Talk to me about air circulation around fridges. I promise it's fascinating. Especially if you have a built-in fridge.

[ScreamingBeans]

Well maybe not, but it's my current obsession,.

Just had a look at the Curry's guidance and it says when measuring you need to leave 2 cm above and at the back, but didn't mention around the sides.

Does this mean that I can buy a 59.5cm width fridge and not worry about no gap for air circulation? Is it enough to just have back and above?

And how does this work if you have a built in fridge? They never have gaps at the sides, do they?

Maybe not fascinating, but definitely sonething i thought about when DH rejected a (very cheap) fridge suggestion because it wanted 10cm both sides and at the back! I don't think our built in one has any gaps!
Sorry, can't answer the question tho!

This is what puzzles me, lots of people have built in fridges and there are no gaps at all. I wonder if the technology is different. But I don't think so.

Yes, normally the gap is only required at the back and top, not the sides.

Oh fuxache I'd just convinced myself I could get a 59.5cm width when I came across this article:

The Perfect Fit: Ensuring the Right Clearance for Your Refrigerator - The Proper Kitchen

@ScreamingBeans

what about that article has you worried?

to me it just seems like a lot of waffle.

if I were you I'd choose a fridge you like, then read up on its specific details.

most of the time emotive stuff like 'aids longevity' is just nonsense or may mean you get a month or so more out of it, not that it'll 'die' 5 years earlier.

if you're going for freestanding. Stop thinking about how this effects integrated

Just choose one that meets your needs & see if its specifics say anything about clearance

mine is free standing (literally on a wall by itself) nothing fixed beside or above it & the sides do sometimes get quite warm, but absolutely nothing I'd be concerned about if I had cabinets either side.

ehen I finally get to redoing the kitchen it will be on a different wall with cabinets on one side & maybe one above it. Or a shelf. Maybe even a panel on the other side. I won't pack it in tight top, bottom & both sides, but I won't be allowing a couple of inches all around either because some waffle chops online has twatted on about it 🤷🏻‍♀️

LOL at waffletops twatting on about it.

you're right. I'm going to ignore it.