Refrigerator Fit

The majority of heat transfer is from underneath. Your refrigerator should be ok where you're planning to put it. The folks at the store are right, and the delivery guy was wrong.

The delivery teams are very professional, but we can all make mistakes - this is very important to you and Sears, so let's get it correct and not make any unnecessary assumptions.

What model is this refrigerator?  They do not all have the same requirements.  If this is the Samsung RF266, then Samsung asks for 2 inches clearance behind the unit, 1 inch above the unit, and an extra 1 inch total width.  The manual for the refrigerator will give specifics on the clearances.

-Barry

The 2 inches of top clearance should make up for the lack of clearance on the sides.

Thanks for the additional discussion.  I am referring to the RF267ABRS.  And yes, I meant to say the box available is 36 in wide by 69 in high.  The height of the refrigerator in the store was 68.5 in. high without the hinge.  I have standard 24 in deep cabinets, so the Samsung would extend about 33 in. without any rear clearance, 35 in. if I reserved 2 in. rear clearance.  I believe the hinges would be ok - as they would  stick out in front of the cabinets.  I am more concerned with the clearance needed around the sides and top.  Although the box opening is 36 x 69, it does open up somewhat inside the box due to recessed cabinet trim.  Including the interior box trim clearance, I should have .75 in clearance on one side, .125 clearance other side and .75 clearance on the top. The "hole", however, is 36 x 69, so clearance for air to escape on sides or top is only 1/4 in. sides and 1/2 in. top.    Hope I explained this well.  Thanks for everyone's perspecive.      

One additional comment.  Not sure if this would be any benefit, but I could easily cut several vent holes into the bottom of the cabinet above the fridge to help air movement.  I would probably vent the air through the cabinet (via some ducting) to the ceiling above.

Excellent, RGMan, the specs for the RF267 are lesser than that of the RF266.  The RF267ABRS spec sheet page 8 specifies:  1" top clearance - you described 1/2" opening to 3/4" but the few vent holes that you described will solve that issue; 1/2" total side clearance is required - you described 1/2" opening to 1" so you have no issues on the side.  You are good to go!

Be aware that the RF267ABRS has a Energy Saver button/option. If condensation occurs on the doors, turn the Energy Saver function off.  The potential condensation would not mean that you didn't have proper clearance - its an option to save additional electricity that works well in dryer conditions.

The twin cooling feature, that the RF267ABRS has, is a terrific feature - you are going to really enjoy this unit.

-Barry

BC-Sage,

thanks for the advice.  I delayed re-delivery a few days to make sure cyber-world agreed the unit would work.  Thanks again for your insight.

-Rich

Interestingly, I have the same size opening--36"x69"x26"--and I have the additional limitation of finding bisque/biskit/almond color to match the rest of the kitchen.  Our kitchen was redone 15 years ago; was that the size of all side-by-sides then? The ONLY bisque refrigerator that will fit is the Whirlpool GC3SHAXV.  Not much choice!  I have 1" on each side and 2" in the back, 2" above.  I never gave the extra space much thought, but I would have gone ballistic if the delivery person wouldn't leave my refrigerator!  I also insist on installing it myself.

kcwx, sounds like you already took delivery, but this trio Maytag may have intrigued you:

MFI2067AEQ Sears # 04604204000

-Barry

Thanks, Barry, but the Maytag MFI2067AEQ is too tall (69" max vs 69 3/4") and too deep (24" max vs 261/2").  I worry about the Whirlpool lasting over 14 years like the last one--Amana side-by-side.

kcwx said…

Thanks, Barry, but the Maytag MFI2067AEQ is too tall (69" max vs 69 3/4") and too deep (24" max vs 261/2").  I worry about the Whirlpool lasting over 14 years like the last one--Amana side-by-side.

---

I have it listed at Cabinent Depth excl. Door & Handles: 24".  Height to top of Refrig: 68 5/8".  (Door hinge at 69-7/8 to 70-1/8 conflicting hinge height info.)

