Fridge freezer installation

Margaret_Skinner

I recently bought a new fairly basic Logik fridge freezer from Curry's which was delivered yesterday. I couldn't be there at the delivery time slot so my daughter came round. I had paid an extra £20 for my old one to be taken away and I noticed Curry's were charging £35 for installation. I couldn't figure out what this was so decided not to pay it in case it was a rip off. My daughter said the guys were there for just seconds but she couldn't watch them as she had a fractious toddler and baby to deal with and they came at teatime.

When I got home and checked the manual which came with the fridge freezer, there were 3 pages devoted to installation but all it appeared to be was instructions to change the door round if you so desired.

Am I right in thinking this? I know some of the American style fridge freezers with ice makers and water dispensers require more intricate things done to them to get them going but do I really need to do anything more than leave it for a few hours then switch it on and leave it for 24 hours before putting food in?

There was a bit about levelling as well which I think I can manage myself and if not could possibly get some help with but I'm worried I might be compromising the efficiency of it by not doing something vital at the beginning!

Chrishazle

Get it level, change the door opening if you need to, and wait 24 hours after delivery before turning the power on. Job done.

angel_of_dartford

Change door round first then level it, as it usually involves tipping it on its back.

After tipping it, let it stand for a few hours before turning it on

pmartin86

As others have said, change door if you want, and level, leave 24 hours and plug in and go, no problem. Curry's once tried to charge me £95 for installation of a gas cooker that was replacing another almost identical gas cooker...it took my tame local plumber about 3 minutes and cost me a princely sum of "a pint down the pub on the weekend".

Ruski

Leaving fridges/freezers 'for 24 hours' before switching on is old school - no longer necessary with modern gasses used.

Taken from Logik manual:

• Before Turning On!
Do not turn on until two hours after moving the unit. The coolant fluid needs time
to settle.

• Before placing any food in your unit, turn it on and wait for 24 hours, to make sure it is working properly and to allow it time to fall to the correct temperature. Your unit should not be overfilled.

HTH

Russ

twohooter_2

I agree with Ruski. There is generally no need to wait 24 hours for fluids to settle these days. I have just bought 2 x AEG fridge freezers and the instruction manual (and delivery men) suggested a 4 hour wait.

cyclonebri1

I never get the bit about not over filling fridges or freezers.
Surely the greater the thermal mass, ie, the amount of food compared to amount of air, means a greater retention of freezing when the door(s) are opened due to less air change?

Not overfilling at a single point in time I can understand as the freeze time is increased but keeping it topped up to full, surely that's the most efficient.

Margaret_Skinner

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied - your posts were very helpful. I should have made it clear I don't need the door changed at all - I just meant that's all the 'installation' seemed to be about in the booklet so basically it is a rip off like I thought:eek:.

Next question!:D There appeared to be plastic all round the sides and top of the appliance. It's almost like the thing has been shrink wrapped as it goes underneath the top and right underneath the bottom and is pretty impossible to remove. I got the top one off okay then spent 20 minutes struggling with one of the sides eventually giving up. Has anyone had anything similar to this? I'm actually wondering now if it's supposed to be there to save getting it dirty or something - the fridge freezer itself is a silver colour and I think they do show up fingermarks quite badly. My question is would it be okay to unscrew the top of it to get the plastic off properly with the fridge freezer switched on or would I have to switch it off?

Also I can't work out how to sort the 'feet' at the bottom to level it and I don't have a spirit level. I did fill a bowl with water and set it on top of the fridge freezer and that looked fine but I'm not sure how reliable that is. Do you think I'm safe enough? I just want to get food into it but don't want to start filling it up then have to go and switch it off again.

Why is life so complicated these days??

Margaret_Skinner

The levelling problem has been solved. My daughter had a stroke of genius and discovered a spirit level app which we used successfully so it's just the plastic I have a problem with now. Went back into Curry's to ask about it and they were no help whatsoever so I'll write to their HQ to complain but if anyone could tell me if it would be okay to unscrew the top part of the fridge without having to switch it off I'd be really grateful!

cyclonebri1

Margaret_Skinner wrote: »

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who replied - your posts were very helpful. I should have made it clear I don't need the door changed at all - I just meant that's all the 'installation' seemed to be about in the booklet so basically it is a rip off like I thought:eek:.

Next question!:D There appeared to be plastic all round the sides and top of the appliance. It's almost like the thing has been shrink wrapped as it goes underneath the top and right underneath the bottom and is pretty impossible to remove. I got the top one off okay then spent 20 minutes struggling with one of the sides eventually giving up. Has anyone had anything similar to this? I'm actually wondering now if it's supposed to be there to save getting it dirty or something - the fridge freezer itself is a silver colour and I think they do show up fingermarks quite badly. My question is would it be okay to unscrew the top of it to get the plastic off properly with the fridge freezer switched on or would I have to switch it off?

Also I can't work out how to sort the 'feet' at the bottom to level it and I don't have a spirit level. I did fill a bowl with water and set it on top of the fridge freezer and that looked fine but I'm not sure how reliable that is. Do you think I'm safe enough? I just want to get food into it but don't want to start filling it up then have to go and switch it off again.

Why is life so complicated these days??

A bowl of water brimmed is just about as accurate as can be, you need a thanks from anyone else without a level:T:T:T, here's mine

EssexExile

It doesn't need to be level, it needs to sit square. The back feet aren't (usually) adjustable so if the back tilts slightly then the front needs to tilt slightly too so the cabinet remains square. You'll soon know if it's not square as the door won't shut properly.