The refrigerator is an essential attribute of the modern kitchen. It’s not just for practical purposes. Externally, the unit should seamlessly blend in with its surroundings. No less important and its compliance with the area of the room. Here, housewives must make an important decision – to opt for a free-standing or recessed appliance. Concealed appliances – the best option if the kitchen area is small.
What is the difference between a built-in refrigerator and an ordinary one? The difference lies in the peculiarities of installation and design. Thus, a standard unit – is a large-sized metal construction, which does not need additional structure. Its location can be any, and moving it will not cause any difficulties. When buying a unit, you should pay special attention to its design and color in order to win fully fit into the kitchen interior.
When choosing a built-in refrigerator neither color nor design do not play any role, because everything will be built into the furniture. Also, an undoubted advantage of such devices is additional sound and heat insulation (decorative panels contribute to this). But in order to move such a unit, you need to make very significant efforts. The difficulty of moving is its only disadvantage.
General characteristics of refrigerators
In addition to the differences, built-in and conventional refrigerators have many things in common:- Can be with one or with two chambers. When buying, it is recommended to be guided by the number of people in the family, i.e., the volume of products that are planned to be stored in the refrigeration system.
- The list of possible types of defrosting systems in both varieties of devices is the same. There are three most common – drip system, semi-automatic, and No Frost.
- The power consumption class is also the same. Similar appliances are manufactured from G to A++ class.
Pricing policy
If you look at the trend of recent years, it shows that one and the same refrigerator model today is produced in two variations at once. At the same time, the functionality of the device does not change. The manufacturers explain the higher cost of the built-in appliances by the additional costs for the installation. The practice has shown that it is much more convenient to use, and embedding in the furniture allows you to achieve an original and stylish kitchen design.The benefits of a built-in refrigerator
Originally, built-in modifications were designed exclusively for washing machines and dishwashers. But the quickly increased demand led manufacturers to also make such refrigerator models. The demand for built-in appliances is quite simple to explain: – you do not need to spend time choosing a suitable design solution – due to the fact that the front of the unit will be hidden in a special niche, its appearance is not important; – it has smaller dimensions, which allows you to save useful space, with the same volume of internal chambers; – there is no need to purchase special furniture – a cabinet or box can be either made by yourself or ordered from a master together with the rest of the kitchen set. It is also worth noting that built-in refrigerators can be mounted in the office and in the car. This is another plus.Built-in cabinet
In order for the built-in refrigerator to work without interruption and serve the owner for a long time, it is necessary to adhere to a number of rules on the choice of furniture:- The niche’s dimensions should exceed the equipment’s dimensions. The air gap will provide good protection for the device from overheating.
- It is highly undesirable to use a chipboard.
- The door of the appliance must be completely covered with the front.
Types of built-in refrigerators
It is customary to divide such equipment into two groups:- Fully recessed products – completely hidden behind panels, almost invisible in the interior.
- Non-fitted models – have an open front, thanks to which they are more convenient.