How do I get a refrigerator to work in my garage?

Fridge Heaters

If your garage temperature dips below freezing, the thermostat inside the garage refrigerator's freezer may think it's cold enough and shut off. To work around this issue, you need to heat the air around the thermostat. One way is to install a heating coil around the thermostat.

Why doesnt a fridge work in a garage?

Refrigerators work by starting to cool whenever the room temperature rises above a set point – typically around 36 degrees – and stays running until the temperature returns to normal. This means that if the temperature in your garage drops and stays below this set temp, your refrigerator stops working.

Will a fridge work in an unheated garage?

Most refrigerators stop working at some point during the winter months in an unheated garage, depending on climate and how well the garage is insulated. Most manufacturers do not recommend placing a refrigerator in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you use a refrigerator in a garage?

Do you need a special plug for a refrigerator in the garage?

What Should a Garage Fridge/Freezer Plug Into? In most homes built within the last few years, you will find only GFCI outlets in your garage and wonder how and where to plug in your garage-located fridge/freezer unit. The best solution is to have an electrician install a dedicated circuit with a standard outlet.

Tips to Put a Refrigerator in your Garage

Can a refrigerator be on an extension cord?

Extension cords with a lower gauge number—like 10 or 12 gauges—are considered heavy-duty cords because they have a higher capacity to deliver power. Since the 10-gauge cord is an extra heavy-duty extension, it makes the best choice for big power loads like a refrigerator.

Can a fridge be plugged into a power strip?

Rule two: never plug high power capacity appliances, like space heaters, refrigerators, or microwave and toaster ovens into power strips or extension cords. These appliances have higher power capacity and need to be plugged into a wall outlet directly. Rule number three: always plug power strips directly into the wall.

Can any refrigerator be used in garage?

Therefore, a fridge in a garage will have to work harder than one in the kitchen, for example. Especially if the ambient temperature in the garage starts to veer towards extremes. Generally, most manufacturers will recommend using a refrigerator only in temperatures between 0°F (-17°C) and 110°F (43°C).

Can fridges be kept in a garage?

Lots of people keep fridge freezers in their garage for years without experiencing problems. They usually keep them in there for extra space or because they have run out of room in their kitchen, so the choice of if you want a fridge freezer in your garage is completely up to you.

How do you run a refrigerator in a hot garage?

If you want to place a refrigerator in a very warm garage, consider ways to keep the temperature down. Insulation, supplemental air conditioning, fans and vents will help with cooling. Check all doors and windows for leaks and add weather stripping if necessary to keep heat out as much as possible.

How do I keep my fridge cold in hot weather?

Give it space. Make sure your refrigerator isn't pushed up against a wall so air can circulate freely and better disperse heat from the condenser. Leave a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator. Keep it airtight.

What is garage ready refrigerator mean?

The ability to handle hot or cold temperatures outside while maintaining an optimal temperature inside makes a freezer garage ready. That means you can store your freezer in a cold or hot garage without worrying about the change in temperatures from 0°F to 110°F.

Should I unplug my garage refrigerator in the winter?

By unplugging the appliances for the winter not only will you reduce your risk of fire in the garage but you're likely to save a couple bucks while you're at it.

Can I use an extension cord for a small refrigerator?

You can technically plug a mini fridge into an extension cord. However, it's essential to choose a heavy-duty cable that can support the fridge's power needs, which is best used as a temporary solution. An underpowered extension cord can overheat, melt the insulation, and start a fire.

Can a small refrigerator be plugged into a surge protector?

The power strip will have a maximum Amp (or watt) rating. As long as the fridge and anything else on the power strip is within that rating, it's not a problem. You can do it.

What should you never plug into a power strip?

Can I use an extension cord for a garage refrigerator?

Yes, you need a heavy-duty extension cord for the refrigerator because a light-duty extension cord lacks grounding and has a lower gauge. A heavy-duty extension cord is grounded with a 3-prong plug and has a higher capacity to deliver enough power, free from overheating or shock.

Can I use an extension cord for my garage fridge?

While most small appliances can be plugged in to an extension cord with no problem, that isn't the case with a refrigerator. Refrigerators are huge and need a lot of energy to run and thus a regular extension cord may not be able to take on the job and be a fire hazard to boot.

Can I use a 16 gauge extension cord for a refrigerator?

No don't use that 50 or 100 foot orange 16/3 cord from the garage. There should be a tag on the back of the fridge or possibly on its cord. This tag should specify its electrical requirements: some combination of amps, volts, and watts.

Can you put a fridge in an uninsulated garage?

You can put a fridge in an uninsulated garage, but temperature fluctuations in the garage can affect the fridge's performance and ability to preserve the items inside it. Drastic temperature changes in the garage can also accelerate wear and tear for the fridge's components.

Can you store an unplugged fridge in an unheated garage?

Yes! You can certainly store a mini-fridge in an unheated garage.

Can you leave a refrigerator unplugged for a year?

To Wrap It All Up

From what we found, you can typically leave a fridge unplugged for up to four hours with food inside. If there isn't food present, you are safe to unplug your fridge for months, even years.

Will a freezer work in a hot garage?

Changes in temperature in an unheated garage can be hard on these appliances. "You need to make sure that the unit is not exposed to temperatures above 110° F or below 0° F, because that may damage the freezer," says Larry Ciufo, who oversees the ratings for Consumer Reports' freezer tests.

Does outside temperature affect a refrigerator?

If you're wondering whether room temperature affects your refrigerator, the answer is yes. You probably don't have it in a space where the extreme temperatures will cause a breakdown, but you should be aware that its efficiency will be affected by the ambient temperature.

Why does my garage freezer not work in the winter?

If your garage temperature dips below freezing, the thermostat inside the garage refrigerator's freezer may think it's cold enough and shut off. To work around this issue, you need to heat the air around the thermostat. One way is to install a heating coil around the thermostat.