Garage Fridge Heater

[DelayedZ]

So upon returning to the East coast I put my secondary fridge in my garage, issue is, it's been fairly cold. The fridge has actually stopped running a few times because of this. At first I thought it was the outlet or some other random issue. Outlet is fine, fridge is getting power. I started researching and found that this is a common issue on newer fridges, never had a problem with older fridges. Anyway, I found that frigidaire makes a heater for the inside of the fridge, I don't want it to run during the summer however, only during the winter on the real cold days. I was wondering out loud, and I attached a picture below. Can I add a switch on the red wire to stop the heater from turning on the coil?

 

[ChaseDE]

it stops running and then what? does it not start running again when it warms up outside? m newish garage fridge in my uninsulated garage, in Delaware, where it does get cold, does not have this issue.

 

[rlitman]

Sounds like you need a low temperature line voltage thermostat.
Can you plug the heater into one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006U2HD2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

What exactly is your issue? Is it that things in the fridge are freezing, or that the freezer is thawing because the fridge side thinks it is too cold?

 

[DelayedZ]

Things are thawing in the fridge, that heater coil is supposed to trick the thermostat and make the fridge run again.

Basically fridge thinks it's all good because the temp was below 30 degrees, then it thaws everything out.

The fridge still has power though, it literally just shuts off cooling, the light and everything still works, the compressor won't kick on because it thinks the fridge is already cool enough.

 

[MarlynOC]

Freezers work in unheated garages but not frigs. Never heard of heated for a frig, if not too $$ give it a try.

 

[19Vert64]

Had to put one on mine. Works great. Problem with newer fridges is that the freezer runs only when the fridge runs, so in the winter of the garage gets cold and the fridge doesn't need to run neither does the freezer and soon the freezer starts to de thaw to the fridges temp ruining everything in the freezer. This solves that issue. Also called a garage kit


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[DelayedZ]

Had to put one on mine. Works great. Problem with newer fridges is that the freezer runs only when the fridge runs, so in the winter of the garage gets cold and the fridge doesn't need to run neither does the freezer and soon the freezer starts to de thaw to the fridges temp ruining everything in the freezer. This solves that issue. Also called a garage kit


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Do you leave it on in the summer? Or remove it? I was thinking of putting a switch in line or does it not matter.


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[HoosierMark]

First I bought the same thing as post 3. Plugged in a simple short cord with 40 watt incandescent bulb near the back of the fridge. Worked fine when it got down to 3 degrees outside and below freezing inside. I then upgraded to a simple electric heater to keep the garage at 40 degrees. Now I can leave paint out there and the snow melts off the car and truck. Cost is minimal as garage is insulated.

 

[19Vert64]

Do you leave it on in the summer? Or remove it? I was thinking of putting a switch in line or does it not matter.


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I leave it on, it's not something your gonna notice. The summer heat is going to cycle it way more than the heater kit will ever do.


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[ford fanatic]

Had to put one on mine. Works great. Problem with newer fridges is that the freezer runs only when the fridge runs, so in the winter of the garage gets cold and the fridge doesn't need to run neither does the freezer and soon the freezer starts to de thaw to the fridges temp ruining everything in the freezer. This solves that issue. Also called a garage kit


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This.

My fridge just did the same thing a few weeks ago, I was going to buy the garage kit, but it has ****** reviews.

 

[DelayedZ]

I think it's interesting that old fridges never had this issue, new ones are built to fail?

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[RVDan]

We have to hang light bulbs inside RV fridges. They don't have seperately thermostats for the fridge and freezer, it's in the fridge, which is already at freezing in the winter, so the freezer won't freeze.