Is it possible to place a microwave on top of or next to the refrigerator?

Is it possible to put a microwave on a refrigerator?

The vast majority of kitchens are small in size, so often the only place where you can install a microwave oven is the refrigerator.

You can place the microwave on the refrigerator

The instructions do not contain information about whether the microwave can be placed on the refrigerator. According to experts from household appliances laboratories, if a small kitchen does not allow placing the oven on the work surface, then it is permissible to install the device on the refrigerator.

Such a proximity should not cause any problems due to emitted microwaves. In this situation, questions may arise regarding only the ventilation of the microwave oven.

In addition, when installing the device on a refrigerator, it is important to pay attention to some features of the proximity of the two devices:

Safe installation of a microwave oven in a refrigerator requires the use of a plywood panel as a backing. This will help prevent the lid of your refrigerator from getting dents from a heavy microwave. Do not place thin, flammable material, such as plastic film, between appliances.
If the ventilation is located not only on the side and back of the microwave oven, but also on the bottom, then it must be installed on adjustable feet. If there are none, then the device must be installed on a work surface, maintaining a safe distance.
Based on the height of the refrigerator, you need to install the microwave so that its door is at chest level or lower. A higher placement of the device will not be convenient for heating liquid dishes.
It is necessary to ensure that the distance between the microwave oven and the ceiling is more than 20 cm.
There must be at least 15 cm of free space between the walls of the devices and other devices.
The refrigerator must be installed and adjusted so that it does not create strong vibrations that will adversely affect the operation of the microwave oven.
The appliance should not be placed on the refrigerator if you plan to use the microwave every day for cooking, and not just for heating or defrosting. In this case, the device will become very hot and negatively affect the operation of the refrigerator compartment.

Read more ► Smell in the refrigerator: how to get rid of an unpleasant stench using folk remedies and chemicals

When is it possible?

There are several conditions under which there is nothing wrong with placing a microwave oven on the refrigerator. Among them:

Rare use of the microwave and no more than 5-7 minutes in a row - this way the equipment and air will not be too hot. It turns out that the microwave oven will only be used for heating and, at most, defrosting food. You cannot cook in it in the “grill” or “convention” modes.
Ensure proper ventilation for both the microwave oven and refrigerator.
Be sure to use a microwave mat to prevent the refrigerator from heating up. Chipboard, plywood or rubber can be used for this. But you should never use paper, foil, plastic, oilcloth, cellophane or a tablecloth, as they can melt, damage equipment and even catch fire. It is also necessary to check that the metal surfaces of the equipment do not touch.
Another prerequisite is grounded sockets. In addition, you cannot use the same outlet for the refrigerator and microwave at once, for example, through a double or tee. This is a fire safety requirement so as not to overload the network.
The wires should not touch the back wall of the refrigerator, as they may overheat and become damaged.

Why are there no similar rules for placing a microwave next to a refrigerator? Because no special conditions are required for this - only open ventilation for high-quality work.

Microwave oven installation standards

Long-term and safe operation of a microwave oven is not possible without its correct installation.

It is important to follow certain standards:

Before starting the installation process, the device is washed using a soft sponge and warm water. It is important not to forget to remove all protective films and assemble the rotating table.
The clearance for the back of the appliance is 10 cm. The side wall should be at least 5 cm away. The space above the top cover should be between 22-31 cm.
Correct placement of a microwave oven requires that the device be placed on a flat surface at a height of at least 85 cm from the floor.
It is advisable to install the stove on a work surface. This will allow you to easily remove liquid dishes.
As a rule, each model has the ability to adjust the distance between the working surface and the bottom of the device. There is a foot in each corner of the device, with which you can set the required height.
Sometimes the microwave oven is installed in a cabinet. Operation under such conditions is not recommended. This option is not entirely successful due to insufficient ventilation.
If the microwave is used not only for heating food, but also for cooking food (for half an hour or more), then ventilation must be provided on all sides.
The device must not be installed near water sources. Liquid splashes can interfere with the operation of the unit or even cause a short circuit.
If there are other electronic devices in the kitchen, they should be at least 2 meters away.
Do not place a heavy object on the microwave oven: a slow cooker, a kettle, a bread box, a vase of flowers. This may result in crumbs or water splashing into the ventilation openings.
It is not advisable to place mobile phones, tablets, or laptops on the stove, as magnetic waves can lead to malfunctions of these devices.

Read more ► Optimal temperature in the refrigerator and freezer, how to measure and arrange food

If the device breaks down, you can contact the service center.

Installation of appliances in the kitchen

Equipment manufacturers are constantly releasing new equipment with improved characteristics. Of course, consumers constantly update their equipment by purchasing more modern ones. First of all, when you buy a new device, you need to find a place for it .
At the same time, it is necessary to ensure not only the convenience and safety of using the stove, but it must also be harmoniously combined with other household appliances and furniture. It seems that a microwave oven cannot take up much space and can be placed next to other devices in any convenient place, but this is not so. If the kitchen is small, there may be problems with the placement of the appliance. However, you can hang the device on a shelf.

