Replacing a fridge freezer that is built into the kitchen is where most installations go wrong, and it is rarely the appliance’s fault. The new model has to fit the tall housing, share the same split between the fridge and freezer doors, and use a hinge system that suits the kitchen doors already in place. Freestanding models are simpler, but still need the right gaps and enough room for the doors to open fully.
Voltify Contractors carries out fridge freezer installation for integrated and freestanding models across East and South-East London, from Canary Wharf (E14), Canning Town (E16) and Bow (E3) to Stratford (E15), Greenwich (SE10), Woolwich (SE18) and Barking (IG11), as part of our appliance installation service. The checks below are the ones worth making before you order.
Integrated Fridge Freezer Installation: Match the Door Split
An integrated fridge freezer sits behind two kitchen doors, one for the fridge section and one for the freezer. Those doors were cut to line up with the split of the original appliance, and that split varies between models. Common layouts include:
| Split | What it means | Why it matters when replacing |
|---|---|---|
| 50/50 | Fridge and freezer sections roughly equal | The two kitchen doors are close to the same height |
| 60/40 | Larger fridge above a smaller freezer | The upper door is taller than the lower one |
| 70/30 | Much larger fridge, smaller freezer | The upper door is much taller, and the freezer door is short |
If the new appliance has a different split, the joint between its two doors will not line up with the gap between the kitchen doors. The doors will then catch, or one kitchen door will be fixed across both appliance doors, and new kitchen doors cut to the right sizes are usually the only tidy answer. Checking the split of the old model, from its model number or by measuring the appliance doors, avoids that problem. Our guide to replacing an integrated fridge freezer sets out everything that needs to match, and what to do if no model does.
Integrated models also use either a sliding hinge or a fixed-door (door-on-door) system to join the kitchen doors to the appliance. The new fridge freezer needs to suit the system your housing is set up for. The differences between them are explained on our integrated appliance installation page.
Housing Height and Airflow for a Built-In Fridge Freezer
Built-in fridge freezer installation starts with the tall housing. Manufacturers give a niche height, width and depth for each model, and the housing aperture needs to match it within the stated tolerance. Measure the inside of the housing rather than the old appliance, in more than one place, as older units are not always square.
Airflow is the other half of the check. Integrated fridge freezers typically draw cool air in at the plinth and release warm air through a gap at the back of the housing and out at the top. If the plinth has no vent, or the gap behind the housing has been blocked by a shelf or a later cupboard, the appliance can run almost constantly, ice up or struggle to hold its temperature. Where the housing has to be altered to fit a taller model or to open up the airflow, small carpentry adjustments can be handled through our handyman and property maintenance service, and larger changes are agreed before the work starts.
Freestanding Fridge Freezers: Width, Height and Door Swing
Freestanding fridge freezers are commonly sold in 55cm, 60cm and 70cm widths, with heights that vary a great deal between models. When measuring the space, allow for:
- the gaps the manufacturer asks for at the sides, back and top, which are often larger than people expect;
- anything above it, such as a wall unit or a boxed-in pipe, since a taller replacement may not fit where the old one did;
- door swing next to a wall. If the fridge freezer sits tight against a wall or a tall unit, the door may not open far enough for the salad drawers and freezer drawers to slide out. The installation instructions usually show the space needed at the hinge side;
- which side the doors hinge on. Many models have reversible doors, but not all, and models with handles on the side or a water dispenser are often fixed. Check before ordering if the hinge side matters in your kitchen.
For American-style and side-by-side models, where the route into the kitchen and any plumbed-in water supply are the main concerns, see our fridge installation page.
Is Fitting an Integrated Fridge Freezer a DIY Job?
A freestanding fridge freezer is usually a plug-in-and-level job that many people manage themselves. An integrated one is different. The appliance itself is simple to connect, but the fit depends on the housing, the fixing kit and the kitchen doors, and those are where most DIY attempts come unstuck.
It is worth handing the job over if:
- the new model has a different door split or hinge system from the old one;
- the housing needs trimming, packing or venting before the appliance will sit correctly;
- the kitchen doors have to be transferred and realigned, which is fiddly with two heavy doors on a tall unit;
- the socket is hidden behind the housing and would be better moved somewhere you can reach it.
One shortcut to avoid is standing an integrated model on its own as a freestanding appliance. It is designed to vent through the housing and has no finished outer casing, so it may run warm and look unfinished. The wider differences are covered in integrated vs freestanding appliances.
Before and After the Swap
A few things make the day simpler:
- Defrost the old fridge freezer in advance if it is a manual defrost model, and empty it, so it can be moved without water running across the floor. Towels and a tray catch most of the melt; avoid chipping ice away with sharp tools, which can pierce the cooling pipes.
- Clear the route and the space, including any magnets, clutter on top and items stored beside it.
- Leave the new one standing for the time the manufacturer recommends after delivery before it is switched on, particularly if it has been laid down in transit.
- Give it time to cool before loading it fully. The freezer section takes several hours to reach temperature, and the instructions give guidance on when food can go in.
The fridge freezer plugs into a standard socket. If the socket is behind a tall housing and can only be reached by pulling the appliance out, it can be moved to a neighbouring cupboard or controlled by a switch through our socket and switch service.
Swapping a Built-In Fridge Freezer: The Visit in Order
An integrated replacement follows much the same order each time, whichever brand is going in:
- Measure and compare. The housing aperture, the plinth vent and the old appliance’s door split are checked against the new model’s installation sheet before anything is unscrewed.
- Take the kitchen doors off the old unit. The fixing brackets or slides are released so the doors can be kept and reused.
- Slide the old fridge freezer out. It is unplugged, unscrewed from the housing and lifted clear, and can be taken away for disposal if you ask.
- Prepare and fit the new one. The fixing kit is attached, the appliance is eased into the housing without trapping the power lead, and it is secured so it cannot tip forward.
- Hang and align the kitchen doors. Both doors are adjusted until the gaps are even and they close without catching on each other or the worktop.
- Check the airflow and switch on. The plinth vent and top gap are confirmed clear, then the appliance is left to start cooling in line with the manufacturer’s guidance.
A freestanding swap skips the door work, but the gaps at the sides, back and top and the door swing are still checked before the new model is pushed into place.
Pricing a Fridge Freezer Installation
The documented minimum call-out is £80 for the first hour. A freestanding like-for-like replacement in the same space is at the simpler end. An integrated swap takes longer, because the old doors come off, the fixing kit is transferred or replaced and the new doors are aligned. The cost rises further if the housing needs adjusting, new kitchen doors have to be fitted for a different split, or a door needs reversing. Fixing kits, vents and new kitchen doors are not included in the call-out minimum. If the old appliance needs taking away, ask when you book so it can be confirmed.
Send the model numbers of the old and new fridge freezers, a photo of the space or housing with the doors open, and the measurements of the opening. Contact Voltify Contractors to arrange the installation, or check the areas we cover.
