Mini-fridges can be very useful when you need to keep items cold and if you aren’t near a kitchen. People often keep them in a cabinet or a wardrobe because they can easily fit and are often more attractive than being left on a counter or the ground.
When stored, they need to be done so securely and safely to keep the fridge working and cabinet in good condition.
How do you safely put a mini-fridge in a cabinet or wardrobe? To safely keep a mini-fridge in a cabinet, you will need to provide ample spacing around the sides of the fridge. Fridges require proper ventilation to run and release heat correctly, usually out the back. There should be an open backing on the cabinet or a couple of inches of space to allow heat to release.
We will discuss the right steps for placing a mini-fridge in a cabinet and the safety and functional concerns you should be aware of if the fridge is not adequately ventilated. This will ensure that the contents of the fridge are kept cold and that your electricity bill doesn’t go way up!
Steps for Safely Putting a Mini Fridge in a Cabinet/Wardrobe
Placing a mini-fridge in a cabinet or a wardrobe can be easily done with attention needing to be paid to proper spacing and airflow. These are the steps you should follow to ensure the fridge is safely installed:
- Measure fridge and cabinet dimensions
- Remove shelving if necessary
- Create openings for fridge wiring and ventilation
- Run power cords through openings
- Keep fridge plugged in
These are the general guidelines for installing a mini-fridge, but you may need to make specific adjustments depending on the specific fridge.
1. Measure Fridge and Cabinet Dimensions
To allow for proper ventilation, you will want to make sure that the cabinet or wardrobe space is wider and larger than the fridge. This will give the fridge room to ‘breathe’ and allow the heat released from the fridge to go into the air as opposed to it sitting around the fridge. You should leave a few inches around each side, at least 2 to 3, to allow for better airflow.
There should not be shelving that sits snuggly against it as this does not comply with the couple-inch buffer. This extra space will help with the ventilation, but it will not always solve the problem, often needing additional openings to allow for the fridge to work most efficiently.
It is best if there is one side of the fridge that has access to an open area to prevent overheating. Air can also be released from the bottom of the fridge, so it is best to also lift the fridge slightly off the base of the cabinet. This can be done with small rails or material for the fridge feet to stand on.
2. Remove Shelving if Necessary
Ideally, your fridge should be placed on a base level of the cabinet, and other shelving that may be limiting airflow within should be removed. In most cabinets and wardrobes, the shelving should be relatively simple to remove from the inside.
You may need a drill or screwdriver if these shelves are not merely placed on inside joints.
If you don’t need the shelving above the fridge, consider removing it to improve the release of heat and movement of air in the cabinet.
3. Create Openings for Fridge Wiring and Ventilation
While spacing around the fridge will help to keep it running safely and correctly, you may want to consider creating additional openings for heat generated by the fridge to pass into the air. Many fridge cabinets will have an opening in the back so that the heat can be released.
If there are not already openings in the back of the fridge, you may need to remove some of the cabinetry or create ventilation holes. This can be done with a variety of tools, but a small reciprocating saw will be able to make a clean cut to feed the power cord through and allow for heat to be released.
4. Run Power Cords Through Openings
After identifying where the power outlets are located in comparison to the fridge, you will need to determine if an extension cord is needed to run behind the cabinetry. Make sure that the cord is not pulled too tightly so that the cord risks becoming unplugged or damages the outlet. Plugs that are not secured can be a fire hazard or produce a spark.
Because you will not want to back the fridge up against the walls, you should account for the added distance needed to plug the fridge in.
5. Keep Fridge Plugged In
The fridge should be kept plugged in once in the cabinet to make sure that items are kept cold, and the fridge can run most efficiently. If unplugged often, it will use more energy trying to regulate temperature properly. If the fridge sounds louder than usual, then you may have issues with ventilation as the unit is working harder when heat cannot be released appropriately.
Fridges should be kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for safe food storage. Place this as your setting and monitor it to make sure the fridge is working correctly.
Safety and Functional Concerns for Storing a Mini-Fridge in a Cabinet/Wardrobe
Storing a mini-fridge in a cabinet or wardrobe is safe to do, with limited risks associated with overheating or danger. The overheating may make your cabinet hot to the touch or damage the surface of the cabinet. Make sure there are no flammable materials in the area, such as paper, to limit even the small risk of fire.
Higher fire risks come from not keeping the coils of a fridge clean, exposed wires, or buildup of dust in the back of a cabinet (make sure you clean them regularly).
The most significant concerns with poor ventilation are the actual functions of the fridge. Fridges need to release heat into the air to keep the fans on the back of the fridge cool.
If they are not able to regulate their temperature, they will need to work harder to keep the inside cool. This will drive up energy consumption and could lead to premature malfunctions.
To optimize the safety and functionality of your fridge in a cabinet or wardrobe, you can do the following:
- Use a front venting fridge: If there is no room or proper venting system for the back or sides of the fridge, consider investing in a front-venting fridge. This can allow the heated air to be released back into the room, with the best results being when there is no door on the front.
- Remove the backing on cabinets: If you can remove the backside of a cabinet where the fridge is located, this will make it easier to plug in and allow for ideal ventilation to prevent overheating or damage to the fridge.
Ventilate Your Mini-Fridge for Safe and Proper Use
As long as the fridge has room to breathe on all sides, you can feel safe in storing your fridge in a cabinet or wardrobe. The risk of fire is very low when these needs are met.
The only concern is that if there is not a larger space for the hot air to go, it will make the fridge work much harder than it needs to. This is not a safety concern but could result in more energy usage.