640 Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 25.1 Checking for Proper Installation Correct installation is critical to the proper operation of a refrigerator or freezer. This includes leveling of the cabinet, providing correct electrical power, and ensuring good ventilation. The manufacturer ships the units care- fully crated. The unit is also shipped with full written instructions. These instructions include information on how to move, uncrate, and install the unit. A refrigerator or freezer carton usually has proper handling instructions attached to or printed on the carton itself. These instructions should be carefully fol- lowed. Many dealers uncrate the cabinet at the store. Others do it just outside the home. (Most crates are too large to fit through household doors.) Certain areas of the cabinet can be easily damaged during moving or uncrating: • Bottom. The condensing unit may be damaged. • Back. The condensing unit may be damaged. • Door. The door may be forced out of line or buckled. Shipping bolts are often used to secure compres- sors during shipping. If the compressor is mounted on or suspended from springs, the shipping bolts are usually removed after the unit is installed. If the com- pressor is mounted on synthetic flexible grommets, the shipping bolts are usually loosened two or three turns after the appliance is installed. It is important to inspect a unit for shipping bolts. If present, the shipping bolts should be loosened or removed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This will permit the com- pressor to correctly vibrate on its mounts. Refrigerators and freezers should be moved using a dolly with a ratcheting holding strap. The hold-down strap wraps around the appliance and secures it to the dolly. The side rails of the dolly can be used as skids to aid in moving the appliance in and out of the delivery truck and in and out of the building. If at all possible, the refrigerator-freezer should be positioned so it is out of direct sunlight and away from potential heat sources, such as ovens, radiators, and warm air registers. If the unit must be located near an oven or radiator, a heat shield should be installed on the side of the refrigerator-freezer that is next to the heat source. The room should be large enough to pro- vide sufficient air to cool the condenser. A room size of 100 ft2 or greater is preferred. A spirit level (bubble level) should be used to care- fully level the refrigerator during installation. To do this, the floor where the rear supports or legs of the refrigera- tor are to rest should be checked. If it is not level, wood shims can be added under the rear supports to level the cabinet. Usually, the front supports are adjustable. They should be adjusted to properly level the cabinet. To do this, one installer pushes on the top of the cabinet, just enough to take the weight off the front levelers. A second technician then adjusts the levelers so the unit is level across its width and front to back. Figure 25-1 shows how one type of leveler is adjusted. 25.1.1 Installing an Ice Maker As explained in the previous chapter, many domes- tic refrigerator-freezers have automatic ice makers. These units are connected to a cold water line by a length of 1/4″ copper or plastic tubing. Refer to Figure 25-2. Before putting the refrigerator into place, run the copper tubing to the nearest cold water line. Cabinet partitions or the floor may have to be drilled in order to properly route the tubing. Determine which method to use to access the domestic water line: saddle valve or T-fitting with a shut-off valve. A saddle valve requires less work than installing a T-fitting, but it is also con- sidered more prone to leaking. Code Alert Accessing Domestic Water When dealing with water, be aware of local build-- ing and plumbing codes. Some jurisdictions require that access to a water line include a T-fitting and a perma-- nent shut-off valve instead of a saddle valve. Codes may also place restrictions on the use of compression fit--if tings. Check with local building authorities before begin--n ning work on such a project. Note that this often applies to water accessed for a refrigerator-freezer’s ice maker and water dispenser and also for central Accessing Domestic Water When dealing with water, be aware o f local build ing and plumbing codes. Some jurisdictions require that a ccess to a water line include a T-fitting and a perma nent shut-off valve instead of a saddle valve. Codes may a lso p lace restrictions on the use o f compression t tings. Check with local building authorities before begi ning work on such a project. Note that this of ten applies to water accessed f or a refrigerator-freezer’s ice maker a nd water dispenser and also f or central humidifiers.humidifiers. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 25-1. Most levelers are threaded legs. They are adjusted by turning them so they thread further into or out of the cabinet, effectively changing the length of the leg.