What is the difference between a built-in refrigerator and a regular refrigerator?

It is difficult to imagine a modern kitchen without a refrigerator. It not only performs a practical function in the household, but its appearance must also fully correspond to the interior and dimensions of the room. Here housewives are faced with an important choice - to buy a free-standing or built-in one. The hidden device is ideal for small spaces.

The most important differences between a built-in and a conventional refrigerator are installation and design. Thus, a conventional device is a large metal structure that does not require additional installation. It can be located anywhere at the owner’s discretion; moving it will also not be a problem. When choosing, you should take into account the design of the unit and the color palette so that it fits harmoniously into the overall look of the kitchen.

When choosing a built-in refrigeration system, you do not need to focus on color or design; the design of the fittings does not matter, since it will be hidden in the cabinet. The only difficulty is that it is very difficult to move, precisely because it is mounted on furniture. An undoubted advantage will be additional sound insulation and thermal insulation, which is facilitated by decorative panels. They will also hide possible external defects received during transportation.

General characteristics of refrigerators

• They can be either single-chamber or double-chamber. This choice, as a rule, depends on the number of family members, that is, on how much food is planned to be stored in it.
• Models of both types feature basic defrosting systems: drip system, semi-automatic and No Frost.
• Same energy consumption classes. These devices are produced from class G to A++.

Pricing Policy

The trend in recent years shows that manufacturers produce the same refrigerator model in two versions, completely retaining all functions. Prices for built-in models are an order of magnitude higher than for free-standing ones; the developers explain this by additional costs for equipment for installation.

But practice shows that they are very convenient to use, and thanks to installation in furniture, it is possible to create a very interesting kitchen interior.

Benefits of an embedded device

Initially, only washing machines and dishwashers were built-in, but great demand prompted manufacturers to develop similar models of refrigerators. Firstly, you won’t have to spend a lot of time selecting the right design. Due to the fact that it will be hidden in a special niche, the facade does not matter at all. Secondly, it is smaller in size, which saves space, but this does not affect the volume of the internal chambers. Third, it is not necessary to buy special furniture; a cabinet or box can be made either independently or from craftsmen along with the rest of the kitchen.

Note that they can be installed in the office and even in the car, which will allow you to store food while going on long trips.

Built-in cabinet

Following the rules for selecting furniture will help ensure the durability and uninterrupted operation of the unit. It is especially important to take them into account if you decide to make the box yourself:

• The dimensions of the niche should be larger than the size of the device; this will ensure air circulation, which is required to protect the device from overheating.
• It's better not to use chipboard.
• The facade must completely cover the door of the device.

Regardless of the location, be sure to mount a ventilation hole at the back wall of the box. Violation of installation technologies will lead to serious damage, which is not subject to warranty service.

Types of built-in refrigerators

There are two categories of equipment:

• Fully built-in models that are completely hidden behind decorative panels, which makes them almost invisible in the interior.
• Non-built-in with an open front part, which makes their operation more convenient.

Dimensions of refrigeration systems:

• Single-chamber devices are ideal for small spaces, great for office use.
• Standard two-chamber devices are suitable for use at home.
• Large four-door refrigeration systems fit perfectly into large spaces.

You cannot install a regular refrigerator in a cabinet, since the compressor and condenser are not designed to work in a closed space.When choosing this type of equipment, pay special attention to its functionality and size, since the design directly depends on the decorative panels, which will be selected taking into account the design of the kitchen. Thanks to the wide range of products, it is possible to install several small refrigeration systems under the work surface, instead of one large one.