Can You Keep a Fridge or Freezer in Your Garage? Here’s How to Do It Right

Having an extra appliance, such as a freezer or fridge in a garage, is common for many homeowners. Why? A second fridge is a great addition to any home, not only during the holiday season when you may have an excess amount of food, but also for those who have large families, prefer to purchase in bulk, or like to have a place to store beverages. A garage is a handy place to keep a second fridge without losing any indoor square footage, but certain criteria must be met to ensure the safety and performance of your appliance.

Is Your Fridge Garage-Ready?

Are there appliances designed for storing foods in a garage environment? Recently, a senior merchant with The Home Depot addressed the meaning of a “garage-ready” refrigerator by explaining that these are appliances with a demonstrated ability to function in extreme temperatures. Aside from having enhanced durability in volatile settings, a garage-ready refrigerator will also provide substantial storage space.

Maytag markets garage-ready freezers, which sustain temperatures from approximately 0 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Many regular models will not turn on if the exterior temperature is lower than the freezer’s set internal temperature. Other common enhancements include having more resilient compressors, thicker insulation, and multi-layer door seals (gaskets) to prevent the escape of internal air or external air entry.

Other Useful Features

Some of the other possible features to look for in a garage-ready appliance include mobility, adaptability when facing space constraints, security, and warranty coverage. For example, some appliances marketed as being garage-ready will feature durable, attached wheels for easier mobility and a keyed lock for improved security. If space is tight in a garage, the doors on the GE GTS22KYNRFS are reversible so that the door can swing open either way. The LHTNS model from LG is promoted as a garage-ready fridge that will operate in temperatures of up to 110 degrees F and includes a 10-year parts warranty for the compressor and cooling system.

Manage Garage Temperature for Best Performance

Can I keep a fridge in the garage year-round? Yes. It is possible. For the small percentage of Canadian homeowners who have climate-controlled garages, the question is of minimal importance. Yet, for the majority of individuals, the ability to manage the temperature in the environment is important, particularly based on your local climate. Those who live in regions with extremely hot summer temperatures or freezing winter conditions face more challenges than those in other areas.

Although AB, BC, and ON are not known for extreme summer heat, it can be very frigid in the wintertime. For example, there is a significant difference between having a freezer or fridge in the garage in the winter months in Surrey, BC, where the average daily low temperatures in December and January are a rather mild 34 degrees F compared to Calgary, AB, where it is 13 to 14 degrees F.

One solution is purchasing a heating device for your refrigerator that is usually positioned near the appliance’s thermostat. Frigidaire and other appliance manufacturers make heating kits for refrigerators placed in environments with low ambient temperatures. Universal aftermarket options are also available, and both are fairly inexpensive.

Better insulating the space is another way of minimising extreme temperatures when having a fridge in a garage. Some of the most common types include fibreglass insulation, loose-fill cellulose insulation, and rigid foam or spray foam insulation. Your garage door also can have a major impact on the internal temperature of the space, and many do-it-yourself insulation options exist.

Maximize Your Fridge’s Efficiency in the Garage

According to ENERGY STAR, refrigerators in uninsulated garages may consume more energy during extreme heat or cold. For example, ENERGY STAR estimates that a refrigerator in a 70-degree room will operate 22 to 25% more efficiently than in an 80-degree room and 45-50% more efficiently than in a 90-degree room. Based on this data, a garage fridge can potentially cause a noticeable spike in your utility bill.

Tips for Improving Efficiency

Some of the best practices for improving the efficiency of your refrigerator include regularly vacuuming the coils to remove dirt and debris, allowing some space between walls and other objects to maintain airflow, using a fan to help cool the appliance during periods of extreme heat, and keeping the fridge filled—but not overfilled, which can have an adverse effect.

Pros and Cons of Garage Freezers vs. Fridges

What are some of the advantages or disadvantages associated with choosing to have a freezer or refrigerator in your garage?

Freezer

Pros:

• Freezers are generally less expensive compared to refrigerators, particularly chest freezers.
• It is probably a better choice for those who store large quantities of meat, frozen foods, and ice.

Cons:

• Certain items, including beverages, cakes, and appetizer trays, are not suitable for freezer storage.
• May operate inefficiently during hot summer months.

Refrigerator

Pros:

• Easier to organize, as they are more likely to have shelves, drawers, compartments, etc.
• It is a better option for storing leftovers that you plan to consume soon.
• A refrigerator with a freezer can offer the best of both worlds when it comes to garage food storage.

Cons:

• Food placed in a garage refrigerator is more likely to be forgotten about and spoiled.
• While older refrigerator models might be more durable, they tend to be less energy efficient.

When to Call a Pro for Fridge Maintenance or Repair

Wondering if you can leave a chest freezer outside? Mr. Appliance^® has the answer! Make sure your appliances are maintained and repaired by a licensed, certified professional to keep them operating at peak performance and efficiency. Our experienced service technicians will repair, maintain, and install superior-quality replacement parts for refrigerators or freezers manufactured by Bosch, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Maytag, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, and more.

This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Mr. Appliance^® is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Mr. Appliance^® for more information and a professional on-site assessment.