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Integrated Appliances: Choosing The Right Door Fitting
When purchasing an integrated appliance such as a refrigeration unit or dishwasher, it’s essential to choose the correct door fitment. This choice will depend on how your kitchen cabinets are already set up.
When purchasing an integrated appliance to replace an existing built-in appliance, we would recommend sticking with the same kind of door fitment. If you are wanting to change the type of fitting your current built-in appliance has, read on to find out if our installation service can do this for you. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Here we will explain the difference between sliding hinges and fixed hinges.
Integrated Refrigeration Door Fittings
When replacing your built-in refrigeration appliance, it’s important to check your current hinge fitting. Otherwise, your new model may not fit.
A refrigeration appliance in this article refers to fridges, freezers and fridge freezers.
Sliding Hinges for Refrigeration Doors
A sliding hinge is installed onto the kitchen cabinet door. This then allows the refrigeration door to slide along the apparatus when being opened and closed.
This setup means that the refrigeration door and cabinet door each have their own set of hinges, so your refrigerator door is not bearing the weight of the cabinet door.
You will be opening 2 doors at the same time when you open your refrigeration unit.
This type of fitting is easier to install.
If your current appliance already has a sliding hinge, it is possible to replace it with a fixed hinge. This is a change that our installation service can do for you.
Fixed Hinges for Refrigeration Doors
Fixed hinges, otherwise known as door-on-door hinges, directly connects the cabinet door to the appliance door. This means that the cabinet door will not be attached to the rest of the cabinetry. Instead, it will be completely attached to the appliance door. Therefore, the appliance door will be bearing the weight of the cabinet door.
This type of fitting is often sturdier than a sliding hinge fitting, and can give you a sleeker finish.
Installation services are not equipped to replace a fixed hinge with a sliding hinge. If you are wanting to make this change professionally, you will need to contact a carpenter or kitchen fitter. So, if you already have this fitting setup, we would strongly recommend replacing it with the same fitting type.
Integrated Dishwasher Door Fittings
Fitting a built-in dishwasher involves the same kind of hinge options: sliding or fixed. We would once again recommend that you choose the door system that you already have when replacing your dishwasher.
Sliding Hinges for Dishwasher Doors
Sliding hinges are attached to the cabinetry door to allow the dishwasher door to slide upwards when you open the dishwasher. Space will open up at the bottom of the dishwasher to allow the door to move freely.
Sliding hinges can be installed regardless of your baseboard height.
If your current appliance already has a sliding hinge, it is possible to replace it with a fixed hinge. This is a change that our installation service can do for you.
Fixed Hinges for Dishwasher Doors
A fixed hinge fitting means that your cabinetry door is directly attached to your dishwasher door. Therefore, the dishwasher door doesn’t slide when you open it. The dishwasher door will also be bearing the weight of your kitchen cabinet.
This door fitting will usually blend seamlessly into your kitchen and is usually more sturdy than sliding hinges.
Installation services are not equipped to replace a fixed hinge with a sliding hinge. If you are wanting to make this change professionally, you will need to contact a carpenter or kitchen fitter. So, if you already have this fitting setup, we would strongly recommend replacing it with the same fitting type.
Which Hinge Fitting To Choose for your Dishwasher
If you’re fitting a dishwasher into your newly fitted kitchen, you will need to choose your hinge fitting based on your baseboard height.
Toe Kick height: less than 9cm
If your toe kick is lower than 9cm, you can choose either a sliding door hinge or a fixed hinge.
Toe Kick height: 9cm or more
If your toe kick is 9cm or higher, you will only be able to choose a sliding hinge. This is because you need proper clearance with fixed hinges, and you will not have enough space for your dishwasher door to fully open.
AEG PerfectFit Hinges
An AEG PerfectFit hinge, classified by us as a sliding hinge, is an ingenious design that combines the sturdiness of a fixed hinge with the sliding ability of a sliding hinge. This fitting can be easily installed onto cabinet doors of any length, whilst also providing stability with its auto balancing system. View our AEG PerfectFit Dishwashers here.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the right door fitting for your integrated appliances, such as refrigeration units and dishwashers, it’s crucial to consider your existing kitchen setup.
Sliding hinges offer ease of installation and flexibility. Meanwhile, fixed hinges provide a sturdier finish.. Make sure to match the door fitting type to your current setup, and if you need to make a change, seek professional assistance, especially when transitioning from fixed to sliding hinges.
If you’re still unsure, or if you have any further questions, we are more than happy to help. Call our friendly appliance experts on 0115 965 1937.
