Garage Refrigerator

[Quickstep192]

I know this isn’t about wrenches or cars, but it is clearly garage related!

I put an old refrigerator in the garage some years ago for bait. At some point, my wife began to use it for food.

It didn’t work well in the winter; I said it got “confused” by the temperature outside the fridge being colder than the set point inside the fridge; drinks would freeze and burst.

I looks like it’s time for a new one. Any recommendations? I see there are now “garage ready” refrigerators.

Suggestions of specific brands or models are appreciated.

 

[kaehlin]

Our Samsung was a disaster, so I'd recommend against that brand.

 

[bmwrd0]

I would start with basic maintenance on the fridge you have. Is the evaporator clean, door seal, etc. Other than that, something cheap on Craigslist or Marketplace that has the same footprint would work and keep funds intact.

 

[amgent57]

I can't imagine being surprised by drinks freezing and bursting in a fridge in winter.

Ummm, there's no heat source.

I have an attached garage and my garage fridge is against the "shared" wall.
So those two things help, but I still do not keep drinks
or anything else I don't want to freeze in the fridge
during the 3 stupid cold months here in SE Wisconsin.

Garage ready refrigerators are a great marketing idea,
but they're just extra insulated for hot garages,
they're still subject to super cold temps.
Again, no heat source.

 

[finn]

Not sure what it means, but we just bought a new refrigerator, and when looking online at the “specifications” sheet published by retailers there was a line titled “Garage Ready” of something to that extent.

I don’t recall the exact wording, and the extent of the listing information was a simple “yes”, or “no”. I assume it’s got something to do with the ice maker or filtered water dispens, but that’s just a guess.

For what it’s worth, I was limiting my search to Bosch, GE, and Kitchen Aid.

We ended up with a Kitchen Aid.

Ends up that the fan on the old Samsung we previously had in the kitchen was blocked by ice build up. It works fine now in the shop after being unplugged for 48 hours. There’s $47 aftermarket kit to ”fix” the ice cube maker and refrigerator fan icing up problem the old Samsungs had. I stumbled on the kit while searching for a replacement fan, which I ordered but apparently didn’t need.

Frankly, the Samsung was a nice machine except for those icing issues, so maybe I’ll look further into the aftermarket kits.

 

[BillK]

It didn’t work well in the winter; I said it got “confused” by the temperature outside the fridge being colder than the set point inside the fridge; drinks would freeze and burst.

You must be in a very cold climate ? My Garage fridge was made in 1951 and works just fine in my attached garage. I will say that it rarely gets to freezing in the garage even when outside temps are at 10 deg.

 

[Copymutt]

Find another from the 70’s. Most all new appliances are ****.

 

[amgent57]

Well, looks like I was wrong about "Garage Ready" refrigerators,
there is a heat source next to the thermostat...

"What "Garage-Ready" Actually Means

• Extra Controls: True garage-ready units often include a small, built-in heater kit or a dual-sensing thermostat system.
• Forced Operation: The added heater warms the main thermostat during cold snaps, forcing the compressor to turn on when needed so the freezer stays frozen without letting the fridge compartment freeze everything else."

"It is a clever workaround. The heater isn't meant to warm your food—it is just there to trick the appliance's brain so your freezer doesn't thaw out.

How the Small Heater Works

• Location: It is a tiny, low-wattage heating element placed directly next to the internal thermostat control.
• The Trick: When garage temperatures drop below 50°F, the heater turns on to fake a "warm" environment right at the sensor.
• The Result: The thermostat detects this fake heat and kicks the compressor on, which keeps the freezer running so your frozen meats and meals stay at 0°F."

 

[mrb1]

Do you still have the old? Have run an 80's era Frigidaire in the garage for 20 years. Beer, water, and bait, very little food below. Darlin' does not approve. Freezer packed with meat though. You can get a heating element (pad) for your model, or universal kit to make it "garage proof". Keep's the compressor kicking on. Or use the old light bulb trick. Attached, unheated garage here with plenty of freezing days. Even in a hard Ohio winter, is only needed a handful of times. Set it on a timer to turn on/off a couple times a day is all they need. Works great.

 

[amgent57]

You can get a heating element (pad) for your model, or universal kit to make it "garage proof". Keep's the compressor kicking on.

I learned something today.

Thank you.

 

[Shootinok]

Our Samsung was a disaster, so I'd recommend against that brand.

We swore off Samsung also - won’t buy agai.

 

[djbmw]

Well, looks like I was wrong about "Garage Ready" refrigerators,
there is a heat source next to the thermostat...

"What "Garage-Ready" Actually Means

• Extra Controls: True garage-ready units often include a small, built-in heater kit or a dual-sensing thermostat system.
• Forced Operation: The added heater warms the main thermostat during cold snaps, forcing the compressor to turn on when needed so the freezer stays frozen without letting the fridge compartment freeze everything else."

