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[oldsheep]

We are on our 3rd incarnation of an integrated FF in 8 years. It's properly built in with adequate ventilation, as we were very careful last time - we added more air space than there was before.
When there's a warm spell like recently (and let's face it, it's not the tropics - it's 26 degrees in the flat mostly) the damn thing struggles to get below 5.5 degrees on maximum setting.
It'll probably go back to normal after the summer.
I've been measuring up our galley type kitchen (NOT enormous!) to see if a freestanding one would work.
We'd have to get the current space fitted with shelving and the current shelving removed for the FF.
It would really be quite tough to work around.
Hate integrated appliances as they cost more and work less well    Rant over.

[CLKD]

Many years ago we tried an up-right freezer, lasted about 3 months before we traded it in for our 3rd chest style, holds more.  We have a larder fridge which seems to be running on 'high' as the butter isn't as solid.  It's the Summer that does it?  Fortunately we have a large utility room so don't have to worry about white goods in the kitchen.  All windows open today, R yours?

[oldsheep]

as much ventilation as a small top flat with small sash windows allows. I have 2 fridge thermometers and they are both reading 5.7 degrees. Suppose that's ok but don't want it any higher.

[CLKD]

Air falls from the up-right ones as soon as the door is opened.  I think the cooler air is at the bottom?

If there are any gaps in the baskets, fill them with boxes or newspapers to keep it operating at capacity.

[oldsheep]

Thanks! The freezer bit at the bottom is still freezing stuff. No gaps - it's as full as usual. Fruit in there in the summer, wine, chicken and salmon. Veggie and salad drawer full too.

[CLKD]

I could never get the veggie drawer to work  so use it elsewhere in the house.  Wine doesn't last long enough in this house to be left in the fridge unless there's a smidgen in the bottom of the bottle  (remember I don't drink …….. )

[Rowan]

Just ordered a fridge thermometer as ours is doing the same.

[bramble]

The fridge bit of my standalone fridge freezer is between 2-5 degrees so yours is not that inefficient OS.

Bramble

[honeybun]

Have to say I don't rate integrated appliances very highly. I have had both and have found the free standing one's work and last much better.
 Don't know why but for years I have had two fridges and two freezers. In this house I have two in the kitchen and two in the garage. In our last house we had two in the kitchen and two in the other end of the house.
The integrated look great but don't work half as well as free standing. Not enough air circulation I think.

The best freezer is a chest one but they are not easy to fit into a built in kitchen.


Honeyb
x

[bramble]

My freestanding fridge freezer is just 14 months old and I had the engineer out to it on Thursday - £120 later it is working again. He was in the house less than half an hour! My last fridge freezer lasted more than 15 years!

Bramble

[CLKD]

Re-erecting this thread 

It began with needing a lampshade on the landing.  Then DH decided to replace 4 in our bedroom 'to match' each other, not the 1 on the landing.

Then I decided that I wanted the bed-side lamps lifted ...... sit down ladies, make a cuppa, this could be a long night 

The seals on two of our white appliances are failing: chest freezer and the larder fridge.  This isn't a new problem but 1 that really needs addressing.  In this household we talk about changes for about 3 years B4 looking round and buying in about, year 5. 

So - yesterday we went off to buy a lampshade, should be easy - right?  Today we took it back as it simply doesn't shade the bulb, however the shop lady couldn't understand ....... eventually we got our money back.  Having been told that 'if you spend as little as £20'  and 'you won't find anything anywhere else'.  Wrong on both statements as off to Dunelm and found 1 lampshade [landing] and two lamps that will lift above the bed.  However: it gets better !

[CLKD]

  we 4got to buy bulbs at Dunelm - so off to the local town, 8 mile round trip for 2 bulbs.  Tomorrow DH will drill the wall and fix the lamps above the bed.  I intend to lay on the bed as though reading to make sure that he doesn't need to drill too many times!!

Whilst in the 1st town, a 32 mile round trip: opposite Dunelm, we went and looked at fridge/freezers ........ such choice!  So many decisions!  We think that we know what we are going to order, however: need to see where these items are manufactured as I do prefer to buy British.  It's a bit Watch This Space 

So that's us: up2date - I think 

[getting_old]

I'm not an expert on fridges but have had to buy quite a few in recent years as they just don't last like they used to! We had 2 LGs that lasted just over 3 years  so I'm now avoiding them!
I'd say really think about access and visibility of food. We got one of those with the big freezer drawer at the bottom which meant we had a few high piles of food in the basket and trying to find stuff was a nightmare. I prefer the side by side design as you at least have a chance of seeing what you have.

[CLKD]

Tnx.  We have looked a pull out drawers at the bottom of a unit which means that the cold air doesn't drop from the whole cabinet.  DH needs 2 find out where they are constructed.  I try to avoid buying Chinese stuff.

Our current units don't owe us anything, the fridge/freezer - free from Mum's house when she thought it was going 'wrong', at least 5 years ago; larder fridge, probably bought in 1993 and the chest 13cub whatever, shortly after. 

It has to be a good decision as these units aint' cheap! and I don't think that I like grey/black/platinum having been used to white goods. 

[getting_old]

The drawer at the bottom ones may have changed and be better designed, but the one we got literally had a single basket for everything so trying to find stuff was a nightmare. That was about 7 years ago!