Before you buy your new fridge, you’ll want to make sure that you’re going to be able to get it into your house and that it will fit in the spot it’s going to live. But first you’ll need to know what kind of fridge you’re going for…
What’s the difference between a freestanding fridge and an integrated fridge?
That’s easy enough. A free-standing fridge will go pretty much anywhere and can be any size – from a mini-fridge to a huge American-style model.
An integrated fridge is one that fits into your kitchen units – so it’s nicely tucked away but still easy to get to. As such, they come in more standard sizes.
How to measure for a freestanding fridge
Measure up the space
Measure the space where your new fridge will go – height, width and depth. If it’s between cabinets, measure the space at its thinnest point.
Give it some room
Leave a space of 2 cm above and behind your new fridge. This will give it space for ventilation and to keep it running smoothly.
Plan your route
Plan the route from your front door to your kitchen, measuring the space between corners, doorways and your kitchen island if you have one. It’s a great time to remove any obstacles. You might need to take doors off their hinges to fit your fridge through – so the fewer doorways on your route the better.
Give your doors clearance
Make sure that there’s enough space to open your new fridge doors. If your fridges have drawers, the doors might need to open wider than other models.
If your fridge is going next to a wall, check that the hinge isn’t too close to the wall – so the hinge and wall don’t make contact every time you reach in for a snack. Allow a gap of at least 5cm.
Some models of fridges have hinges on top of the fridge. So, check you have the clearance above before going for that kind.
How to measure for an integrated fridge
Measure the space
Integrated fridges normally have a width and depth of 55cm, but it’s good to check. You’ll need to measure the height of your space, as that can vary much more.
If you’re getting an under-counter fridge, you just need to measure the width of the space it’s going to go in. The height and depth should be a standard 82cm and 55cm respectively – so no need to worry about those. But it’s always good to check specifications of your fridge before you buy.
Give it some room
You’ll want to leave your fridge with some breathing room. Leave a space of 2 cm above and behind for ventilation to keep it running smoothly.
Plan your route
And while you’ve got your tape measure out, plan the route from your front door to your kitchen, making sure there’s space to get through doorways. Again, this is a good time to remove any obstacles that block your progress.
Check your hinges
To make sure your new fridge fits into the space and works with your existing cabinet doors, check what type of hinges your existing fridge has. Either it’s a door on door hinge or a sliding hinge. Make sure your new model matches.
Now you’re all measured up and ready to go, head to the Currys website for our fridge buying guide.