Owners of apartments with a small kitchen are often interested in the question of whether it is possible to place a refrigerator next to a gas stove or not. The answer of any specialist is clear: such a neighborhood is undesirable. And the reasons are quite solid. If it is not possible to avoid such an arrangement of equipment, there are several ways to reduce the negative impact.
Why shouldn't you place the refrigerator next to the stove?
There are a lot of arguments against it, ranging from the usual loss of comfort to premature failure of the refrigerator. Moreover, we draw your attention to the fact that there is no difference whether you place the refrigerator next to a gas stove or an electric one. Their sides heat up equally, especially if we are talking about a working oven. But, let's take it in order.
The heat from the stove makes the refrigerator work at its limit.
Some people think that proximity to a hot stove can lead to the fact that the refrigerator compartment will not cool very well, and that’s all. Or rather, temporarily warm up from the heat. That is, it’s worth revving up a little and the problem will be solved.
But it's not that simple. It's just the opposite. The warmer it is around, the more intensely the compressor generates cold... And the optimal temperature in the refrigerator will not drop, no. But this state of affairs is not at all useful for the technology itself.
The refrigerator is designed to automatically turn on the compressor at certain intervals. But when the outside temperature rises, the compressor is simply forced to work hard to maintain the desired temperature.
Naturally, the service life of the equipment in this case is reduced many times over. Especially if you have a large family and the stove runs very often. Heat the same kettle five times a day, cook some soup, heat up some dish...
And, even if you just fried eggs, the side of the stove does not heat up and cool down as quickly as it seems. The heat, accordingly, first reaches the adjacent side of the refrigerator and maintains an elevated temperature for a long time.
And the compressor turns on and on, without breaks for lunch and dinner. And even without smoking breaks.
However, this is all written in the instructions for the refrigerator. But, if you don’t believe it, you can ask any workshop and the specialist’s answer will be unequivocal: you shouldn’t do that.
Although, if you are so rich that you change refrigerators like gloves, then why not? The compressor will “fly” in five years (or even a little earlier) - buy new equipment, and that’s the end of it.
IMPORTANT - check the walls
One of the key components of the refrigerator is the capacitor. Freon circulates in it, which takes heat from inside the refrigerator or freezer and releases it outside. Therefore, it is important that there is free access of air to the condenser grille.
Most refrigerators have a condenser on the back wall. But there are models in which it is located on the side. You can't tell it by eye; the tubes are hidden behind the wall. It is better to see their location in the instructions. But if you notice that the side walls of the refrigerator are heating up, then the condenser coil is located in them.
In this case, you need to leave a gap of at least 50 mm between the walls and the furniture. if this is not done, then:
- The refrigerator will cool food more slowly.
- The compressor will turn on more often and consume more electricity.
- The service life of the refrigerator will be reduced.
- The risk of compressor failure will increase significantly.
Electricity bills
And not only are you simply “killing” the motor of your refrigerator, you are also regularly overpaying for light. The refrigerator already drags a lot without this, but if you force it to work 5-6 times more intensely, you yourself understand how much money it will cost.
After all, in order to cool the chamber, the refrigerator needs electricity to “jerk”. So think about whether it is beneficial to arrange kitchen elements this way. But, if you are rich, this argument will not convince you. Then maybe the next one will seem sane?
Norms for determining distances
Modern kitchen design styles demonstrate convenient options when the housewife only needs to reach out from the stove to open the refrigerator door. To achieve this convenience, there are some models in the photographs in advertising brochures that, at first glance, are placed close to the stove.
Layout with stove in the kitchen
But no matter how high-quality the refrigerator’s thermal insulation is, there is a minimum distance that must be left to any heat source - batteries, household appliances, sunlight.
Food spoilage
Such “swings” are not in vain for the internal microclimate of the refrigerator chamber. There is no stability of cooling, you understand, therefore, there is no way to maintain an even temperature.
And as a result, sometimes the food will simply freeze. This is especially bad for fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. After a bunch of parsley is covered with a thin crust of ice, the smell will almost disappear and there will be almost no taste left.
Also, red caviar really doesn’t like freezing. It tastes completely different and becomes deformed.
Of course, this will not happen right away, but after a couple of years of operation of the equipment in a similar mode. And further! The freezer will also become covered with ice. And you will have to clean it much more often than under normal conditions.
Difficulty in dealing with greasy drops on the walls of the refrigerator
Another minus. At first it seems: what’s wrong with that? I’ll cook it and immediately wipe off the splashes. But, as always happens, you immediately become too lazy to wipe it off, the drops dry up tightly, and then look ugly against the backdrop of the snow-white side of the refrigerator...
But getting rid of them is now not so easy, because the delicate enamel of the refrigerator is not like a ceramic “apron” on the wall, and it will not withstand friction with an iron brush.
In general, you will have to keep an eye on this matter all the time and do not forget to wipe it right away. And this is no longer good, it’s annoying.
