Most of the requirements for installing refrigerator are described in the instruction manual, which you will find in the package of accompanying documentation. Read it carefully, paying special attention to the appropriateness of the operating class for the actual conditions, the ambient temperature and the humidity in the room.


In order for the home cold keeper to serve for long time and not annoy while working with whims, few simple rules should be considered when installing such equipment:

  • unpack and clean refrigerator
  • choose the right place for the device
  • level refrigerator freezer
  • connect, if necessary, the icemaker to the water supply
  • connect the device to the network

Unpacking and preparing for installation


Unpacking the box, removing the foam protection blocks of the case, base stand, film and stickers will not cause much difficulty. After that, do not forget to unscrew the transport bolts that fix the compressor springs. It is often forgotten to do this, and subsequently they try to find the source of the increased noise. Open the doors, check the integrity of plastic trays, drawers and glasses, and then remove all computer Hardware and accompanying documents. To prepare the installation of the device for permanent residence, it should be thoroughly washed both inside and out. Plastic, factory grease and other materials in new technology may have specific smell. Therefore, to remove it, use soft washcloth and non-aggressive soap solution with little vinegar. You also need to wash the floors in the intended installation site.

Do not forget that after delivery, the device must stand for 6-12 hours so that the freon and compressor oil, “disturbed” by the tilt and shaking of transportation, drain into place, and the microparticles of the resulting condensate completely evaporate. All this time, it is strictly forbidden to connect the device to the network, especially in winter, when large temperature difference in the street and in the house increases moisture condensation.

Classic Refrigerators Full No Frost

Choosing the right installation location

It would be strange if you didn’t “figure out” in advance where you could put new thing. Although, recommended requirements and elementary common sense can seriously interfere with these design plans. Let's immediately exclude places where it is undesirable to put refrigerator:

  • Near the window. Proximity to window opening threatens with increased humidity, direct sunlight on the surface, causing overheating of the device and fading of the body coating.
  • At radiators, heaters, stoves and ovens. Due to the proximity of heat sources, the compressor turns on more often, wears out faster and eventually fails. If it is impossible to avoid proximity to the heated surface of other devices, then minimum distance of at least 0.5 meters must be ensured. Also, the use of barrier made of thermally insulating material or covering refrigerator with foil that reflects thermal radiation will help to slightly reduce the degree. But these tricks, one way or another, will affect the overall aesthetics of the kitchen interior.
  • Near sink or sink. As with any electrical appliance, the adjacent location of refrigerator near water source is fraught with splashes on the body and socket, which can cause short circuit.
  • On the balcony. In the warm season, the humidity on the unglazed balcony is too high (more than 80%), and the covered area gets very hot in the sun, preventing normal operation. In the off-season, starting the compressor at temperature of +5 °C will be difficult due to the oil thickening in the cold.

From the point of view of easy access, refrigerator, regardless of the layout of the kitchen, should, together with the stove and sink, form triangular workspace. In such zone, these "three whales" do not have to be necessarily nearby - it is enough to be within walking distance.


Thus, the best place for refrigerator will not be the sunny side of the kitchen, where there will be an auxiliary table or cabinet between the appliance and the sink / stove.


For trouble-free operation of refrigeration unit, good ventilation is also required, which is provided by the minimum allowable gaps:

  • top about 100 mm
  • to the wall (back and side) about 50 mm (preferably 70 - 100 mm)

Insufficient clearance for air circulation adversely affects the removal of heat from the condenser and compressor, which can lead to damage to the device. Under normal conditions, the temperature of these very heating elements is 10 - 15 ° C higher than the room temperature, so it is very important that they are well ventilated. Refrigerant condenser is most often located on the rear wall of the device and is serpentine tube with wire fins. In many models of refrigerators with the Full No Frost system, the condenser is hidden behind the side walls of the appliance.


Another important point to consider is the proximity of household outlet. Power cord of refrigerator has limited length, and the safe operation of the appliance does not allow it to be connected through an extension cord.