"It is a clever workaround. The heater isn't meant to warm your food—it is just there to trick the appliance's brain so your freezer doesn't thaw out.

How the Small Heater Works

• Location: It is a tiny, low-wattage heating element placed directly next to the internal thermostat control.
• The Trick: When garage temperatures drop below 50°F, the heater turns on to fake a "warm" environment right at the sensor.
• The Result: The thermostat detects this fake heat and kicks the compressor on, which keeps the freezer running so your frozen meats and meals stay at 0°F."

I understand how that helps those with a thawing issue... but it doesnt help those who live in cold climates where the temperature in the shop is well below the fridge and freezer temperature.

For me... my garage fridge does fine until its the dead of winter and if im not using the shop (ie. Im not heating it while not in use). Its a 1500 sq ft detatched shop, fully insulated, on a concrete slab. With frequent winter use, the minimum temperature in the shop is -5 C (23 F).

However, if i dont go in there for a week or so in late Jan or Feb, it can easily drop to -20 C (-4 F). The insulation of the fridge door eventually lets the cold in, and drinks freeze and explode if left inside.

I guess those "garage ready" fridges are only meant for moderate climates....

 

[Recoveryman]

We have a twenty five year old Frigidaire in an unheated garage, no problems. The freezer works good, as well. For what its worth, we also have a Frigidaire freeze seperately, also about 30 years old. Good luck.
Recoveryman

 

[bob smith1]

I know exactly what is happening.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If it's cold enough long enough, stuff in a fridge in an unheated garage is going to freeze unless it has some sort of heating element to keep the interior above 32F.

If you're storing drinks only, you could look for a used soda vending machine that's designed for outdoor use. They do have heating elements built in.

 

[firebirdparts]

'garage ready' solves the wrong problem. It doesn't stop things from freezing, it makes them freeze. On purpose. This is not a joke. Don't spend your money.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, older less efficient"bare bones" refrigerators with fewer "bells and whistles" tend to last for years, probably because there are fewer points of failure.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The new mini fridge is bought last wasvsupposed to be good down to 45°. Unfortunately, that number is about 10 degrees off and 55°.

That higher number is where my garage will get after me being at work for a couple of winter days when outside temps drop off. The result, the fridge doesn't run, stuff warms up in the fridge and anything like ice in the freezer melts.

I've considered some type of heat source to fool the fridge but I haven't done anything yet...winter will be here before I know it.

 

[75gmck25]

My BIL lives in Minneapolis and has been searching for a garage-ready refrigerator/freezer.
Bottom line - there is no refrigerator available from the big box stores that will work when the garage is below freezing. Most only claim to work down to about 38 degrees. Items in the refrigerator may be okay because most of the time you only need to keep it about 40 degrees, but once the compressor decides to shut down because its too cold in the garage you will not be able to keep food frozen.

My understanding (maybe wrong) is that the refrigerant eventually becomes incompressible due to low temperature, so the refrigerator has safety features that prevent the compressor from running at low temps. The only way to get the compressor to run is to have a heater that brings the system up to the proper temperature to protect the compressor, and that type of refrigerator is extremely hard to find.

 

[bob smith1]

As I mentioned above.... the "reason" for all the drama is the "fridge" you guys refer too is a fridge/freezer combo, in which the refrigerant system pulls double duty, and everything was calibrated to run within a reasonable ambient temp range. TC is in the fridge, that tells the compressor to run, but the first place for the cold air to go is the freezer. This means if cold enough, the fridge is "satisfied" so the freezer don't freeze. Then people turn it down, it still does nothing, but when warmer, it over performs and freezes yow **** in the fridge.

They've tried to make work arounds but having to separate systems works better. Get a deep freeze, it will stay frozen. A fridge only can prob work down in the 30s before needing an insulated box around it, but then I really question how caveman are you guys? No insulation or heat at all? At some point, an appliance needs reasonable conditions!

 

[mrb1]

As I mentioned above...a light bulb pointed at the thermostat in the lower fridge part works. No drama here.

 

[bob smith1]

As I mentioned above...a light bulb pointed at the thermostat in the lower fridge part works. No drama here.

Did you think that through?

 

[mrb1]

Did you think that through?

I just let the first slushy beer around January tell me when to throw the light in

 

[bob smith1]

I just let the first slushy beer around January tell me when to throw the light in

If not done right, you risk your health with the food in the freezer. Many people make that mistake of thinking "solid" means safe. There is a reason a freezer is held near 0F, not 30F.

Your light could be optimized to work, but calculated, not guessed.

Since people are into hacks here, one that I used very effectively was modify the air flow so more is pushed to the freezer than the fridge. This extends the compressor cycle. I don't force my gear to run in 30s or lower. That was a 45F setpoint hack. I run the furnace in my shops 24/7 to some extent.

 

[mrb1]

Since people are into hacks here

People are into what works here.