Refrigerator Vent: A Must-Have for a Seamless Kitchen Look
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Incorporating a refrigerator vent into your current setup is an easy and quick way to drastically change the look of your home. Built-in kitchens are taking over the interior design world, and it’s obvious why. These kitchen designs have a seamless look that is easy on the eyes and even easier for the upkeep of your kitchen.
A Refrigerator vent provides the sought-after look and the ventilation needed for the fridge to function at its peak performance. Overall, getting the right trim kit for your fridge is an overall win, without spending nearly as much as you would on a fully built-in refrigerator.
The Purpose and Benefits of a Refrigerator Vent
Installing a custom vent in your kitchen will instantly improve the overall look of your kitchen. By simply closing the gaps around the fridge with a clean, stainless steel vent, the room allows the eye to flow through it. Plus, you’ll never have to spend a bunch of time trying to get the dust bunnies out from the strange cracks and crevasses ever again.
This built-in look can cost thousands to install during a remodel. What many people don’t realize is that with custom kits, they can get the exact same look for a fraction of the price. Not only does the refrigerator vent help to lower the cost, they also allow you to use any refrigerator you want, which allows for even more customization options.
Transforming the kitchen with refrigerator ventsMaterials and Quality of Refrigerator Vents
Even though you may be looking at lowering the cost of your kitchen remodel, that doesn’t mean you need to lower the quality of the vent you are adding. With our refrigerator vent, you get the best materials without having to empty your wallet.
We use 20 gauge stainless steel with a brushed finish for every one of our kits. That’s because we care about providing top-notch quality for our customers, and you shouldn’t ever have to worry about getting a kit that would later require huge amounts of maintenance with broken plastic and weathered materials.
We also offer our vents come in four colors besides brushed stainless...black, white, and black stainless.
On top of four color options, each refrigerator vent is custom fabricated, made to fit your space, and come cut to length, ready to install.
Customization Options for a Refrigerator Vent
Below is a sample video we include with the measuring form our clients receive after ordering a trim kit.
Our vents can be customized for whatever fridges you find on the market today. We can accommodate the varying heights and widths of your current refrigerator, so you never have to worry about buying a new fridge just to improve the look of your kitchen.
If you’re in the middle of a remodel and are worried about the unique cabinetry that you designed and installed, there’s no need to be concerned. We’ve been in this business for a long time and no matter how unique the cabinets are, we’ve seen it and made a kit for it.
We’re all about getting a kit to fit any kitchen out there, which is why we’ve worked hard to choose the four colors that fit all kitchens and work even harder to trim each vent to the perfect size before sending it your way.
Some spaces in the cabinetry will require trim on all four sides, just at the top, or just on top and along the sides of the refrigerator. This is easily customizable. We even adjust for the height in the space above the fridge. When there’s a lot of empty space above the fridge, we vary the size of the louvers (the slats in the vent) in order to give the best look possible.
Refrigerator vents for any kitchenInstalling a Refrigerator Vent
Once you’ve measured everything and sent your information our way, we work quickly to get your refrigerator vent kit to you as soon as possible.
In the package you receive, you’ll find the vent cut to length along with all of the necessary mounting hardware for getting it all put into place. Don’t worry, the installation process is a total breeze and each kit comes with detailed installation videos to help walk you through the process. We even make kits that are designed specifically so you don’t need to move the refrigerator at all. Simply install the kit and leave the fridge in place!
The only tools you need for the installation are a screwdriver and a tape measure. The vents attach to the surrounding cabinetry with small mounts that hold the vents in place.
This 15-45 minute process (depending on your specific design) is made for everyone to easily install at home without much work at all. We want this process to be easy, and have ensured that you’ll be able to get it all in place by yourself.
Refrigerator Vent Maintenance
As mentioned previously, our vents require very little to no maintenance at all. That’s one of the reasons we prefer to use stainless steel as our material of choice. We provide products that are top notch and low maintenance.
The only thing you may want to think about with your fridge vents is to use a quality stainless steel cleaner like WEIMAN. This can help keep the quality of the metal while also polishing for the best appearance over time.
Selecting the Perfect Refrigerator Vents for Your Space
The perfect refrigerator vent is the one that compliments your fridge and your space the best. We leave all options open for customization so that you can get the perfect vent for your home. If you want to do one drastic thing to change your kitchen today, the right vent kit for your refrigerator will give you exactly that.
No matter the size of your fridge, the design of your cabinets, or the color scheme of the kitchen, we provide the highest quality fridge vents to be added into your design so you can save thousands on your fridge while achieving the exact same look.
Selecting the perfect vents is as easy as getting out the tape measure and getting started today.
FAQs
Will adding a custom trim kit restrict my refrigerator's required airflow?
While we can't provide formal ventilation advice, we will share a bit about our trim kits. The top grilles we fabricate are functional grilles, meaning the back side has slots to allow free air flow. In regards to the side trim, manufacturer clearance guidelines usually assume the cabinet walls are tight against the fridge for its entire depth. A custom trim kit only narrows the gap at the very front edge of the cabinet. Think of it like a wide hallway with a slightly narrower doorway — the main cabinet cavity remains wide open for air to circulate, and the warm air is directed out through the functional top vent.
Do the top vent grilles actually allow air to escape, or are they just decorative?
They're fully functional. Whether you choose a Proud Mount or a Flush Mount, the top grilles are manufactured with integrated ventilation holes cut into the stainless steel. This hides the dark cabinet gaps while ensuring the warm air generated by your refrigerator's compressor can freely escape the enclosure.
How much space do I need above my refrigerator to fit a classic louvered vent?
To accommodate a traditional louvered vent grille inside the cabinet opening, you generally need a minimum top gap of 3 inches. If your clearance is tighter than 3 inches, a Proud Mount needs to be fabricated as a slotted grille (similar to a toe-kick vent). However, if you're dealing with a tight gap and still want the louvered look, a Flush Mount can often be designed to extend upward, overlapping the upper cabinet face to provide the necessary surface area for the louvers. Some of this terminology may be a bit confusing and if so we'd be happy to talk you through the options. Just email us at [email protected] and we'd be happy to help.
Should I leave the side gaps open for ventilation, or is it safe to cover them with trim?
Based on our analysis as well as experience working with thousands of homeowners, you don't need to leave large, open gaps on the sides of your refrigerator for ventilation. The side trim pieces are designed to frame the appliance, leaving just a functional 1/8-inch to 3/16-inch clearance gap between the stainless steel and the refrigerator case. This gap ensures your fridge can still slide in and out for cleaning or maintenance, while the primary airflow is routed up and out through the top vent grille.
Can I add a bottom vent grille to improve airflow and enhance the built-in look?
Yes. Replacing the plastic grille that came with your refrigerator is a good way to achieve a fully integrated look. In some cases, because some standard freestanding refrigerators sit close to the floor, many homeowners choose to build a sturdy wooden platform to elevate the appliance by a few inches. This adds height to the refrigerator and creates the space needed to install a magnetic, ventilated stainless steel bottom toe-kick grille.