What You Need to Know Before Buying a Refrigerator or Freezer for Your Garage
Many families run out of space in their refrigerator or freezer and invest in another separate fridge or freezer for the garage to keep items that they may use less often than those kept in the house. However, taking an old indoor refrigerator or freezer and placing it in the garage, though resourceful, is not always the best idea. There are several factors to consider when choosing a freezer for your garage.
Fluctuating temperatures
There are two key differences between your kitchen and your garage: temperature regulation and insulation. The air around your refrigerator in your kitchen is kept fairly consistent and insulated against the varying outdoor temperature fluctuations. Depending on the climate and temperature variations in your area, your garage temperature can fluctuate wildly, from below freezing to sweltering hot.
Both temperature extremes can affect the way your fridge or freezer runs and make it difficult to keep food cold enough. For instance, when it’s sweltering hot in the garage, the system has to work extra hard to continue to keep the temperature inside the fridge cold. This extra strain on the system is hard on the components and could result in needing freezer repair in St. Peters, MO. At extremely cold temperatures, the external temperature tricks the thermometer in the appliance into thinking it’s already cold enough, resulting in the fridge or freezer turning off the coolant and completely thawing out.
Outdoor refrigerators
Many customers think the solution to the temperature fluctuation issues in their garage is to purchase a fridge or freezer that specifies it is for outdoor use. However, the label “outdoor” doesn’t always mean it’s ready for your garage. It usually means that the casing is weatherproof, and thus suitable for leaving outside in the elements. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the appliance is built to handle severe temperature fluctuations.
Garage refrigerators
In contrast to designated outdoor refrigerators, refrigerators and freezers that specify they’re for “garage use” are usually best suited for the lack of insulation and temperature regulation common in garages. One way they ensure temperature regulation is by having separate thermostats in the refrigerator and the freezer. This ensures that even in the coldest temperatures, the freezer coolant won’t shut off when the air around the system gets too cold.
Additionally, freezers and refrigerators that are intended for garage use are often better insulated than freezers and refrigerators that are intended for indoor or even specified for outdoor use. The additional insulation will make sure that the temperatures inside the system are consistent, and also that the components of the system don’t get too cold or too hot.
Get freezer repair in St. Peters, MO
Even when choosing a freezer or fridge that’s labeled for garage use, it’s important to check the owner’s manual and other literature to make sure the system will be able to operate in the temperatures in your garage’s range. Depending on your climate, not every “garage-ready” system will be optimal for your garage.
For more information about what refrigerator or freezer is right for your garage, or to schedule refrigerator or freezer repair in St. Peters, MO, reach out to Crews Appliance Repair today.
Categorised in: Freezer Repair
This post was written by Writer