This article discusses why people have refrigerators in their garages. You might have visited your friend or family member’s house and noticed a refrigerator in their garage. It is common for homeowners to keep a refrigerator in their garage for various reasons. What are the common reasons why homeowners keep a refrigerator in their garage? We will find out the answer below.
Why do people have refrigerators in their garage? There are many reasons why people have refrigerators in their garage. The refrigerator is usually used for storing extra food. Those who live far from grocery stores tend to stock up on a few items, especially meat which might require an additional refrigerator.
A refrigerator in the garage is common for many households. On the other hand, there are precautions that you need to take when thinking of keeping a garage refrigerator. Not all refrigerators are suitable for garage use. Bear in mind that if your garage experiences extreme temperature, especially in the summer or winter, it will affect the efficiency of the fridge.
Why Should You Have a Refrigerator in the Garage?
Storing bulk items, freezing meat, and chilling extra drinks are some of the reasons why you should have a refrigerator in the garage. A garage refrigerator saves space and also makes it convenient to store bulk food. If you love to host a party or live far away from the grocery store and would like to stock up on food, a garage refrigerator is a must.
Storing Bulk Items
One of the reasons why you should have a garage refrigerator is when you store bulk items. For instance, if your kids love to eat fruits and vegetables and you are planning to stock up on those, the space inside your kitchen refrigerator might be limited. Because of this, having a garage refrigerator is ideal for storing extra items that will no longer fit in your kitchen fridge.
Preserving Meat
If you only visit your local grocery store once a month, you will need to find additional space to store all of the meat that you purchase. The same problem happens when you decide to purchase a whole cow or pig. Take note that meat is temperature sensitive and should be kept in a cool environment. Having a garage refrigerator is an ideal solution for preserving meat.
Storing Extra Drinks
Homeowners also have refrigerators in the garage to store extra drinks. You can store extra beverages in the garage refrigerator so you can grab them when needed. Some drinks need to be consistently refrigerated. An extra refrigerator in the garage is ideal when you are hosting a BBQ party during the weekend. You can chill the drinks in the garage fridge overnight.
For Convenience
Another reason why people have a refrigerator in their garage is because of convenience. Nowadays, people shop once or twice a month and the amount of food that they need to store cannot be accommodated with a single kitchen refrigerator. Hence, a garage refrigerator is required to store and keep extra food.
What are the Advantages of Having a Refrigerator in a Garage?
The advantage of having an extra refrigerator in a garage is that it allows you to stock up on grocery items so that you do not have to visit the grocery store frequently. This saves time and money, especially for those who live far away from town. A garage refrigerator can store extra items such as beverages, butter, eggs, and many more. It can also be used to keep leftovers fresh. You can also check out this article that discusses if outdoor fridges need to be under cover. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
What are the Disadvantages of Having a Refrigerator in a Garage?
A refrigerator in the garage also has its disadvantages which include overbuying food when shopping. Because you have extra storage for food, you tend to buy a lot more than needed. Sometimes, you lose track of the foods that you store in the garage refrigerator and you forget about them. As a result, the food ends up expired.
Moreover, a refrigerator in the garage can also increase your electrical bill. If your garage is uninsulated or unheated, the fridge needs to work hard so that it will maintain a cool temperature. As a result, it consumes more electricity. The larger the refrigerator is, the more electricity it will consume. You also need to consider the maintenance that needs to be done. We have also shared this article titled, does a refrigerator in the garage use more electricity? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
How to Maintain a Garage Refrigerator
Temperature, airflow, moisture, and insulation are some of the things that you need to take note of when it comes to maintaining a garage refrigerator. Make sure that you inspect the refrigerator regularly to confirm that it is working efficiently. Let us learn more about these below.
Consider the Temperature
Make sure that the temperature inside the garage is ideal for the refrigerator. The temperature in the garage plays an important role when it comes to the efficiency as well as the lifespan of the fridge. Moreover, it is one of the factors why refrigerators experience issues when kept in a garage. See to it that the temperature in the garage is within the working range of the refrigerator.
Check the Airflow
You also need to consider the airflow inside the garage. A refrigerator needs a good and steady source of airflow so that it will work correctly and efficiently. Make sure that there is space between the fridge and the wall so that there is sufficient airflow. Furthermore, do not store items close to the fridge that can block airflow.
Inspect for Moisture
Make sure that the garage is free from moisture or humidity. These two can cause rust on the fridge which can cause further damage. To avoid moisture and humidity, the garage should have enough airflow. Another cause of rust is leaking inside the garage. See to it that you check your garage regularly to make sure that there is no leakage anywhere.
Place the Fridge on a Flat Surface
It is recommended that you place the refrigerator on a flat surface inside the garage. This is because refrigerators are made to work on a flat surface. If you look at the feet of the fridge, the front ones look higher as compared to the rear ones. If you move the fridge or place it on an uneven surface, the feet can become uneven which can cause noises and vibration.
Provide Insulation
Without proper insulation, the garage refrigerator will work hard which can damage its parts and can also increase your energy bill. Make sure to regulate the temperature inside the garage by insulating it. If you have the budget, you can insulate the whole garage. Otherwise, you can create an enclosed and insulated area where you can place the fridge.
Keep it Stocked
A full refrigerator functions better as compared to an empty one. This is because the food inside helps maintain a stable temperature. See to it that you keep the garage fridge well stocked, but not overstocked. If you overstocked the refrigerator, the blower fan that distributes cold air inside can be blocked.
✅ Video – How to Organize the Fridge
The Design Network shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to organize the fridge. If you have an extra fridge in the garage, you need to make sure that it is properly stacked and not overflowing. Proper organization of foods inside the garage fridge will not only make the food last longer, but will also make the fridge operate more efficiently. Watch the video for tips and ideas.
Is it Ideal to keep a Refrigerator in the Garage?
It is ideal to keep a refrigerator in an insulated and heated garage. You need to consider the temperature inside the garage before placing a fridge there. Refrigerators usually work by sensing the air temperature in their surroundings so that they can accordingly adjust the temperature inside. If your garage has an extremely high or low temperature, it can affect the process. As a result, the fridge needs to work harder. Sometimes, the extreme cold temperature causes the fridge to shut down and the food inside will thaw.
What is the Best Kind of Refrigerator for the Garage?
The best kind of refrigerator for the garage is the one that is garage-ready and can handle a wide range of temperatures. It is also ideal to choose a refrigerator that has more than one thermostat. One of the issues with having a fridge in the garage is that the thermostat will not work properly if the temperature inside the garage exceeds its operating temperature range. It is recommended that you purchase a garage-friendly refrigerator.
Do You Need to Have a Refrigerator in the Garage?
If you only go to the grocery once or twice a month and are storing bulk foods, then you might need to have an extra refrigerator in the garage. There is a wide array of refrigerators that you can choose from. On the other hand, make sure that you consider various factors such as the temperature inside the garage before you purchase a fridge. To make sure that the fridge will work efficiently, you should purchase a garage-ready refrigerator. You can also read this article that discusses what a garage-ready refrigerator means. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses why people have refrigerators in their garages. We have found out that there are many reasons why people keep a fridge in their garage and one of them is to store extra food and for convenience as well. Moreover, we have shared tips on how to maintain your garage refrigerator. Thank you for reading!