Removal of an integrated Fridge/Freezer

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Hello all,

The integrated Fridge/Freezer in our house has died unfortunately. We have another unit that my parents don't need that we would like to put in our house, saving us the cost of buying a replacement. Problem is this unit is free standing.

We would need the integrated fridge/freezer removed, but unfortunately haven't a clue how to do it. Any ideas on who could help with this kind of thing? Or how easy it would be to do manually? Considering my DIY experience is virtually non existent :O

colm_mcm

I assume it's a fridge over freezer type thing?

Usually it's just a standard kitchen cabinet where the doors are hinged as normal onto the carcass. then you have sliders on the doors of the fridge itself that the cabinet door runs along when you open/close.

Is the new fridge freezer you're getting taller than the old one, ie. will it have to sit on the floor of the kitchen rather than above the plinth as is probably the case now?

If so, then you'd need to remove the plinth underneath and the floor of the old carcass. This isn't that difficult, but you're pretty much eliminating the possibility of going back to an integrated fridge/freezer in future.

If you have the space, you could always put the new fridge somewhere else in the kitchen, remove the old fridge, then put the cabinet doors back on, making a very large cupboard out of it.

If you just want to take the old unit out, it's normally done like this:

Open the door of the fridge
On the edge of the metal inner door you'll see brackets screwed into it that the sliders run along. Remove these brackets
The outer door can then be opened independently of the inner door.
Remove the outer door from its hinges
There may be vertical rubber seals pushed in between the side of the friodge and the side of the carcass, remove these
On the top and bottom of the fridge with the doors open, you should see that it's screwed in to the top and bottom of the carcass in each corner (there may be a cover trim covering this)
The fridge should then be free to slide out.

If you need to remove the bottom of the carcass to fit the new fridge in (please consider buying a new integrated fridge by the way!)
the handiest way would be to cut the chipboard around two inches from the edge on both sides so that you're left with the middle cut out and two strips left attached to the sides of the carcass. If you feel underneath the cabinet there are usually 4 cam screws that you loosen which are holding the bottom of the unit to the sides, pull the strips out and you're done.
You would need to cut the kick-board underneath to fit obviously.
You'd need to be checking what's holding the unit up too, if it's not secured to the units alongside it and it's held up from the floor, removing the floor will obviously have an impact..

That's assuming you have regular flatpack type units.

I really wouldn't recommend you hacking up your kitchen to save a few hundred though. Integrated appliances aren't that expensive nowadays.


If you could stick up a picture of what is currently there that would be a big help.

Calahonda52

Good advice from CmC

Mine is
1: dont rip out the base, especially if your diy skills are zero as its very messy and can go awry very quickly, and will soon eat up the cost saved on an integrated replacement.
It will always look wrong.
For example DID offer a supply/fit/remove old service for about 100 euro, maybe less

I am in the DIY business for 40 years plus, I have the perfect kit for removing, remediating the base very neatly, but I still wouldn't do it.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Cheers all. If I encounter problems is there anyone that actually would remove it for me, other than possibly a local handyman? I know DID do it but seems to be only if you are buying a new one.

Calahonda52

Dr.Winston O'Boogie wrote: »

Cheers all. If I encounter problems is there anyone that actually would remove it for me, other than possibly a local handyman? I know DID do it but seems to be only if you are buying a new one.

CMc's instructions for taking out the fridge are on the money so assuming you have the requisite screw drivers and know which is anticlockwise:D then happy days

garo

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread as I am looking to do something similar. Thanks for the instructions @colm_mcm

Replacing with another integrated fridge freezer is a no-go as I want a fridge/freezer that is taller than the current cabinet. Current unit is 174x54x52 and cabinet will accept 182cm high max. Moreover we are looking to get a new kitchen - bit unfortunate that the fridge didn't last another few months. So the current design is not something I am looking to preserve. I could leave the plinth and kickboard in place if that is the hardest bit though that will make it harder hoist the new fridge up. The cabinet only has a table on one side (see pic) so removal may be slightly easier but I am not sure if the fridge cabinet is screwed to the cabinet next to it and whether the structural integrity would be compromised. Also space is tight as the cabinet measures exactly 60cm end to end. Will fridges advertised as 600mm wide fit? I may also have to trim the wooden edge of the table to the left.

garo

Decided to go with an integrated.

colm_mcm

Right answer 😂