• Before specifying and installing drawer appliances, visit the manufacturer Web site and download complete instructions.
  • Drawer appliances have tight tolerances. Mark Johnson of Whirlpool/KitchenAid recommends providing cut-out dimensions to the cabinetmaker and subcontractors.
  • Paul Leuthe says that remodelers need to be aware of the depth of Sub-Zero's refrigerator units. “Our units are 24 inches deep, but that is to the front of the unit. You then need a panel on there, so that makes it 24¾ inches,” he says. “If you don't allow for a 25-inch depth, the drawer will stick out.” Sub-Zero's units can be serviced from the front, so they do not have to be removed for repairs.
  • Designer Matthew Quinn says the most common mistake in installing refrigerator drawers is placing the power supply too high — it should be located at the floor.
  • Johnson says KitchenAid's double-drawer dishwasher unit easily fits into existing cabinetry and needs the same access to plumbing and electrical as a full-sized dishwasher. However, the new single-drawer unit only fills half that space, so designers must find cabinetry to fit below it.
  • The drop-in installation of Sharp Electronics' combination microwave drawer/ cooktop is more complicated than the drawer-unit installation. “You need to cut out the countertop based on the dimensions and then the unit hangs from the countertop,” Chris Lewis says. The drawer-only units fit standard 30-inch or 24-inch wide cabinets. The power outlet should be located in the rear of the cabinet.
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