Some folks favor to retailer their microwave on high of the fridge as a result of lack of counter area or the comfort of transferring a frozen dinner from the freezer into the microwave. However ought to you retailer a microwave on high of the fridge? We requested inside designer Jamie Foehr of Carry On Design Co., and her reply was clear: “Completely not.”
Not solely do each home equipment require extra amperage than is sustainable for a single circuit, however each emit quite a lot of warmth and require ample air flow. On high of those issues, amongst many others, the look of stacked, boxy home equipment is, merely put, not aesthetically pleasing.
Whereas storing your microwave on high of the fridge could appear handy, most microwave manuals advise in opposition to it. From effectivity to aesthetics, there are a lot of causes to keep away from holding your microwave on high of the fridge.
Meet the Skilled
Jamie Foehr is an inside designer and founder and Inventive Director at Carry On Design Co.
Could Journey Your Circuit
Kitchens require a major quantity of electrical energy, however microwaves and fridges particularly want particularly giant quantities.
“If you happen to’re plugging the microwave into the identical wall that your fridge is already plugged into, that is a reasonably large electrical load,” Foehr says. “I would not say that it could begin a fireplace, however it’s actually not secure.”
In reality, fridges typically require their very own devoted circuit, as a result of they’ll draw as much as 20 amps. Equally, full-size microwaves typically use 15 amps. Putting your fridge and microwave in the identical location will doubtless necessitate plugging them into the identical outlet, which can virtually actually journey the circuit.
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Prevents Correct Air flow
Fridges want correct air flow on all sides to function correctly, which incorporates a minimum of 1 to 1.5 inches on high of the fridge. By putting your microwave on high of the fridge, you forestall ample air circulation. This forces your fridge’s compressor work tougher and will even trigger the fridge to overheat.
Lowers Power-Effectivity
All of us perceive that microwaves are designed to warmth, whereas fridges accomplish simply the alternative. Since microwaves emit a considerable quantity of warmth and fridges work laborious to do away with warmth, holding a microwave in shut proximity to your fridge can influence the fridge’s effectivity by demanding extra vitality for cooling. Within the short-term, this may enhance your electrical energy prices every month. Within the long-term, it can doubtless shorten the lifespan of your fridge.
Poses Fireplace and Security Hazards
Storing your microwave on high of the fridge typically leads to a major quantity of concentrated warmth. Along with forcing your fridge to work tougher to chill its contents, the surplus warmth from each home equipment may additionally pose a fireplace hazard. Moreover, storing the microwave on high of your fridge could current a security hazard.
“I’ve a few bowls I simply cannot half with, however they get actually scorching once they’re within the microwave,” Foehr says. “If I am pulling this scorching bowl out of a microwave saved up excessive, it may dump throughout me!”
To not point out, the microwave itself may topple over in case you’re not cautious.
Could Harm Your Home equipment
We all know that a part of the refrigeration course of includes transferring warmth from the within to the skin of a fridge, so though fridges are meant for cooling, additionally they emit warmth. The additional warmth alone may harm your microwave that is saved on high of the fridge, however fridge compressors additionally produce vibrations as they work. This can also harm your microwave, in addition to different home equipment saved on high of the fridge, over time.
Interferes With Cleansing
If you happen to’ve been storing your microwave on high of the fridge, odds are you possibly can’t fairly see the complete inside of your equipment. Consequently, it could be tough to note when your microwave is getting soiled and in want of a deep clear. Moreover, while you do cease to wash the microwave, it may be difficult to succeed in all the little cracks and crevices.
Creates an Aesthetic Eyesore
Home equipment should not probably the most aesthetic components of a kitchen, however staging them subsequent to one another isn’t a really perfect answer to this downside.
“From an inside design standpoint, the microwave is certainly an eyesore on high of your fridge,” Foehr says.
As an alternative, contemplate different places like a chosen cupboard (with area for air flow) and even the kitchen countertop.
4 Different Locations You Ought to Not Retailer a Microwave
Microwaves require quite a lot of open area round them for air flow, and in lots of circumstances, your kitchen counter offers the most suitable choice for ample airflow. Nevertheless, there are some options.
“What I have been doing recently is both stacking the microwave above a wall oven in a built-in cupboard or an under-cabinet state of affairs with a slide-out tray drawer,” Foehr says. “So long as you allow an inch or two in between the microwave and the cupboard after which an inch across the entrance and all sides in both utility, you ought to be fantastic.”
Along with the highest of your fridge, there are another places you shouldn’t retailer a microwave:
- Wherever close to your fridge: Not solely do you have to keep away from storing your microwave on high of your fridge, you need to maintain it away out of your fridge fully. Fridges and microwaves require quite a lot of amperage and emit quite a lot of warmth, so it is necessary that you just keep away from storing these home equipment close to each other
- Close to a water supply: Just like the fridge, you also needs to maintain your microwave removed from any water sources in your kitchen. As an example, do not place your microwave close to the kitchen sink, the place it may unintentionally get moist. It is also a good suggestion to maintain your microwave removed from the dishwasher for related causes.
- Tight quarters: Microwaves want area for correct air circulation, so it is necessary that you do not stuff your microwave anyplace that would inhibit airflow. At all times guarantee your microwave has a few inches of empty area on all sides.
- In entrance of a window: Since microwaves emit a substantial amount of warmth, it is best to not place your microwave in entrance of a window. Not solely may the warmth harm the window pane, but when ever there have been a fireplace in your house, the microwave sits in the way in which of a possible exit.
5 Different Objects You Should not Retailer on High of the Fridge
On the whole, it is necessary to maintain the highest of your fridge clear to permit for correct air flow. Nevertheless, there are a number of objects you undoubtedly should not carry on high of your fridge.
- Glassware: For apparent causes, you need to by no means retailer glassware on high of your fridge. Not solely may the vases, bowls, and different objects topple over and shatter on the ground, they might hit you as properly.
- Plastic storage containers: If you happen to’ve ever been instructed to not warmth up meals saved in plastic containers in your microwave, the identical precept right here applies. The warmth out of your fridge couldn’t solely warp the plastic however may additionally leach chemical substances from the plastic into your meals.
- Meals: It is necessary to retailer perishable items like bread, fruit, and different objects someplace apart from the highest of your fridge. Frequent publicity to warmth could make these meals go unhealthy quicker.
- Vegetation: Though crops could look fairly on high of the fridge, it isn’t the very best place for them to thrive. The warmth from the fridge will doubtless dry out the soil quicker than could be the case elsewhere, and the excessive location will make it harder to water the plant too.
- Different home equipment: As is the case along with your microwave, storing different small home equipment on high of the fridge can harm them over time. That is because of the vibrations attributable to the fridge’s compressor.
