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.