# Fridge won't fit out the door -- what to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248 "2003-08-06T02:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/1 "2003-08-06T02:15:54Z")
So here’s the situation. The fridge in my basement gave up the ghost a few weeks ago, and since its old and came with the place we decided to junk it. I’ve taken the doors off of the fridge, and stripped off all of the little bits and pieces that stick out, and taken the house door off its hinges, but the damned fridge still won’t fit out the door! Best we can figure, at some point since the fridge was brought in 20-odd years ago, the foundation has shifted, causing the door frame to skew enough that it is now just a little to narrow. What the hell do I do now? I have in my possesion a Sawzall. Can I saw the fridge in half, or is that just going to make a godawful mess? Shy of laying it on its back and calling it a coffee table, I’m out of ideas. Any advice would be helpful! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/2 "2003-08-06T02:17:08Z")
Try removing the door stops and trim, and possibly even the jamb. You should be able to do this with a small pry bar and hammer. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/3 "2003-08-06T02:58:03Z")
I vote for the sawzall. 😃 It will probably make a mess, shredding the insulation in the walls. Hmmm…old…insulation…did they ever use asbestos insulation in fridges? ---
**Author:** ![Gairloch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@Gairloch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gairloch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/4 "2003-08-06T03:19:08Z")
Well, the average refrigerator is quite a bit taller than it is wide, so I’d guess that sawing it in half would only leave _two_ parts you couldn’t remove, unless you sawed it lengthwise . . . Considering that it is condemned anyway, tearing off the rear coils (most of the older ones have the condenser coils exposed in back) might gain a inch or two, but if that doesn’t work I fear that Chefguy has the only reasonable answer – make the opening larger. Not the best news, I know . . . Gairloch ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/5 "2003-08-06T03:22:02Z")
Any real man should know the answer to that question. It has absolutely nothing to do with the ability to remove door trim or tweak the angle of the object to fit through. Her: “WTF?! Why did you cut the fridge in half?” Him: “Because I can.” ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/6 "2003-08-06T03:39:29Z")
I vote for the Sawzall technique to the fridge. (1) because I don’t have to clean up the mess and (2) because I’d like to know what the heck a half of a fridge looks like 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/7 "2003-08-06T03:45:45Z")
Cutting the fridge (or even removing the coil) would release the freon into the air. I would try to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/8 "2003-08-06T03:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*Cutting the fridge (or even removing the coil) would release the freon into the air. I would try to avoid it. \*\* Spoilsport. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/9 "2003-08-06T03:56:03Z")
Let the tyres down. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/10 "2003-08-06T04:10:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*Cutting the fridge (or even removing the coil) would release the freon into the air. I would try to avoid it. \*\* Calmer heads will prevail…\ ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey-Hotel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e68b1a/32.png) [@Whiskey-Hotel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey-Hotel)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/11 "2003-08-06T04:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*Cutting the fridge (or even removing the coil) would release the freon into the air. I would try to avoid it. \*\* But only if you cut from front-to-back. If you cut side-to-side you should only be cutting through insulation and whatever the shell is made of. ---
**Author:** ![Extraneous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@Extraneous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Extraneous)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/12 "2003-08-06T05:21:07Z")
1. Any large, easily opened windows through which it could be pushed (assuming a first floor window)? 2. Have you tried laying it on its side and sliding it out? maybe the door is wide enough at the bottom 30" or so. 3. Do you have either: a. paint to match the door frame and trim? b. an overwhelmig urge to repaint same? ('cause you’re going to chip the paint when you remove the trim) ---
**Author:** ![Gairloch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@Gairloch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gairloch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/13 "2003-08-06T07:28:50Z")
“Cutting the fridge (or even removing the coil) would release the freon into the air. I would try to avoid it.” Dang. I hadn’t thought of that. Stop right there. The last I heard, the freon in your refrigerator might mean life or death to the very atmosphere itself, and if you dare to irresponsibly dispose of this appliance life on Earth will cease immediately. This is why all of the environmentally conscious never, _never_, dispose of refrigerators. I heard that the most zealous of them have thirty, maybe forty old refrigerators in their bedrooms, carefully shrink-wrapped to prevent any accidental leakage of freon. So there is your answer. Call your local environmental zealot, and they will protect the entire planet, and humanity itself, by taking this appliance into the care that only they know how to provide. You’ll feel more environmentally responsible for it, and they’ll have saved all of our lives, while also removing your appliance. The perfect win/win sort of ending to a truly heartbreaking saga. Pardon me now while I wipe away a tear of joy. What? I’m using an approved biodegradable tissue, and it was even made of recycled paper . . . hey, stop that . . . help . . . Gairloch ---
**Author:** ![jtull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47774/32.png) [@jtull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtull)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/14 "2003-08-06T07:40:13Z")
Use it for cupboard. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/15 "2003-08-06T08:24:24Z")
Try to get on Trading Spaces. They’ll find something to do with it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/16 "2003-08-06T09:36:58Z")
What the heck is a Sawzall? \ Ah-ha - _that’s_ a Sawzall. Looks fun. I say cut the fridge lengthwise, thus avoiding releasing the nasty Freon. If that doesn’t work, take the Sawzall to the door frame 😃 (Incidentally, I was most disappointed to find that the promisingly named [Sawzall snowboarding](http://www.teamsawzall.com/) site is not actually devoted to people sliding down mountains on said tool…) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/17 "2003-08-06T09:45:02Z")
Lay the fridge on its side. Get some friends in, the bigger the better, to jump on it repeatedly until it’s flat. Then slip it under the door. Question: how did they get it in into the apartment in the first place? I’m getting a Dirk Gently vibe off this. ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/18 "2003-08-06T10:02:46Z")
Let me try to clarify somewhat. I have already removed as much extraneous material from the fridge as I can; it is as narrow as I can make it. The fridge resides in the basement of my house, which is below grade, so the windows are quite narrow. The only ways out are up the stairs, through a door which is 3" too small, or out the basement door, which, alas, has a steel frame mounted in brick and cement block, so widening it is not an option. As I mentioned, the door is somewhat out of plumb, as a result of the foundation settling, so I’m guessing the fridge fit when the frame was straight. ---
**Author:** ![milk\_milk\_lemonade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@milk\_milk\_lemonade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milk_milk_lemonade)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/19 "2003-08-06T10:06:56Z")
Jjimm has a good idea, why not bash the fridge along its side until it is a bit narrower? That way you avoid cutting it and releasing the refrigerant. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248/20 "2003-08-06T10:17:24Z")
I would’ve thought that removing the door would make it shallower (depth wise) and turning it 90º should make it fit. Clearly you are not a fool, and you would’ve tried that, but it still surprises me it doesn’t fit that way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fridge-wont-fit-out-the-door-what-to-do/193248.md?page=2)