We have a free-standing refrigerator that we bought less than 2 years ago that broke and is under warranty.

GE doesn't have the same model (or similar models) in stock so they are refunding us the price of the fridge so we can buy a new one.

We're planning on remodeling our kitchen within the next couple of years and really like the look of panel ready.

We're still saving up for the reno and aren't ready to pull the trigger on it.

It seems really wasteful to buy a new freestanding fridge just to then replace it 1-2 years later with a panel ready.

But if we got a panel ready without the panels would it even be functional? Could I put a panel on it maybe?

Question from user m-maplegrove at Appliances at reddit.

Answer:

But arent panel ready fridge are built-in? Dont you need to secure the fridge to cabinet? Since most build-in fridge have compressor at the top and they are top heavy and will tip over if you do not secure it.

In that case you most likely need to build custom cabinet for the fridge anyway and might as well make the panel now.

Answer from user mobilebucky at Appliances at reddit.

We have a free-standing refrigerator that we bought less than 2 years ago that broke and is under warranty.

GE doesn't have the same model (or similar models) in stock so they are refunding us the price of the fridge so we can buy a new one.

We're planning on remodeling our kitchen within the next couple of years and really like the look of panel ready.

We're still saving up for the reno and aren't ready to pull the trigger on it.

It seems really wasteful to buy a new freestanding fridge just to then replace it 1-2 years later with a panel ready.

But if we got a panel ready without the panels would it even be functional? Could I put a panel on it maybe?

Question from user m-maplegrove at Appliances at reddit.

Answer:

But arent panel ready fridge are built-in? Dont you need to secure the fridge to cabinet? Since most build-in fridge have compressor at the top and they are top heavy and will tip over if you do not secure it.

In that case you most likely need to build custom cabinet for the fridge anyway and might as well make the panel now.

Answer from user mobilebucky at Appliances at reddit.