-Barry

Hello again - thought I would check back-in after having the Samsung RF267ABRS for about 2 weeks now.  As I had originally thought, the unit is a perfect fit in the opening I have.  Close to zero clearance on the sides and about 1/2 inch on top.  The vent holes I cut through the cupboard above seem to be providing adequate ventilation.  The unit itself seems to be performing very well.  Everyone at the house enjoys all of the features it has to offer.  Those that have complained about ice-maker noise must be ultra-sensitive.  You may hear ice dropping every few hours for about 5 seconds - not a big deal.  Thanks again for the discussion.  On to the next appliance purchase!    

Thanks, RGMan!  Glad to hear all is well!

For future reference, all you really need is a total of 22 square inches ventilation space in a combination of along the top and sides. 36"w X 0.5" top clearance = 18 Sq. in., so you only need another 4 sq. in. somewhwere. 69"h X 0.25 side clearance = 17 sq. in.

The 2" side clearance the delivery guy quoted is for those odd situations where the fridge is up against a wall for some reason, and the door andle would open into the wall, and that is only to allow the door to open fully. It has noting to do with cooling. A sample Whirlpool spec sheet describes this at http://www.whirlpool.com/assets/pdfs/product/ZDIMENSION/ED5LHAXWB_Dimension%20Guide_EN.pdf . I assume Samsung as similar requirement.

And for the person looking for a bisque unit: Wirlpool lists five full size units to fit a 36"x69" opening at http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/category.jsp?cat=96&N=20000097+4294966119+4294966018  The almond color has been discontinued since late last century. Bisque is lighter/brighter.

My theory as to why: As fewer people smoke, the less need there is for nicotine-stain colored appliances. Back in the 50s, when everbody smoked, anything white (drapes, sheets, and even appliances) absorbed the nicotine that floated throughout the house. The longer the white item remained in the smoky house, the darker yellow it got. By the time people need to replace one appliance, it was no longer white, and they wanted one that matched their remaining, working, nicotine-stained appliances. Manufacturers obliged by producing the nicotine color, calling it almond, as that sounded healthier. In the 90s, when smoking became more unpopular, people started smoking outside more, staining their appliances less, and creating a need for a lighter nicotine stain color. Enter bisque/biscuit. In this century, fewer and fewer people are smoking, hence the difficulty in finding bisque appliances. If anyone wants to do a scientific study based on my theory, I'd like to know the results.

That is an interesting theory, a62dave!  It makes a lot of sense!   I am glad those smoking days are over, that is for sure.

I'm missing something very basic here. Why are there 2 heights listed on models with concealed hinges? That is, isn't the refrigerator a uniform height throughout?

Help appreciated--I'm wondering if I need to cancel my order! Thanks.

I'm thinking of replacing my old top-freezer refrigerator to a sibe-by-side one.  My problem is where can I find a side-by-side ref that will fit into an opening for 32.75" width and 68" height? I've been checking online sites and visited some stores but most models I see are of 33" width.  Help....

How do you find out the space requirement BEFORE you buy?  The "manual" is NOT generally avilable at the store for every model sold.

Hi.  I really wish to purchase a 35 3/4" wide Samsung french door counter depth refrigerator (model RFG237 or RFG238). Our situation is quite similar to that of RGMan who first wrote to this forum in Oct 09- we have that same 36"x69" opening - except in our case the manual calls for 2" clearance at the top and in the back, as well as 1" clearance on each side.  We can reduce the size of the cabinet above to allow more space - but we cannot expand the existing 36" width. On one side we have a ceiling to floor, counter depth wall (chimney).  On the other, permanent counter depth cabinets above and below with counter space in between (which would "breathe" better than the other). Do you still agree there would be enough air circulation if we basically eliminated the side clearance but exposed several inches above???  I posed this question via email to Samsung.com, but based on their reply I don't think they really considered my question. Any advice would be very appreciated!!!  Thanks, Gail