Thinking about keeping a fridge in the garage and not sure where to begin? we’ve got you covered. This article will break down all you need to know including costs, if it’s energy efficient, the best fridge for your garage, and much more.
Table of Contents
Is It Ok To Have A Refrigerator In The Garage?
Yes, it is OK to have a refrigerator in the garage. Whether it’s just an extra fridge freezer to keep your food fresh as your kitchen one is full or storing anything from pet food to fruit in your fridge, keeping a fridge in the garage is absolutely fine. As mentioned, temperature should be your key consideration when picking your appliance.
If your fridge freezer is not suited or prepared to be in a garage you may be looking at a costly electricity bill.
What is a garage ready refrigerator?
A garage ready refrigerator is a fridge that has been optimized for a garage in some way. Refrigerators that are designed to handle the temperature range in garage fridges can be defined as ‘garage ready’. More than one temp sensor is one such way that will keep an optimal temperature within the fridge.
What Fridges Are Suitable For The Garage?
The type of fridges that are suitable for the garage are fridges that have been adapted to deal with a fluctuation of temperature whilst keeping the inside at the desired temperature. When shopping for a fridge for your garage, check that the fridge can deal with a range of outside temperatures.
Fridges that come with more than one temperature gage are also ideal for a garage. That way, the fridge can deal with the high temperatures and the lows – seasonal changes, for example.
Garage Kit for a Refrigerator
A garage kit for a refrigerator is a simple but effective tool to keep your fridge at optimal temperature. The kit wraps around the temperature gauge to trick your fridge into thinking the temp is higher than it really is. You can buy garage heating kits on Amazon.
Keeping A Refrigerator in an Unheated Garage
Keeping a refrigerator in an unheated garage comes with a few challenges. Fridges and freezers are reliant on the temperature outside to provide optimal cooling on the inside. Comparing the difference in temperatures allows the fridge to cool to a certain point. The fridge freezers in your kitchen won’t fare well in an unheated garage.
Garages in El Paso, Texas will of course have different requirements than that of a garage in Alaska of course. The outside temperature is very important to the internal working of your fridge. A fridge freezer is going to have a difficult time in an unheated garage so it is important to do all you can to improve its environment.
Fridges you will find in a kitchen can sometimes be used in your garage but we don’t recommend it. The temperatures in your garage will differ from your home or so you need an appliance that can deal with this fluctuation in cold and heat.
Garage fridge freezers are designed to handle a broader range of temps compared to the fridge freezers in your caravan, workplace, or home kitchen that tend to be set at around 50 – 85°F. Different makes and models may have slightly different settings but this is the average temperatures you will find pretty much all of them set at.
How Much Does it Cost to Run a Refrigerator in the Garage?
The cost to run a refrigerator in your garage should work out approximately $100 per year. A few factors that will determine the overall cost includes how much you are paying for your electricity and the size of the fridge. Bigger fridge, higher bill of course.
FAQs
Find answers to some of the most common questions about keeping a fridge in the garage.
Do new refrigerators work in a cold garage?
Yes, new refrigerators work in a cold garage. Ensuring your refrigerator is garage ready before doing so is a good idea though. This means buying a fridge that’s designed to deal with the different temperatures in your garage. Preparing your fridge will ensure the temp inside the fridge will keep at an optimal temperature. The fridge will likely last a longer time also.
Does a refrigerator run more energy in a garage?
Yes, a refrigerator will run more energy in a garage if it’s not insulated properly. The summer months will cause the fridge to work more in order to keep the inside cool. Buying a garage ready refrigerator or optimizing the fridge for the garage will reduce the amount of energy used.
Can I keep a fridge in a hot garage?
Yes, you can keep a fridge in a hot garage but it needs to be optimized in order to deal with the high temperatures. If the fridge isn’t made to deal with the higher than normal temp, it will need a lot more energy to run. This means higher electricity bills for you. So it’s worth buying a refrigerator than can deal with a range of temperatures.
