hinges break, the refrigerator stops closing tightly. As a result, the engine starts to function without interruption and fails very quickly. Therefore, such a problem, if it arises, should be eliminated immediately. Hinges for the built-in refrigerator can be purchased at a specialized store or ordered online. The cost of the kit, depending on the model of the unit, can be from 1500 to 4000 rubles.
By design, hinges for built-in refrigerators resemble furniture ones. However, it is still better to entrust their hanging to a specialist. In addition, in this case, the owners will not have to waste time looking for a kit that is suitable for this particular unit. When calling the wizard, you will only need to provide the dispatcher with information about the brand of the refrigerator, and the loops will be delivered to your home. It costs work to replace them, usually about 2000 rubles.
Most Popular Models
People who decide to purchase such appliances for their kitchen are often interested in what is the best built-in refrigerator available on the modern domestic appliance market at the moment. There are actually quite a few brands that are distinguished by reliability, long service life and ease of use. Below are the most popular.
RefrigeratorsZanussi
Judging by customer reviews, the main advantages of the units of this brand can be considered large capacity with compact dimensions, wide functionality and convenient shelves. By purchasing a built-in Zanussi refrigerator, you will receive reliable equipment that will surely work smoothly for many years. One of the features of all models of this brand is the presence of a built-in fan. It works almost silently, and the benefits from it are significant. A common problem with all refrigerators is air stagnation and the accumulation of unpleasant odors. Units of the Zanussi brand, therefore, are deprived of this drawback. Also, many models have a useful Frost Free function, which makes it as easy as possible to care for equipment.
Consumers attribute the disadvantages of this brand primarily to not too thick plastic drawers and a somewhat unfinished temperature controller.
Liebherr refrigerators
The concern that produces refrigerators of this brand was founded in 1949. They were launched into mass production in 1955. At the moment, the factories of this company are located in many EU countries. The main advantages of Liebherr brand units include the presence of a display with a simple and understandable menu, the No Frost function and a low energy consumption class. At the moment, the company produces more than 200 models of refrigerators. The built-in two-chamber refrigerator from the Liebherr brand is especially popular - reliable and very roomy.
Among the shortcomings of the units of this brand can be identifiedthe fact that they sometimes have leaks as a result of corrosion in the aluminum pipeline.
Neff Refrigerators
The quality of workmanship (very durable plastic inside) is considered the advantage of the units of this brand. Thanks to the presence of a good thermostat, the products in the refrigerator of this manufacturer can remain fresh for a very long time. For example, greens and apples are stored for more than a month. The Neff built-in refrigerator has practically no drawbacks. Housewives attribute only slightly increased noise level and not too large volume of cameras to its disadvantages.
Other brands
On sale at the moment there are other very reliable and not too expensive brands of built-in refrigerators. An example is Hotpoint-Ariston, Atlant, Indesit, etc. A high-quality German built-in Bosch two-chamber refrigerator is especially popular with housewives. The main advantages of the units of this brand include, first of all, reliability and quiet operation. Among other things, Bosch models are able to keep cold for a very long time after switching off.
Small built-in refrigerators
In small kitchens, as a rule, not too large kitchen sets are installed. Modern manufacturers provide the consumer with an excellent opportunity to retrofit such a room with a built-in refrigerator. Small models can be no less high-quality and practical than large ones. For example, owners of a small kitchenConsider Liebherr's UIK 1424. This built-in small fridge can be easily placed in any of the under-counter cabinets.
Another great variant of this technique is the Hotpoint-Ariston BTSZ1632. In addition to reliability, this model has a very low cost. Such a refrigerator will cost half as much as Liebherr.
