Built-in refrigerator - all the advantages and disadvantages of technology

Pros and cons of the built-in refrigerator - the opinion of users and specialists

When choosing a built-in refrigerator, you should carefully read what their advantages and disadvantages are. Despite the large parameters of the equipment, its design makes it possible to partially hide the device in niches and cabinets. But built-in models also have big disadvantages.

Let's talk further about what positive aspects the embedded model has and what flaws are hidden behind this.

General information

Description

Built-in devices are small-sized single-chamber appliances or even full-fledged refrigerators with a different number of chambers.

The main positive point of such a technique is that it can be built into a kitchen set, and thereby smooth out the rough outlines of the technique. In addition, there are such models that may not be fully integrated, but only partially - this effect is achievable due to the sash, which will be covered with a special decorative panel.

Note, that partially built-in models are placed in a niche, but the sash is not masked by anything.

Do not treat the refrigerator as an interior item, because the operating conditions for this type of equipment are much more difficult to fulfill than in the case of standard freestanding refrigerator cabinets. Built-in refrigeration equipment requires additional ventilation.

There are several main features of built-in units:

Versatility of the external design of the refrigerator. Most freestanding cabinets are painted in light shades and, when placed in the kitchen, stand out from the surrounding technology and furniture. But the built-in models of the refrigerator make it possible not only to make adjustments to the overall harmony, because it will not differ from durable furniture - it can be decorated in the same range as cabinets or countertops.
Most often built-in models have lower parameters compared to standard panels. But at the same time, the capacity of such refrigerators does not suffer, because the inner space of the chambers is ergonomically distributed.
Modern models can be placed not only in the house, but in bars, offices, hotels , because their technical design makes it possible to use equipment in rather difficult conditions than ordinary household devices.

And yet, each of the types of refrigerators has certain advantages and disadvantages. Built-in models of refrigeration equipment are good not only for their compactness and the possibility of inconspicuous placement, which will be "painless" for the interior of the room.

Advantages of technology

There are a lot of positive aspects of built-in appliances, and the main advantages of such cabinets for storing food are the following:

Less noise - n During operation, most of the devices emit a characteristic hum, and built-in equipment has external panels (in the "cabinet" version), which will not only cover the unit, but can also act as an auxiliary noise reduction.
Efficiency - this is the main advantage of the built-in refrigerator, because the walls of the device have additional thermal insulation, which makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of refrigeration equipment compared to separate food cabinets.
Versatility - small dimensions make it possible to use the device not only in premises for different purposes, but also in different conditions. For example, this is a great option for small sizes.
Inconspicuousness - the device is practically invisible against the general background of the kitchen or the rest of the room, because its external panels will completely match the overall solution of the interior.

Please note, h that all the advantages listed above are the main factors that can push an increasing number of people to buy refrigerators in such a design.

Disadvantages

But besides the advantages, there are also disadvantages of the built-in refrigerator, which are to some extent based on the positive aspects of technology.
The main disadvantages are:

The technique helps to save space, but you will need to make allowances for ventilation. For this reason, the device can take up a lot of space than standard refrigerators. Much will also depend on the size, but often it is impossible to save space in the kitchen and this can become a disadvantage of built-in appliances.

The thermal insulation is reinforced, and due to this the consumption of electrical energy is reduced (but this is not entirely true). Compressor and condenser cooling is energy intensive and therefore no actual savings.

The high cost of equipment is the main negative point of built-in household appliances, not only refrigerators. In this case, one should take into account the fact that it will also be necessary to invest in the installation of the unit.

Although the listed disadvantages may seem insignificant, but the fact that they are, must be taken into account when deciding whether to purchase such equipment.

Feasibility of buying

In order to make an informed decision about the advisability of buying a built-in refrigerator, you should understand what you really expect from such equipment.

Buying a built-in type of refrigeration equipment is justified in the following situations:

When arranging a kitchen space, there are problems with the selection of a headset.
If you want to create the perfect interior, then choosing a freestanding refrigerator so that it does not stand out against the general background is quite difficult. In this case, an embedded device will be the best solution.
When it was initially planned to hide the refrigerator from view and make it invisible in the interior.
The future owner will be able to accept the fact that the capacity of the device will be much less than with classic free-standing devices.