Of course, if you have absolutely no other way to place the elements, then we will tell you how to protect the refrigerator from grease. But, nevertheless, we insist that you think carefully again.
How to minimize negative factors
If the recommended gap is left, you can put a specially made cabinet in it for storing small items (household chemicals, brushes, sponges, rags, etc.). It will protect the unit from stove heat. In case of close contact, a protective partition made of heat-insulating material should be installed. Materials suitable for this purpose are divided into 2 types:
- Organic. This class includes cork sheets, textolite, reed sheets and chipboards. They are non-toxic when heated and are not afraid of moisture, but they become deformed when heated for a long time. A significant disadvantage is the high cost.
- For inorganic materials, it is recommended to use mineral wool, gypsum and asbestos cardboard, and fiberglass. They protect well from heat, but when wet they lose their quality. But they are cheap.
Thermal insulation materials are sold in the form of sheets or rolls. The outside is covered with a lavsan film, and the inside is made of self-adhesive. Before applying the sticker, the strips cut to size should be kept on the floor until they straighten out. Gluing is done from top to bottom until the refrigerator wall is completely covered.
It is not recommended to fasten sheet thermal insulation without an adhesive layer with strong means, for example, “liquid nails”. If you need to remove it, you will have to work hard. For this purpose, it is better to use double-sided tape. It will provide reliable fastening and, if necessary, can be removed without problems. You cannot stick the tape to the stove, as it will immediately fall off when heated.
And finally: Feng Shui is against it!
For a snack of all the minuses - here's the opinion of Feng Shui. For some reason, the refrigerator is considered an object that personifies the element of Water. But the stove is Fire. And these two things do not get along with each other, which means they bring a negative aura into the house, thicken the climate of your apartment and fill it with alarming fluctuations...
So, if there is a quarrel in your house, know: it’s all to blame for the refrigerator, which you, without thinking, placed next to the stove.
Built-in household appliances
At the service of consumers, almost all models of ovens and refrigerators are produced in two versions:
- built-in;
- freestanding.
In addition to visual appeal and ease of maintenance, the built-in oven has enhanced heat-protective characteristics. Modern models of ovens are equipped with a reliable heat-insulating layer. This can be a layer of insulation or heat-resistant cardboard, which depends on the manufacturer. In the latest models, the doors have triple glazing, which prevents heat exchange between the oven and the outside environment. Safe operation is ensured by a protective shutdown and a fan.
The built-in refrigerator also has additional thermal insulation due to decorative finishing panels.
Additional thermal insulation of built-in household appliances ensures their arbitrary arrangement without taking into account restrictions. Judging by the reviews, the built-in appliances have good thermal insulation characteristics, which makes them reliable and safe. It is perfectly acceptable to place a built-in oven next to the refrigerator, as shown in the photo.
What are the alternatives for placing a refrigerator?
If you are deeply moved by our beliefs, then you need to abandon this idea and look for another place for the refrigerator.
Unfortunately, we don’t know your layout, but for some reason we assume that your kitchenette is very small, which means, most likely, you are the owner of a Khrushchev-era apartment.
So, if this is the case, then it really is bad. There are no adjacent storage rooms in a niche in which you can put a refrigerator, nor a balcony that can be combined with the kitchen and take equipment there.
But on the other hand, there is a wonderful advantage in Khrushchev apartments - the interior partitions there are not concrete or load-bearing. Therefore, if your refrigerator does not fit on the opposite wall, then you can simply make a small opening in the wall between the kitchen and living room and build a niche from it.
This way, the kitchen will remain uncluttered, the refrigerator door will be flush with the wall, but a washing machine can be installed in its place. This, after all, is also the problem of Khrushchev apartments, with their two-meter bathtubs.
And the fact that in the living room the wall will not be flat, but with a difference, is even interesting. You can decorate the ledge in any way you like, hang pictures or shelves on it.
Also: when looking for another place for the refrigerator, do not forget that it is not recommended to place it not only next to the stove, but also to the radiator. It will be the same, or even worse. Heating in this case is seasonal, but continuous for many months.
The same goes for the gas pipe. It gets warm, which means it is a bad neighbor for the refrigerator and it has no place near it.
What to do if there is no other way out
When purchasing a refrigerator, a reasonable person immediately decides on the space that can be allocated for this in the kitchen. A thoughtless purchase often leads to the unit being moved into the living room or hallway. There are models no more than 50 cm wide, they take up less space than standard ones, and there is no need for close proximity. Sometimes, in order to purchase a coveted device, owners buy a mini-stove or a small sink, which also causes some inconvenience.
Unit from the stove
In a limited space, it is necessary to clearly calculate the options for the location of the most necessary things, and take into account natural factors - natural air circulation, sunlight and possible heating. The need to constantly wash the wall located near the stove is not the only trouble. There is also inconvenience in using frying pans with handles, large pots, as well as harm from exposure to moisture due to boiling liquids, of which water is the most harmless.
