Understand the Basics
Before committing to a
garage refrigerator
To grasp how a refrigerator operates, it’s beneficial to comprehend its basic mechanisms. In essence, contemporary fridges monitor the temperature inside the freezer relative to the external surroundings. They then adjust this temperature accordingly and redistribute surplus cool air from the freezer compartment into the fresh food section when necessary.
This equilibrium requires a
refrigerator
A fridge or freezer in an unheated and uncooled garage will face challenges. Extreme warmth forces such appliances to operate excessively just to maintain their internal chill, leading to rapid wear and tear along with soaring electricity costs. On the flip side, very cold conditions can mislead your freezer into believing it has achieved optimal chilling levels prematurely. If the outside temperature remains below freezing point, your freezer might remain inactive, causing whatever needs to stay frozen inside to defrost instead. After grasping these limitations, you’ll know whether incorporating a refrigerator would suitably meet your storage requirements.
garage upgrade
for you..
All Climate Is Local
If you mostly stay indoors in climate-controlled spaces, you may not realize the difficulties of your surrounding environment. Unless you’re fine investing considerable time and resources into it,
repair your refrigerator
Take an honest assessment of the climate in your area overall, and within your garage particularly.
Potential problems for your garage refrigerator depend on where you live. In Arizona, a garage fridge might have difficulty coping with high temperatures but won’t be greatly affected by moisture; whereas, in Louisiana, it could develop rust on its coils due to higher humidity levels. Recognize the particular challenges your fridge will encounter so that you can take steps to make sure it remains durable and operates effectively.
Create an Insulated Enclosure
The ideal approach to keeping your garage refrigerator running at peak performance is to regulate the garage air temperature. This may be carried out by heating or
installing an AC unit in a garage
Since doing so might require adding insulation and ventilation to the garage, which can become costly fast, it’s usually more practical to create a contained area inside the garage for the refrigerator by building a framed enclosure around it.
This enables you to adjust the temperatures specifically near the refrigerator. Additionally, having a climate-controlled area lets you keep other temperature-sensitive items such as paint safely stored without concerns of them getting too hot or too cold.
Keeping Things Cool
If constructing a cooling enclosure,
heat a garage
If a fridge doesn’t fit within your budget or you’re not keen on undertaking such a big project, there are more straightforward alternatives based on your local weather conditions.
If your garage often becomes excessively warm (exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit), installing a fan can enhance airflow over your refrigerator’s cooling coils. This could be achieved with either a ceiling fan or a pedestal fan positioned nearby. Ensure that the air circulates across and behind the refrigerator. In regions with high humidity, using a dehumidifier not only keeps the interior of the garage drier but also decreases the likelihood of tool corrosion and damage to other stored items.
Fridge Heaters
If your garage temperature dips below freezing, the thermostat inside the garage refrigerator’s freezer may think it’s cold enough and shut off. To work around this issue, you need to heat the air around the thermostat. One way to
get a garage fridge functioning
is to install a heating coil around the thermostat. Many manufacturers make heating coils for their
refrigerators
and freezers. Or you can buy a generic heater.
An alternative approach is to place a clamp-on metal work lamp with an incandescent bulb close to the refrigerator. Aim the light directly at the thermostat. Note that the thermostat’s position can differ based on your fridge model. However, some trial and error will help you find its precise spot.
Newer Isn’t Always Better
A lot of individuals were accustomed to having a garage refrigerator that operated flawlessly for many years. Interestingly enough, modern refrigerators frequently encounter more problems when placed in a garage compared to their older counterparts. This is because contemporary models tend to be optimized for energy efficiency, making them more sensitive to fluctuations in ambient temperatures.
Installing a
new refrigerator
In an unconditioned area where the temperature drops below freezing or rises above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the warranty of a typical home refrigerator could very likely become void. If such a fridge requires repair under these conditions, coverage might not apply. Therefore, an older model generally makes a more suitable option for placement in a garage.
Tailor-made Garage Refrigerators
If you don’t have an extra old fridge and modern ones aren’t suitable for unconditioned areas like garages, then how can you even have a garage refrigerator? Follow your parents’ example: Swap out your current kitchen fridge and relocate the older model to the garage. Alternatively,
buy a refrigerator
that is garage-optimized.
Garage-optimized (often referred to as garage-ready) refrigerators and freezers are engineered to handle severe temperature fluctuations and high humidity levels that typically cause regular models issues. They can help reduce anxiety over unforeseen maintenance needs. However, make certain you conduct thorough research prior to making a purchase with your credit card. Certain appliances may perform well in warmth but struggle with cold conditions, and others might have the opposite problem; additionally, these specialized units often come at an extra cost.
Clean up Garage Junk and Mess
Aside from fluctuating temperatures and moisture levels, garages pose additional risks for proper appliance function. Many do-it-yourself enthusiasts own garages filled with considerable amounts of wood dust and dirt, which can accumulate on the coils of a garage fridge. Furthermore, numerous garages act as makeshift storage spaces.
Organize your garage
So that boxes and clutter don’t get a chance to accumulate on and around the refrigerator, which can impede airflow and hinder its efficiency.
Stack Smart
Just like stacks of clutter outside the fridge can impact its performance, what you put inside the fridge can affect it as well. Ask any appliance repairman. And you’ll be shocked to hear how often fridge troubleshooting reveals that too many or too few items in the fridge are the source of inefficient cooling.
Fill your garage refrigerator with sufficient contents so that it doesn’t merely chill empty space. Each time you open and shut the fridge’s door, fresh air gets drawn inside and replaces what was previously there. Having things within the fridge serves as natural coolant, aiding in lowering this incoming warmer air temperature and stopping the appliance from overworking itself.
Conversely, having an excessive number of items inside the refrigerator can obstruct the fan, hindering the circulation of cool air within the appliance. As a result, these items may not stay sufficiently chilled, and before long, you might end up with lukewarm drinks from your fridge.
Plan for Failure
One of the top tips for a garage fridge or an outdoor refrigerator is to anticipate the potential breakdown of the appliance. Whenever feasible, store perishable foods in your main kitchen fridge and freezer instead. Additionally, fill the garage refrigerator primarily with non-perishables such as beer and other drinks, which have minimal risk should they warm up unexpectedly and can also serve to keep everything else cold.
beer fridge
sure if you experience a brief power outage.
