What Under-Worktop Ventilation Means
Liebherr publishes two specific options for installing a drinks cabinet under a worktop: either a ventilation grille of at least 200 square centimetres cross-section in the worktop, venting at the rear of the appliance, or a recess at least 860 millimetres high so heat can escape to the front. A bar counter built without either is asking the cabinet to work in a sealed box.
Common Causes of Under-Worktop Ventilation
- A counter built with no ventilation grille and a recess below 860 mm
- A grille fitted but smaller than the specified cross-section
- A grille blocked by stock, cabling or a decorative fascia added later
- A cabinet moved from a ventilated position into a tighter one
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Measure the recess and look for the grille before blaming the appliance. This is the single most common reason an under-counter bottle cooler in a newly fitted bar runs warm from the day it is installed and never improves.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- A cabinet suffocating in a recess runs its compressor continuously and still cannot hold temperature, and no amount of refrigeration work fixes an installation problem.
- Correcting it means cutting or altering joinery in a working bar, which is a decision the operator needs to be given clearly rather than discovered after a second call-out.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.