I want to buy a 25.2 cu. ft. refrigerator. There will only be 7/8th of an inch clearance width wise. (Total. Not on each side.) Is this enough? Thanks in advance.
Frigidaire wants 3/8".
Thank you, I was concerned the delivery people would not have enough “wiggle” room and refuse to install it.
Make sure you have 7/8 everywhere, like protruding baseboard etc…
It is not for “wiggle” room to install it, it is for circulation to keep the sides and back at the proper temperature. Putting it in doesn’t require much wiggling as the casters should just roll in straight. Try to get it out without any wiggle room is a different story.
My fridge fits into a cubby that allows a lot more than 7/8" around both sides-- more like 3-4". But I have another problem (which I simply live with.) Presumably, when the door (or doors) open, they will open to a 90-degree angle, right? But in order for me to remove the crisper drawers, my fridge doors need to open PAST 90 degrees… and they don’t. So I have to clean the crisper drawers in situ.
Think about this and observe how much room the door or doors take up on the sides when they’re open.
(It’s hard to explain this…)
Many fridges have the coils hidden nowadays, which makes clearance less of an issue.
ThelmaLou, you did check that you can remove the door and switch it to the opposite side, yes? Should be an easy job for anyone with maybe a screwdriver and wrench or socket set.
And if it is equally bad opening backwards, just pull the fridge out. It is pretty easy and not hassle unless you need to clean frequently.
We replaced the hinges on our fridge, and I don’t recall seeing holes to switch sides.
steatopygia: Yes, this is part of the problem. Plus with the bull nose tile-I lose over an inch of clearance.
PoppaSan: “Try to get it out without any wiggle room is a different story.” I now have to wiggle out my old one to make sure I have the right water valve connector.
ThelmaLou: “(It’s hard to explain this…)” Nope, you explained it…If I measured properly, I think I’m okay.
thelurkinghorror: Yes, I was concerned about the coils.
I have measured over and over and over. Will have to remove one door in the delivery pathway. (I can handle that.) Geesh! This stressful. I had 2 general contractors tell me, “Just cut off the counter tiles.” Gee thanks guys, I cannot do that.
Thank you to all for your help!
I have the same issue. I just pull the fridge out , as** thelurkinghorror **suggests.
Not ALL refrigerator door hinges can be placed on either side. The original fridge I bought for my current house was left handed and couldn’t be switched. I had to have the dealer order a different model.
My fridge has two doors. Here it is closed. Here it is open. See how the left hand door does not open past 90 degrees because it hits the frame of the cubby? I could center the fridge more precisely in the cubby, but then I don’t think either door would open far enough to give access to both crispers. This is a very minor issue.
But I think the OP is going to need more space around the fridge than he thinks.