Shed Fridge

[fishspike57]

Have anyone here added a garage kit to your shed fridge. We have a Sears fridge that is two years old. Went south for the month of January put shed temp at 40. Got back all ice in freezer melted. Now the ice looks frozen but not hard. Went to Sears and talked to rep. She said put in a garage kit. Just wondering if anyone has done this

Thanks

 

[Jinks]

What is a "garage kit"? 40 deg. should just make it easier for a refrigerator to stay cold. Sounds like you have a refrigerator problem. I've had garage/shop refrigerators for almost 50 years without problems (or special kits). Let us know what solves your problem.

 

[rlitman]

What is a "garage kit"? 40 deg. should just make it easier for a refrigerator to stay cold. Sounds like you have a refrigerator problem. I've had garage/shop refrigerators for almost 50 years without problems (or special kits). Let us know what solves your problem.

40 degrees does make it easier for a refrigerator to stay cold. And that's just the problem. The refrigerator hardly runs, so with the compressor shut down, the freezer melts.

That's the point of the kits. It heats the refrigerator so that the compressor runs enough to cool the freezer.

Personally, that's why I have an upright freezer in my garage and not a dual-purpose refrigerator/freezer.

 

[tthornto]

40 degrees does make it easier for a refrigerator to stay cold. And that's just the problem. The refrigerator hardly runs, so with the compressor shut down, the freezer melts.

That's the point of the kits. It heats the refrigerator so that the compressor runs enough to cool the freezer.

Personally, that's why I have an upright freezer in my garage and not a dual-purpose refrigerator/freezer.

I wonder if you could wire the light to stay on in the fridge(bypass door switch), and use the incandesent bulb to provide the heat, change the wattage of bulb to adjust amount of heat?

 

[rlitman]

I wonder if you could wire the light to stay on in the fridge(bypass door switch), and use the incandesent bulb to provide the heat, change the wattage of bulb to adjust amount of heat?

Two issues.
In an old fridge, that might work until the bulb dies. Appliance bulbs are designed with very short lifetimes.

Also, new fridges often have LED lighting.

 

[ambenz]

Have anyone here added a garage kit to your shed fridge. We have a Sears fridge that is two years old. Went south for the month of January put shed temp at 40. Got back all ice in freezer melted. Now the ice looks frozen but not hard. Went to Sears and talked to rep. She said put in a garage kit. Just wondering if anyone has done this...

Sounds like your turning down the thermostat to save money when the shed isn't occupied. So how much are you really saving if you have to add a heater circuit to the fridge??? Just don't turn down the shed temp to 40....try 50, or 55!

 

[Jinks]

40 degrees does make it easier for a refrigerator to stay cold. And that's just the problem. The refrigerator hardly runs, so with the compressor shut down, the freezer melts.

That's the point of the kits. It heats the refrigerator so that the compressor runs enough to cool the freezer.

Personally, that's why I have an upright freezer in my garage and not a dual-purpose refrigerator/freezer.

Good Grief! Just when I think I've seen all the reasons to live in Florida! Buying something to *heat* a refrigerator so it'll stay *cold*!?! Isn't that the definition of an oxymoron?...

But seriously, thanks for the explanation.....

 

[Gotcha640]

#thingswedonthavetodealwithinhouston...

 

[chaosracing]

I found out about this a few years ago from my neighbor. He bought a new fridge for his garage. It worked great until it got cold out. Called up the dealer, they sent someone out to look at it. He said the newer fridges will not work in cold climates in outdoor settings (like garages) because if senses the outside ait temp and shuts down the compressor. At that time there was really nothing he could do (there were no kits at the time to fix this problem)

 

[Bert_]

This is going to be a problem with any fridge. The thermostat is in the fridge portion but the coil is in the freezer. A somewhat metered amount of air is allowed to flow from the freezer to the fridge.

The fridge will stay cold without running but the freezer won't.

 

[fishspike57]

Yep going to try 50. Temps here today may hit 50

Thanks for the replies

 

[57plymouth]

So the problem here is that the ice in the fridge in your garage melts in the winter?

What are you keeping in the fridge? Is it just beer and drinks or is there food in there?

If it's just drinks, why are you running the fridge at all in the winter? I bet the beer is cold enough without being in a fridge. Just unplug it.

 

[chaosracing]

This is going to be a problem with any fridge. The thermostat is in the fridge portion but the coil is in the freezer. A somewhat metered amount of air is allowed to flow from the freezer to the fridge.

The fridge will stay cold without running but the freezer won't.

Actually older, non electronic fridges will not be affected.

 

[Bert_]

Actually older, non electronic fridges will not be affected.

False.

Any fridge with a small freezer works this way. The stat is in the fridge and the coil is in the freezer. None of them have any actual temperature sensing in the freezer.

 

[Dragfluid]

Nobody's asked the question: Why do you need ice if you're not there to use it?
Or is there frozen food in the freezer?

The ice WILL freeze solid again, once you warm up the shed. It will be safe to use, and not be freezer burned.

 

[chaosracing]

False.

Any fridge with a small freezer works this way. The stat is in the fridge and the coil is in the freezer. None of them have any actual temperature sensing in the freezer.

Hate to tell you but wrong. I know of numerous older fridges with freezers that work fine in the out doors when cold. Why would a freezer not have a temp probe in it? Look at older fridges with the aluminum freezer and there is a probe exposed in them. Newer old fridges have the probe in there as well, just hidden from site.

And as for the need for ice when its cold, I can see it being used for different reasons.

 

[Bert_]

Hate to tell you but wrong. I know of numerous older fridges with freezers that work fine in the out doors when cold. Why would a freezer not have a temp probe in it? Look at older fridges with the aluminum freezer and there is a probe exposed in them. Newer old fridges have the probe in there as well, just hidden from site.

And as for the need for ice when its cold, I can see it being used for different reasons.

They all have one compressor and one thermostat. The fridge would need to have two compressors for it to be possible to have separate temp control. That would add a lot of extra expense so it isn't done.

There is usually an adjustment labeled freezer temp but it is not a thermostat. The knob just controls a small door that lets cold air between the freezer and fridge.

 

[fishspike57]

I didn’t know that the freezer would thaw so good thing no food in freezer. Now that we are back ice is used for ��

 

[nadogail]

We have had a refrigerator and a freezer in our garage since moving to this house in '88 with never a problem, Summer or Winter.

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[fishspike57]

Nope all good. Don’t know what you winters are like?

 

[gungatim]

LGR!

 

[Dragfluid]

They all have one compressor and one thermostat. The fridge would need to have two compressors for it to be possible to have separate temp control. That would add a lot of extra expense so it isn't done.

There is usually an adjustment labeled freezer temp but it is not a thermostat. The knob just controls a small door that lets cold air between the freezer and fridge.

Except for "Sub Zero" brand units.
Highly doubtful that anyone in this crew has one of those in their garage/shop.