Having purchased premium equipment Liebherr, many owners strive to immediately install the unit in place and connect it. However, haste in this matter can lead to serious problems with the compressor or disruption of the housing geometry. Correct installation of a Liebherr refrigerator is not just a matter of rearranging furniture, but a complex technical process that requires adherence to time intervals and precise positioning.
Incorrect installation often causes increased noise, vibration and, as a result, a reduction in the service life of expensive equipment. In this article we will analyze in detail all the stages: from unpacking to the first turn on, so that you can avoid common mistakes and enjoy the ideal operation of your equipment for many years.
Preliminary preparation and transportation
The first stage is always the careful delivery of the device to its destination. Refrigeration chambers Liebherr have significant weight and complex internal structure, so they must be moved with extreme caution. If the unit was transported in a lying position, it should absolutely not be turned on immediately after installation vertically.
The oil from the compressor must completely drain back into the crankcase, otherwise a water hammer may occur during startup. The settling time depends on the ambient temperature and the position during transportation, but on average it ranges from 2 to 8 hours.
Why can’t you turn on the refrigerator right away?
If you start a compressor in which oil is mixed with the refrigerant or is in the tubes, this will lead to jamming of the piston group. Repairing a compressor is an expensive procedure, often requiring a complete replacement of the unit.
When moving around the apartment, use special belts or a cart. Taking the device by doors, shelves or plastic controls SmartSteel is strictly prohibited - they are not designed to support the load of the entire case. It is better to secure the doors with tape or original transport ties so that they do not swing open and damage the hinges.
Choosing the optimal location
The efficiency of the equipment directly depends on the microclimate in the room. The manufacturer specifies specific climate class for each model, and ignoring these parameters leads to system overload. The refrigerator should not be in direct sunlight or in close proximity to heating devices.
The distance to heat sources such as radiators, stoves or fireplaces should be at least 30-50 cm. If it is impossible to remove the unit further, it is necessary to install a heat-insulating screen between the heat source and the wall refrigerator.
- 🌡️ Temperature conditions: Make sure that the room temperature corresponds to the climate class indicated on the nameplate (usually from +10°C to +32°C).
- 💨 Ventilation: Do not install equipment in niches without ensuring air inflow and outflow, unless it is built-in model.
- 💧 Humidity: Avoid places with high humidity where condensation may form on metal surfaces.
⚠️ Attention: Installing the refrigerator in an unheated room (garage, balcony) is only possible if the model has an extended climate class (SN-T or similar). Conventional household models stop working correctly at temperatures below +10°C.
Requirements for distances and clearances
To ensure proper air circulation around the housing, minimum clearances must be observed. Modern models Liebherr often have hidden condensers in the side walls, so heating the sidewalls during operation is a normal phenomenon that requires free space.
If you ignore ventilation requirements, the compressor will work non-stop, trying to compensate for heat transfer, which will lead to excessive energy consumption and wear of components.
| Zone | Minimum distance | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Rear (wall) | 50 mm | Air circulation near the condenser |
| On the sides | 30 mm | Heat dissipation and door opening |
| Top | 50-100 mm | Ventilation of the upper zone |
| From the stove | 300 mm | Protection from thermal radiation |
When installing a kitchen unit in a niche, make sure that the depth of the niche allows these gaps to be maintained. It is often necessary to remove the baseboard or make additional holes in the back wall of the cabinet to allow warm air to escape.
Aligning the body level
Stable position of the unit is the key to quiet operation and proper closing of the doors. If the refrigerator is tilted, the door may not fit tightly to the seal, causing ice to freeze or, conversely, insufficient cooling.
Height adjustment is carried out using the front support screws. By rotating them with a key or by hand (depending on the model), you can raise or lower the corresponding corner of the case.
- Install the device in the intended place.
- Put a building level on the top cover of the refrigerator.
- Check the position of the bubble along the front panel and across the case.
- Twist the supports so as to achieve a perfectly horizontal position.
An important nuance: to ensure automatic closing of the doors, it is recommended to slightly tilt the body back. To do this, the front supports are twisted a little more than the rear ones. The tilt angle should be about 1-2 degrees.
☑️ Checking the installation
Connecting to the electrical network
Electrical safety is priority number one. Refrigeration equipment Liebherr is sensitive to voltage drops, so the connection must be made in good condition grounded socket. The use of extension cords, tees and low-quality surge protectors is not recommended.
The socket should be located in an accessible place so that, if necessary, you can quickly turn off the device without moving it. The power cord should not be stretched, pinched by furniture or lying on hot surfaces.
⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to connect the refrigerator to an outlet without grounding. In the event of an insulation breakdown, dangerous voltage may appear on the housing, and the electronics may fail.
If your network experiences frequent power surges, it is advisable to install a voltage stabilizer or relay. This will protect the inverter compressor and control board from combustion.
Initial startup and setup
After the device has stood for the required time and is connected to the network, you can proceed to the first launch. Don't download products right away! An empty chamber needs time to reach operating temperature.
Turn on the appliance, set the temperature to the factory settings (usually +5°C for the refrigerator compartment and -18°C for the freezer). Let the equipment run idle for at least 2-3 hours, or better yet, until the compressor turns off for the first time.
- 🔊 Noise check: Listen to the operation. A slight hum from the compressor and gurgling of the refrigerant is normal. Knocking, clanging or whistling are signs of a malfunction.
- ❄️ Cold control: Make sure that it gets cold inside and uniform frost appears on the back wall inside the chamber (for a drip system) or it remains dry (NoFrost).
- 💡 Light: Check the operation of the interior lighting when opening the doors.
Only after the temperature has stabilized can you gradually load the products. Do not fill the chamber completely on the first day, let the air circulate.
What to do if the refrigerator vibrates strongly after installation?
Check whether all transport locks have been removed from the compressor (if your model has them). Make sure the refrigerator does not touch walls or furniture. Try twisting the support legs a little, changing the resonant frequency of the body. If the vibration is accompanied by extraneous noise, contact the service.
Can Liebherr be installed next to an oven?
Only if the oven has good thermal insulation and you maintain a gap of 30-50 cm. Constant heating of the side wall of the refrigerator will cause the compressor to wear out. Ideally, an insulating partition should be installed between them.
Do you need to wash the refrigerator before first use?
Yes, definitely. Wipe the internal chambers with a soft cloth and a weak soda solution or a special refrigerator cleaner. This will remove the smell of new plastic and dust that got in during transportation.