Related publications

Life hack: how to make dough for dumplings and dumplings 21 hours ago
Life hack: how to cleanse the liver | LifeHack 365 2 days ago

If a microwave is purchased for a kitchen that is equipped with a large number of household appliances, then it is sometimes simply difficult to fit it with other appliances.

Furnace location

After purchasing a microwave, many begin to wonder where it is best to put it. It is worth noting that you cannot install a microwave oven in all corners of the kitchen. Before placing it on the refrigerator, you should think about how compatible the two devices are, since one heats up and the other cools.

Before placing a microwave on top of your refrigerator, you need to ask yourself the following question: Will this affect the efficiency of both devices?

Many users of microwave ovens claim that the device can stand on the refrigerator for many years, working efficiently . Their statement can be justified by the fact that both devices can be classified as isolated. This means that external factors cannot affect the performance of the devices.

Is it possible to place a microwave oven next to a refrigerator?

The device is designed in such a way that only the chamber inside is heated. At the same time, the housing is slightly susceptible to high temperatures. This occurs because warm air is released through the vent on the sides and back of the appliance.

The instruction manuals do not say that it is unacceptable to install the stove next to the refrigerator.

On the contrary, it is prohibited to place a microwave or refrigerator near heating appliances, radiators, stoves, or ovens. Although a microwave oven emits some heat, it does so only if it is used as an oven.

Posting rules

To ensure normal operation of the devices in question, it is necessary to ensure:

Reliable ventilation . Most microwaves have ventilation holes located not only on the sides and back, but also on the bottom. Therefore, for effective ventilation, care should be taken to purchase legs, since without them the stove may overheat and subsequently fail. The stove must be installed on a stand made of solid heat-insulating material, such as plywood. The use of paper, oilcloth, and plastic film is unacceptable. The distance between the microwave and the wall should be at least 12 cm, and at least 20 cm to the ceiling.

Ease of use . If the height of the refrigerator is more than 2 m, it does not make sense to install a microwave oven on it, since it will be difficult to put food in and take it out. And hot liquid dishes can inadvertently scald you.

In apartments with low ceilings, with such placement it is impossible to maintain the 20-centimeter gap between the stove and the ceiling necessary for ventilation. But the biggest troubles will happen when it collapses due to the vibration of the refrigerator during operation from such a height, and even when it is turned on.

According to standards, the distance from the floor to the microwave should be at least 90 cm and no higher than 150 cm. It is optimal to place it at a height of approximately 7 - 10 cm below the hostess’s shoulder. This is the safest height.

Furnace usage intensity . If the microwave oven is intended to be used only for defrosting food and heating ready-made dishes, then there are no obstacles to placing it on the refrigerator, since it does not operate for long in these modes. However, when cooking, the oven operates for a long time, releasing a large amount of hot air, which disrupts the normal cooling of the refrigerator condenser. As a result, the freezing properties are impaired and the load on the compressor increases. This leads to increased energy consumption and reduced service life. Therefore, in this case, the microwave should be placed further away, since even next to the refrigerator it will negatively affect its operation.

Protection against electric shock . According to the instructions for use, the microwave oven must be grounded. Since it can touch the refrigerator, both devices must be provided with special plugs and sockets for reliable connection to grounding, made in accordance with the rules for the safe operation of electrical installations.

You should know that a microwave on a refrigerator gives repair services a reason to refuse warranty repairs for both devices.

Is it possible to put a microwave in the freezer?

If the microwave oven is located on the freezer, then it should not be plugged into a common outlet.
Using a microwave oven on the freezer is not prohibited according to the operating instructions. The operation of both equipment will not be disrupted, provided that the microwave is installed in compliance with all safety measures.

Important! If the microwave oven is located on the freezer, then it should not be plugged into a common outlet. A separate outlet must be provided for each unit.

Before installing the stove on the freezer, you need to compare its depth with the width of the unit. If it turns out to be larger, the microwave will hang down, which will disrupt the ventilation process.

Results

The method of installing the microwave depends on the plans for its operation. If the equipment is used only for heating food, then provided there is full ventilation and a thermal insulation layer between the two types of equipment, it can be installed anywhere. If the owner of the equipment plans to cook food in an oven, then according to its technical characteristics it is equivalent to heating devices, to which a special placement procedure is applicable.

Video: where to place a microwave in the kitchen

➤ Where to place a microwave oven in the kitchen ➤

Watch this video on YouTube

Do you want to understand better than others?

Is it possible to place a refrigerator next to an electric or gas stove - Having a small space in the kitchen, owners spend a long time thinking about how best to place household appliances. Some are forced to place the refrigerator next to the stove (gas,…
Is it possible to place a household refrigerator next to a heating radiator - Placing a refrigerator in the kitchen turns out to be a difficult task. It happens that there is no other option but to place it next to the battery. Let's consider this question...
Is it possible to install and operate a refrigerator on the balcony in winter - Installing a refrigerator on the balcony allows you to make the kitchen more spacious, but there are some restrictions on the use of such household appliances in unheated rooms...
TV on the refrigerator - pros and cons - Kitchens, especially in multi-storey Soviet buildings, have a small footprint, which does not allow you to distribute everything you need over the surfaces. The result is multi-story…
Hot dishes and drinks - how not to spoil the refrigerator? — In the instructions for the refrigerator you can find a note “do not put it hot.” Often owners do not understand what will happen if they do not follow the recommendations. Therefore the refrigerator...

