Stupid question for kitchen fitters on here.

I’m living in a 4-year-old house with integrated Electrolux fridge-freezer. Not been here that long but decided to investigate why fridge compressor always running.

Turns out that when Taylor Wimpey installed the kitchen they hermetically sealed the fridge into its alcove, right down to putting some nice rubber seals on the cabinet door and a strip of silicone beading along the top of the cabinet.

Frankly I’m astonished that it worked at all. I’ve cut a ventilation hole in the top of the cabinet, and am wondering if one of these:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/map-vent-vent-louvre-vent-silver-76-x-229mm/68100

would be sufficient if mounted in the plinth? Or does it need a bigger vent at the base? The fridge does have an air intake at the bottom but it’s sealed when the door is closed, hence the need for this underneath.

You’ll need something top and bottom, not necessarily a grille but air must be allowed to circulate.
These are a bit more attractive; http://www.hafele.co.uk/shop/c/ventilation/aluminium-vent-grills/1393

There should be a dealer near you.

Got to be better than nothing.

If the plinth is set back underneath the doors, do you need a grill? You can probably cut a 1 inch strip off the top of the plinth and not notice…that will provide more ventilation.

They’ve done this under our fitted dishwasher as for some reason the door pivots lower than the top of the plinth, not obvious unless you are cleaning the cupboards etc.