It is not better not to buy a built-in refrigerator under these circumstances:

When auxiliary functions play a big role, for example, electronic control, making soda And so on.
Embedded devices do not have this functionality.
A large refrigerator volume is required, which is almost impossible to implement for built-in device models.
It is the functional indicator that plays an important role, rather than the design and general appearance of the kitchen, that is, when the "invisibility" of the refrigerator is not strongly required.
When finances do not allow buying expensive equipment that will hit the budget of the average person hard.

The built-in technology has enough not only pluses, but also minuses.

In general, determining which constructive moment will be better is an exclusively personal matter of any person, and one should focus only on one's own expectations and desires.

Which refrigerators of built-in type are better

When selecting built-in refrigerating devices, it is desirable that the selected model has the following characteristics:

Energy consumption class A +++.
Availability of the warranty period of service.
Assembled only from Europe.
Electronic control.
Freshness zone present.
Two cooling circuits and a couple of compressors.
Know-frost system for easy defrosting.
Stainless steel finish.
Metal or glass shelves.
Separate shelves for drinks or the presence of a minibar.
Fast freezing and cooling.
Antibacterial coating, childproof.
Vacation mode.
Indicators and signal sensors.
Ice maker plus chilled water dispenser.

All of the above functions are desirable, but if you don’t need something, then you should not buy a built-in refrigerator for the sake of economy.

Rules for operation

Now that all the pros and cons of the built-in refrigerator have been considered, it is worth considering what the rules for operation are:

During transportation, it is important to ensure that the piping is not damaged, because the refrigerant is a potentially flammable gas.
In the immediate vicinity of the device, there should be no sparking devices or sources of open flame.
When the electronics or electrics of the built-in refrigerator fail, you should definitely call a repair technician, rather than try to solve the problem yourself.
Do not use electrical devices inside the camera.
Defrosting must be carried out independently and under no circumstances should the process be accelerated with a steam cleaner, hair dryer or sharp objects.
Holder Alcoholic drinks may only be kept tightly closed and upright in the refrigerator.
In order to prevent porosity of the rubber seal or plastic, they should not come into contact with oils or other fats.
Do not keep liquids in glass containers in the freezer.
The ventilation holes must always be open.

To extend the operational life, be sure to adhere to these and other recommendations that are listed in the manual.

Extending the service life of built-in devices

Inexpensive models of built-in devices generally need to be defrosting independently, while more expensive models have an automated type of defrosting ...
And still, equipment of any class requires at least minimal maintenance. When transporting the refrigerator, make sure that the device is upright - this will prevent the oil from the compress from getting into the cooling circuit. If it mixes with freon, then the pipeline will start to clog up very quickly and the equipment will fail. If only horizontal transport is permissible, the compressor pipe should be positioned so that it "faces" upward.

After transportation, the device should be washed and allowed to dry on its own.

After the moisture has completely evaporated, the equipment should be turned on, but do not put food on immediately, but load only after the required operating temperature appears. Clean the outer surfaces of the device as necessary with a damp cloth without detergent and soap, only baking soda can be used. The stainless steel parts should be cleaned with extreme care, because they leave a stain. A suitable detergent is usually indicated in the instructions, and if not, then use universal non-abrasive and non-aggressive cleaners.

Pay particular attention to cleaning the rear wall - do not damage the piping that circulates the refrigerant.

You can remove dust using a handheld vacuum cleaner with a special attachment. The moments of withdrawal will depend on the set defrost mode. If the refrigerator does not have a know frost system and frost appears on the back of the freezer, cleaning will take longer. Wait until the ice build-up is completely thawed and melted, and at the same time you can collect the water that appears.Next, wipe the surface with a soft cloth soaked in warm water and a little disinfectant.

The ice should never be scraped off, because this could damage the pipeline.

Please note that water must not be allowed to enter the lighting system and the temperature controller.

If the built-in refrigerator has a "know frost" system, then cleaning will mean wiping the walls and shelves of the device. The evaporator and rubber gaskets should only be wiped with clean water to prevent deformation of the elements. After cleaning, the inside and outside of the refrigerator must be wiped dry.

Deodorants and absorbers are used between cleanings to prevent unpleasant odors to purify the air and mask unpleasant odors. For most models, manufacturers have provided built-in deodorants.

If you decide to buy built-in household appliances, and in particular a refrigerator, then the decision should be considered, because such devices are not just "affordable", but also require special care when using.