The most successful accommodation options

There are several optimal ways to install a microwave oven, each of which has its own characteristics.

Place	Installation Features
On the wall	One of the most successful and convenient accommodation options. Can be placed above a work surface or dining table. For this, special brackets are used. Ideally, the height at which the stove is placed should not be higher than chest level
On the tabletop	One of the most convenient places to place the device. Especially if it is located in the corner of the kitchen unit. This option allows you to adhere to all technical standards. The device does not take up much space
Dishwasher	Favorable placement, since the unit practically does not heat up and does not create vibrations. When installing, there must be a layer of thermal insulation between the devices.
Washing machine	The weight of the stove should not exceed 15 kg. A rubber mat must be installed under the washing machine. This will reduce vibrations and prevent possible slipping or falling of the microwave oven.
Windowsill	Installation on a window sill is possible if there is a blind window sash
Built-in oven	This option is not recommended due to the high risk of overheating of the microwave oven

Read more ► Rotten meat in the refrigerator: how to get rid of the smell quickly

Alternative ways to place a microwave

In addition to installing a microwave oven on such a large item, there are a number of other ways to place this microwave oven in the kitchen. The most popular of them:

On the kitchen cutting table
By washing machine
In a niche that can be built into the wall
On a hanging shelf
On a wide windowsill

You should not place the microwave oven next to the oven, as the oven itself gets very hot. Their proximity will not be able to provide adequate ventilation for both devices.

If you install the device on a windowsill, then there must be the necessary space between it and the glass. Otherwise, the glass will heat up in winter and fog up, which will damage the window frame and the stove itself.

It is important to ensure effective ventilation when placing. If it is insufficient, it can damage the household appliance.

The standard top panel of a washing machine can withstand a load of up to 15 kg. Therefore, you can place a light microwave here. However, the washing machine produces strong vibrations during the spin cycle. To avoid damaging the stove, it is better to equip it with a hanging shelf above the machine.

During the installation process, it is necessary to observe the standard distances to nearby surfaces

Features of accommodation

Some models of microwave ovens have ventilation holes on all sides, even at the bottom. To ensure effective ventilation when operating a microwave oven when it is installed on a refrigerator, a gap is required between these devices.

Therefore, at the bottom of the microwave oven there must be legs that will provide it properly. Otherwise, there will be insufficient ventilation, which may cause damage.

Due to the fact that the microwave is a heating device, and the refrigerator is a cooling device, there must be a high-quality thermal insulation layer between them. It is strictly forbidden to fill the air gap, which serves for ventilation and partially for thermal insulation, with garbage, papers, and other objects.

If this rule is violated, the microwave will overheat and may even fail. Therefore, you cannot place anything under a microwave oven: paper, cellophane, etc. can get hot.

Sometimes the gap between two devices decreases under the weight of the microwave oven and becomes uneven. And it should be the same over the entire surface.

Therefore, for good ventilation under the entire device, it is necessary to provide a flat and solid surface on which it is installed. This can be a simple sheet of plywood, cut to the size of the microwave base, which will perform several functions at once: providing thermal insulation, ventilation and stability of the device.

A microwave oven can only be placed on top of a low refrigerator - up to 2 meters. You should not raise the microwave to a very high height, for example, if the refrigerator is higher than this figure.

Expert opinion

Soloviev Pavel Viktorovich

Designer with many years of experience and experience.

Firstly, it is unsafe; there is a risk of getting burns during operation. For example, when heating liquid food in an oven, you can take a plate from a height and pour it on yourself and get burned.

The next factor is ventilation limitation. The microwave oven and the ceiling should not touch; according to the standards, there is a gap of 20 cm. And if the microwave oven is very high, there may not be any gap left, therefore, there will be no air access to the ventilation holes, and this is unsafe.

Finally, a microwave oven, which is located at a height of 2 meters under the ceiling, looks rather ridiculous. Conclusion: you can safely place the microwave on a low refrigerator, it is convenient, you can easily reach it.

Before placing a microwave oven on your refrigerator, think about how often and for what purpose you plan to use it. If you only need to use this device a couple of times a day to warm up food, you can safely do it on the refrigerator.

For warming up, the time is usually set from 1 to 5 minutes. But if you cook different dishes in a microwave, if it is equipped with a clock, then it must be located away from the refrigerator, having the same technical characteristics as heating devices.

Microwave and refrigerator

In the USSR, equipment with microwave waves appeared 2-3 decades ago, and many owners, without thinking at all, installed them on refrigerators that were low in those days. But if you carefully read the instructions, it becomes clear: a microwave oven cannot be installed on a refrigerator .

At the same time, it remains a mystery how in hundreds of thousands of families these stoves stand on top of the refrigerator and remain operational and unharmed. It turns out that installation on refrigeration equipment is still possible - provided that the rules are followed .