Most homeowners keep their extra refrigerator in the garage, but is this okay? Moving the refrigerator into the garage can free space in the kitchen which is ideal for those who have a small area. Aside from that, the extra fridge in the garage can store more stocks of food for the weeks or months to come. Is it okay to place the refrigerator in the garage? Is it safe? We will find out the answer below.
Is it OK to put a refrigerator in the garage? It is OK to put a refrigerator in the garage as long as you consider various factors like your climate and the temperature that your garage is exposed to. If you are living in an area with a very cold winter and very hot summer, make sure that your refrigerator can handle different heat temperatures. Understand how your refrigerator works so that you can decide if it is suitable for the garage or not.
It is common for a lot of people to place their refrigerator in their garage because they find it to be more convenient. For instance, if you are cleaning or repairing your car, you can simply open the fridge to get a cold drink. There is no need to go inside the house and to the kitchen. On the other hand, there are different factors that you need to consider when placing your refrigerator in your garage. Let us learn more about this below.
What is the Best Type of Refrigerator for the Garage?
The best type of refrigerator for the garage is those that have a wider range of acceptable operating temperatures. If you have an older model of refrigerator, you can place them in your garage because they are not that sensitive to outside temperature fluctuations. The major issue when placing your fridge in the garage is the thermostat. It can get damaged when the temperature inside the garage reaches its operating temperature range. Make sure that you choose a refrigerator that can handle the different temperatures inside your garage.
How to Safely Keep a Refrigerator in Your Garage?
To safely keep a refrigerator in your garage, you need to be aware of various factors such as how the fridge operates, its placement, its design, and the thermostat. Your fridge can get damaged if you place it in a garage with a temperature that is either too hot or too cold for it to handle. Learn more about how to safely keep a refrigerator in your garage below.
Know Your Refrigerator
Check the user manual that comes with the refrigerator before placing it in your garage. Bear in mind that most refrigerators have specific temperature ranges that they can handle. Read about the recommended operating conditions so that you can determine if it can handle the temperature inside your garage throughout the season. By doing this, you will prevent your fridge from getting damaged because it cannot handle garage temperature.
Think About the Placement
Another thing that you need to consider is the placement of the refrigerator. Make sure that you place your fridge in an area in your garage that is flat and dry. Aside from that, you need need to place it on a cool floor. By placing your fridge in a cool area, you can save energy. Moreover, it is also recommended that you keep the refrigerator away from the window. There should also be enough place at the top and back of the fridge for the air to circulate and avoid overheating.
Use Garage Insulation
You need to know the temperature inside your garage the whole year through. If you think that the temperature will be too hot for the fridge to handle during the summer, or too cold during the winter, you should install garage insulation. There is no need to insulate the whole garage. However, make sure that the walls are insulated so that the temperature inside will remain at a comfortable level that the fridge can handle. If you cannot insulate all the walls in the garage, you can create a small partition where you can place the fridge and insulate that partition.
The Design of Your Refrigerator
Another thing that you need to consider is the design of your refrigerator. It will help you determine if it is suitable for the garage or not. For instance, upright refrigerators are ideal for organizing food and come in different sizes and heights. On the other hand, their seals are not that tight. The good thing is that most garages have a high ceiling so you do not have to worry about your fridge not fitting in.
Keep Thermostat Steady
You also need to consider the level of your thermostat. If you live in an area where the summers are cool but the winter has extreme freezing temperatures, you can install a thermostat control. This will keep your thermostat at a warm level so that it will continue functioning even under freezing temperatures.
Depending on the thermostat control that you choose, you might need to have so skills in attaching it to the fridge. If you are not familiar with wiring, you should hire the services of a professional to handle the task for you. They have the right tools, equipment, and knowledge to safely and properly attach the thermostat control to the fridge.
Keep Your Refrigerator Protected
The garage also serves as a storage room for most homes. It is where Christmas decorations and other holiday equipment are stored. This is also why the garage is one of the dirtiest parts of the house. If you are planning to place a refrigerator in your garage, make sure that it is protected from dust and debris. Regularly clean the fridge to make sure that no dust is stuck in it.
Moreover, if you are storing fuel inside the garage or other flammable items, make sure that it is kept away from the fridge. The reason for this is that the coils that transfer heated refrigerant in a fridge can trigger a fire if they can raise the temperature of flammable materials.
Fill Up the Refrigerator
If you keep the refrigerator in the garage, make sure that it is full. This will make it easier to keep the temperature colder. Moreover, the refrigerator does not have to work hard to maintain a cold temperature inside the compartment. If you do not have much food to store in your garage fridge, you can fill it up with gallons or bottles of water. You can also read this article that discusses what’s the difference between a regular freezer and a garage-ready freezer. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
✅ Video – Tips Concerning Garage Refrigerators
Schaeferstv shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses tips about garage refrigerators. If you are planning to place your fridge in your garage, watch the video for some ideas.
Can You Place a Refrigerator in an Unheated Garage?
It is recommended that you do not place your refrigerator if your garage is unheated or is too cold. Take note that extremely cold temperatures can affect the thermostat of the fridge. In case the temperature in your garage drops to a certain level, the thermostat will detect the change and consider that it is cold enough even if it is not.
As a result, your refrigerator will shut off and defrost. On the other hand, if the temperature inside the garage reaches below freezing, the food inside the refrigerator can also freeze. We have also shared this article titled, do outdoor refrigerators need to be winterized? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
Can You Leave Your Refrigerator in the Garage in the Summer?
You can either leave your refrigerator in your garage or take it inside the house during the summer depending on the temperature. For instance, if your area suffers extreme heat during the summer, the refrigerator needs to work harder so that it can maintain a cool internal temperature. Hence, it is not ideal to leave your fridge in your garage.
Moreover, if your garage has a lot of humidity, it can affect the coils of the fridge. Constant exposure to humidity can cause the coils to rust. The lifespan of your fridge can get shorter if there is increased pressure in its cooling system. Make sure that you take the necessary steps so that you can prevent the coil from overheating. On the other hand, if your garage has a cool temperature even during the summer season, then it is safe to leave your refrigerator in there.
What is the Best Type of Refrigerator for the Garage?
The best type of refrigerator for the garage is the one that can handle the different levels of temperature without overheating or freezing. Nowadays, you can find a garage-ready refrigerator that features an extra temperature sensor. This is a good option for your garage rather than using a regular refrigerator. You can also check out this article that discusses if the refrigerator works harder in the garage. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed if it is OK to put a refrigerator in the garage. We have found out that there are different things that you need to consider when placing a fridge in your garage. If your garage is exposed to extreme levels of temperatures, placing a fridge there may not be a good option because it will end up getting damaged. Thank you for reading!