Additionally
People have come up with many ways to avoid damaging heat - placing an insulating sheet or partition between two kitchen attributes, or lining the unit itself from an insulating material.
For this, wood, tape, drywall, and polymer materials are used.
Large distance to the stove
But as soon as it gets warmer outside, you have to take the next step - installing a hood above the refrigerator. Because the heat rises and warms its lid. The price of such a device is much higher than what was originally planned for the purchase of the refrigerator itself, especially when you consider the time spent on construction and acquisition. So you should think through all possible options in advance and choose the best one for yourself.
How to minimize the risk of proximity between a stove and a refrigerator?
If you have reached this block, then you are definitely not impressed by our “horror stories” and our rationale for moving the refrigerator did not find a response in your soul.
Well, if you really want to put these two things next to each other, then you definitely need to separate them somehow, at least with some small partition. Of course, the thicker the insulation, the better, but rather than nothing at all, a thin piece of some material is still better.
We will give you examples of the most popular options, and you can choose which one you like best.
Before we start looking at thermal insulation using examples, I would like to note this:
There is no point in attaching a shield that will be located between the stove and the refrigerator.
Or rather, fix it “tightly”, for example, with strong glue, such as “liquid nails”, since, who knows, you might someday have a rearrangement and this piece of slab will interfere?
It is best to buy double-sided tape, it holds very firmly and use it to glue the shield to the surface of the refrigerator. Yes, exactly the refrigerator, because the heating side of the stove will simply melt this glue and nothing will stick.
So let's look at protection options.
Imaginary dangers
Both objects under discussion are in contact with each other not by working surfaces, but by side walls. Therefore, the result of contact largely depends on the degree of thermal insulation of the products.
- Temperature conditions - the refrigerator is provided with high-quality thermal insulation by default, the stove - depending on the type. An induction hob or a modern electric oven does not in any way heat up the surfaces in contact with it, thanks to the insulation material and the operation of the fan, if we are talking about an oven. Built-ins are designed to have no impact on adjacent furniture. Moreover, for a refrigerator that has its own insulation.
- The risk of fire is no greater than when the stove comes into contact with any other piece of furniture.
- Aesthetics - the interior of the kitchen is determined by furniture, utensils and the design of walls and windows. The refrigerator and oven are standardized objects that can be combined without difficulty.
Protective screen made of simple chipboard
You can simply buy a piece of laminated chipboard and place it between the stove and the refrigerator. Just do not forget that the side cut will need to be treated with adhesive tape, and this must be ordered at the place where the sheets are cut.
Be sure to choose a sheet to match the kitchen furniture. It would be ideal if it were exactly the same as the main body of the kitchen.
Of course, this shield will not last forever, because chipboard is afraid of hot and moisture, which means that in a few years it may lose its appearance. But such a thing is very inexpensive and we think you won’t go broke if you have to buy another sheet in a couple of years.
Useful tips
It is strictly forbidden to install a refrigerator near heating appliances.
A few recommendations to help extend the life of the unit:
- It is undesirable to install in places where direct sunlight will constantly fall;
- the optimal temperature regime for operation of the refrigeration device is from 14 to 35°C;
- cannot be installed near heating devices;
- When installing a protective sheet on the back of the refrigerator, you need to leave a distance (at least 2 cm) so that air is supplied properly.
There should be a space of at least 5 cm between the refrigerator and the wall.
It is necessary to leave free space from the device to the wall. It should be at least 5 cm. Dust should also be removed from the back wall periodically.
Correct installation and operation are the key to long-term operation of the refrigerator.
The refrigerator is a faithful friend and assistant to any housewife. For full operation, it is important to properly care for the unit and follow all safety precautions. By adhering to the parameters of the distance between the stove and the refrigeration equipment, not only the appearance, but also its functionality will be preserved.
Protective screen with foil, mirror and glass
And this is an absolutely wonderful option. Foil or mirror perfectly reflects heat, and such a partition can be much thinner than other options. The only negative is that the mirror reflection is out of place; it can be removed using corrugated glass placed on top.
This is the most expensive method, but it is also the most effective. The refrigerator will hardly feel any heat from the stove, which means it will serve you faithfully for much longer. In any case, heat reflection is better than simple thermal insulation.
But if you combine these two methods, it will be completely good. That is, put a thick shield and stick foil on top of it.
In conclusion, I would like to say: now you know everything and even more on the topic. But the decision is yours, we just advise and hope that our considerations benefit you.
Splash protection
A distance of 25 cm does not solve the problem of splashes during cooking. It is assumed either to clean the wall immediately after cooking, or to use improvised means. The simplest solution is a foil screen in a metal frame, which is secured with magnets or hooks. It is not recommended to use PVC film and its analogues: the material does not tolerate high temperatures, and splashes during cooking can be very hot.