Classic refrigerators without No Frost (drip)

Installing refrigerator by level


Next step is the actual installation of the device at the selected location using the usual building bubble level. Using this simple tool, you should align refrigerator horizontally and vertically, adjusting the height of the legs along the thread. Ideally, the floor under the device should be solid and even, and so that the device does not move during operation due to vibration, you can additionally use anti-slip stickers under the legs.


Advice. In order for the doors of refrigerator without closers to close independently under their own weight, it is recommended to set the appliance with back slope of 2 - 3 ° by adjusting the front legs.
Side-by-side refrigerators

Connecting the unit with an ice maker

Currently, expensive multi-chamber refrigerators of the Side-by-side and French-door class are additionally equipped with such useful devices as an ice maker and water dispenser. There are bulk structures that use their own tanks to prepare ice and cold water, and there are also stationary flow devices, the peculiarity of which is that they need to be connected to water supply system. This is simple work, similar to connecting washing machine, which you can do yourself or with the help of specialist.


Refrigerators with water dispenser

Connecting the instrument to the network


It is recommended to use two-pole, earthed socket to connect refrigerator. This is not problem in new-built houses, but the owners of apartments in old houses will have to put up with the lack of ground loop. Such equipment does not like electrical networks with unstable parameters and is sensitive to power surges. Therefore, some modern models are supplemented with built-in stabilizers, and if your device does not have one, then you need to purchase voltage regulator for refrigerator to maintain the "health" of the compressor.


Features of installing built-in refrigerators

Built-in refrigerators, which are no different in functionality from standard freestanding models, have different design and have installation features. Since built-in appliances are placed in furniture cabinet, they do not have an outer casing as such. Such models are especially demanding for good ventilation, because small space of closed niche can lead to an increase in ambient air temperature. Here it is also necessary to provide gaps between the furniture walls and the outer surface of refrigerator to blow the unit from all sides. Usually, to improve airflow, furniture cabinet is made without back wall, and the pallet is made with ventilation holes.


For the same purposes, the air intake grilles at the base of the furniture cabinet and the upper space on top refrigerator also serve.



And the main difficulty that the installer will face is the exact mount of the front panels to refrigerator doors.


Facades are made in single design with all kitchen furniture and, after mounting on the doors of refrigerator, it looks like an ordinary cabinet.


According to the method of mount, there are two types of facade panels - rigid and sliding. When the decorative panel is rigidly attached to the door, they form single whole, and the advantage of this type of installation is the ability to open the door at an angle of 110 - 115˚. There is no gap between the facade and the door, which makes this design monolithic and solid. And as disadvantage of this type of mount, it is worth noting the increased load on the door hinges.


The sliding type of panel mounting provides for mount the panel to the furniture cabinet using telescopic guides, which provide simultaneous sliding movement of the front panel and the door when opening. In this case, the load on the hinges is much less, but the reliability of mount depends very much on the quality of the guides.


Perhaps the installation of facades is the most time-consuming part of installing built-in models, and therefore, it is better not to do it on your own, but to use the services of professionals.

Built-in two-chamber refrigerators

In conclusion....

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in installing and connecting standard refrigerator. On top rules and recommendations are quite simple to follow, but following them will positively affect the efficiency of the machine, the prevention of malfunctions and long service life. Follow few days after the first start, how refrigerator works and how well it copes with its functions. Pay attention to what sound background accompanies the operation of the unit, and in case of strong noise, look for its cause. If you have never heard device equipped with the No Frost system in operation, then at first the gurgling sounds that refrigerator makes will be new. These are completely natural background sounds that you will eventually get used to. Also, do not worry if the back or side wall feels too warm to the touch. Allowable heating temperature of these surfaces up to 45 ° C is the norm - this is how the heat sink of the condenser works. But, if the temperature is noticeably higher, then it's time to sound the alarm and call the service master.