Safe to drill through side of this fridge?

[JTtilinfinity]

Looking to add a couple taps to the left side of this old fridge. What’s the best way to find out if this is safe (aside from drilling pilot holes and poking around)? I found the manual and diagrams but they don’t seem to help. Any advice?

https://www.repairclinic.com/ProductDetail/578025?tab=diagrams#

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

When I drilled mine I did just what you said. Drilled a small hole just through the outer shell prodded around the inside of hole to ensure there was no cooling line and drilled a larger hole.

 

[day_trippr]

Check out the drawings at this site: My ET18GKXHT00 Model Overview from PartSelect.com
That model has an active condenser located behind the hump so it does not use the cabinet shell as a radiator.
It should be safe to drill through the sides...

Cheers!

 

[JTtilinfinity]

Check out the drawings at this site: My ET18GKXHT00 Model Overview from PartSelect.com
That model has an active condenser located behind the hump so it does not use the cabinet shell as a radiator.
It should be safe to drill through the sides...

Cheers!

Thank you that’s what I was looking for. How can you tell the location of the condenser from these diagrams?

 

[day_trippr]

If you look at the "Unit" diagram you'll spot the condenser element in the orientation it would reside relative to the "Cabinet" and "Liner" diagrams, at which point you'd realize there's only one location the condenser could exist

btw these are obviously the same drawings as found in your link - which I didn't notice until now...

Cheers!

 

[slayer021175666]

You're fine. Drill it wherever you want on the sides. Its just insulation in there. No freon lines or anything.

 

[Jonakr]

When I drilled mine I did just what you said. Drilled a small hole just through the outer shell prodded around the inside of hole to ensure there was no cooling line and drilled a larger hole.

I went the other way: cut just through the lining on the inside, scraped the insulation out by hand, drilled through the outside metal.

 

[Hammy71]

I've done this with several fridges. Cut a hole on the inside of the fridge before you drill. Easily see where the lines are and drill. Never understood that folks that drill from the outside, and than the fridge is ruined.

 

[JTtilinfinity]

Thanks everyone! Love this support group

 

[DuncB]

IF the fridge has a condenser grid on the back , usually black and covered in dust then it's less likely to have lines in the side walls. They never have lines in the doors though.
But you won't regret the cautious approaches described above just going thru the skin and poking around, I used an allan key as a feeler.
If you have a flir camera they are easy to spot with that.

No lines in side of commercial fridge



our freezer on the other hand bit of a puzzle

 

[OneInTheHand]

I have a similar GE fridge. I drilled a hole on the side for co2, but keep the taps inside. I like it so I don’t get dust all over the taps and everything stays cold.