For compact refrigerators with 4 cubic feet of space to larger refrigerators with more than 26 cubic feet.
The person who built our refrigerator cabinet box only left 1 for ventilation at the top of the refrigerator. Is this enough space for proper ventilation? There is a 1 gap on either side, and a 4 gap in the back (due to a narrow heating duct going up the wall behind it). The heat of the coils would draw air through the lower grille, up the back, and over the top. A modern unit might do all it's cooling with a fan pushing heat out at the front bottom plate. Samsung's current models require 1 on top, half inch each side. Consider Refrigerator Capacity. From compact refrigerators with 4 cubic feet of space to larger refrigerators with more than 26 cubic feet, there are plenty of options for food storage. The key is to get the right size to store enough food for you and your family, but answering that question is harder than it seems.  If there's not about 2-inches of space on the hinge side, then you'll have to keep in mind that the refrigerator will need to be pulled out about 2-inches to make up for this. When it comes to the door opening of a new refrigerator, you need to think about how far the door will open and fill the space of your kitchen. Many refrigerators need to be open to 90 degrees or more to allow full access to vegetable and door bins. Refrigerators need to breathe. If they are entirely boxed in, then there's not much room for ventilation. When you measure the space for the refrigerator, and compare it to the size of the refrigerator, leave at least 1 inch of extra room for the back and the top of the refrigerator. When it comes to the door opening of a new refrigerator, you need to think about how far the door will open and fill the space of your kitchen. Many refrigerators need to be open to 90 degrees or more to allow full access to vegetable and door bins. Measuring Refrigerator Depth, Width and Height. When you measure the space for a new refrigerator, make sure to take several measurements. From top to bottom, left to right, front to back, it's worth measuring a couple of times for accuracy. When it comes to the door opening of a new refrigerator, you need to think about how far the door will open and fill the space of your kitchen. Many refrigerators need to be open to 90 degrees or more to allow full access to vegetable and door bins. 1 Answer from this member: To ensure proper ventilation for your refrigerator, allow for 1/2&quot; (1.25 CM) space on each side and at the top. When installing your refrigerator next to a fixed wall, leave 2&quot; (5.08 CM) minimum on each side (depending on your model) to allow for the door to swing open.  The 3 is if you put the fridge in a corner. You would need at least 3-4 to open the door 90* against the corner wall. If I understand your case, you do not have a corner wall. That manual is suggesting 2 to the rear, 2 above the top, and 3 to a side wall (either side). If you are putting this back into a corner, you'll need the 3-4 at the side to get the door open. And you'll probably need a bit more to get the drawers out. Capacity. The capacity of refrigerators is measured in cubic feet. How much space you need varies by personal habits but our rule of thumb is 14 cubic feet plus 2 cubic feet person. So, a family of four would need about 22 cubic feet. Check the specifications of your selected model. The capacity of refrigerators is measured in cubic feet. How much space you need varies by personal habits but our rule of thumb is 14 cubic feet plus 2 cubic feet person. So, a family of four would need about 22 cubic feet.
http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/39807/how-much-ventilation-space-does-a-refrigerator-need http://www.geappliances.com/ge/refrigerators/refrigerator-buying-guide.htm http://www.geappliances.com/ge/refrigerators/refrigerator-measurements.htm http://www.geappliances.com/ge/refrigerators/refrigerator-measurements.htm http://www.geappliances.com/ge/refrigerators/refrigerator-measurements.htm http://www.shopyourway.com/questions/1005097 http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2413257/refrigerator-clearance-gap-between-the-side-wall http://www.acmehowto.com/appliances/refrigerator-guide.php
how much space do you need above a refrigerator