Freezer heat and air vents

Jolaaled

I am considering drilling out some air vents at the back of my kitchen worktop..as the freezer that i have underneath the worktop produces a lot of heat from its motor and this heat nowhere to escape to.

(I've discovered that my freezer motor runs for about 10 minutes about 2 or 3 times each hour during the day time and it's expensive to run!).

If anyone has done this and has any tips on how big a hole I should drill and how to make it look neat and tidy on the worktop surface...that would be great!

thanks all!

Jonesya

Are there cupboards either side of the freezer?

Just thinking that holes in the worktop aren't great as they create their own problems, wondered if you could drill some holes in the sides of the cupboards to let the heat out through the adjacent cupboards - same effect but a lot less intrusive.

Jolaaled

Jonesya wrote: »

Are there cupboards either side of the freezer?

Just thinking that holes in the worktop aren't great as they create their own problems, wondered if you could drill some holes in the sides of the cupboards to let the heat out through the adjacent cupboards - same effect but a lot less intrusive.

I could do this on one side of the freezer, as there is just a chipboard melamine end board...how many holes do you reckon..and how could I make it look ok from the outside??..any tips very gratefully received!.
(The other side of the freezer is my washing machine..so bit stuck on that side).

Jonesya

Depends what kit you've got, you could cut out a square/rectangle using a jigsaw, or several holes using a hole saw. Up to you really.

I'd cover it using a vent cover that way you don't need to be too precise, it will cover up any rough edges, there's lot of different sizes/styles - plastic, shiny aluminum, chrome brass etc.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Ducting/d190/sd3083

Jolaaled

Jonesya wrote: »

Depends what kit you've got, you could cut out a square/rectangle using a jigsaw, or several holes using a hole saw. Up to you really.

I'd cover it using a vent cover that way you don't need to be too precise, it will cover up any rough edges, there's lot of different sizes/styles - plastic, shiny aluminum, chrome brass etc.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Ducting/d190/sd3083

thanks so much..that is really helpful..didnt realise i could buy vent covers..fantastic!!

keith969

Bosch fridge I bought had a diagram for a vent in the worktop, they recommended 500mm x 60mm with a vent cover (else you'll end up with all sorts of crap fallling down there). Fortunately the back of the kitchen units was about 100mm from the wall, so there was plenty of air space for ventilation either side, and no messy hole needed.

if you DO decide to cut a vent hole, just be careful there are no wires or nails or screws in the area you decide to cut...

Ruski

Is the washing machine free-standing?? If so I would suggest that there is already enough air circulation with the gap above the wm??

Jolaaled

Ruski wrote: »

Is the washing machine free-standing?? If so I would suggest that there is already enough air circulation with the gap above the wm??

hmmm...yes, the washing maching is freestanding and there is a small 0.5 cm gap above it (tho bizarrely, virtually no gap above the freezer ...i live in old cottage with uneven floor/walls etc!).

thanks for your thoughts on this!

Ruski

Well you have either very high appliances or a very low worktop!! Either way I would suggest that there is enough air circulation and putting 'holes' in your worktop will only cause you more problems (dirt trap, blown laminate, looking bluddy ugly!!)

HTH

Russ