SoTier Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Somebody I know has had a freezer in their detached garage for years, and that's got me thinking about buying a small freezer to put in my own detached unheated garage or on my unheated enclosed back porch over the winter. I don't really have a place to keep a freezer in my house. I live in Jamestown which is only a little bit colder than right around the Buffalo suburbs. Anybody have any experience doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 Always had an extra fridge/freezer out in the garage. It's so simple but such a luxury. Biggest thing I miss about our current house. What's your question/concern? If the outside temps will hurt it? Never had any problems so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 We had an upright freezer in our attached(unseated) garage for 10+ years. Never had a problem with it. Got rid of it, and now have a small chest freezer in the basement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I know there are some issues when it comes to keeping a fridge in unconditioned spaces where the temperature between seasons fluctuates alot. I believe some of the problems depend on the season and with units that have a single compressor for both the fridge and freezer. Something about one of them not working properly because the other doesn't have to work much with the outside temperature. I don't remember all the details. I would think that a freezer, or just a fridge unit would work fine because its not trying to keep one area cool and the other area frozen. In the winter time the freezer will probably run very little while in the summer it may become over worked when it gets hot. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 17 minutes ago, apuszczalowski said: I know there are some issues when it comes to keeping a fridge in unconditioned spaces where the temperature between seasons fluctuates alot. I believe some of the problems depend on the season and with units that have a single compressor for both the fridge and freezer. Something about one of them not working properly because the other doesn't have to work much with the outside temperature. I don't remember all the details. I would think that a freezer, or just a fridge unit would work fine because its not trying to keep one area cool and the other area frozen. In the winter time the freezer will probably run very little while in the summer it may become over worked when it gets hot. I sell refrigeration products, so any freezer put outdoors would need a compressor heater, and what's known as a "fan cycling control switch" which allows it to work below 20. Most of the winter, it probably would not run much at all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Gal Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 We have a refrigerator/freezer in the garage that we unplug every year after Christmas. It gets plugged back in in April. We have a chest freezer in the garage, and it has been there for 15 years now. *knock on wood* we have never had an issue with it running all winter long. Our garage is attached to the house, but it is unheated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 @ExiledInIllinois Buckle up, everyone ..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, Gugny said: @ExiledInIllinois Buckle up, everyone ..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Flanders Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Seasons1992 said: I sell refrigeration products, so any freezer put outdoors would need a compressor heater, and what's known as a "fan cycling control switch" which allows it to work below 20. Most of the winter, it probably would not run much at all. Is this something an amateur like myself can install? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 1 minute ago, Ned Flanders said: Is this something an amateur like myself can install? I would respectfully say no. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxx Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 5 hours ago, Seasons1992 said: I sell refrigeration products, so any freezer put outdoors would need a compressor heater, and what's known as a "fan cycling control switch" which allows it to work below 20. Most of the winter, it probably would not run much at all. they have freezers that are specifically rated for garages expressly for this reason. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimShady'sSpaceForce Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 I have had a refrigerator in my garage for years. granted it isn’t Rochester winter cold but I’ve never had any issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said: I have had a refrigerator in my garage for years. granted it isn’t Rochester winter cold but I’ve never had any issues Below the Mason-Dixon Line doesn't count. Edited September 18, 2020 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not at the table Karlos Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Have multiple refrigerators and freezers in an unheated garage with no issues. Any time we would buy a new one for the kitchen if they still worked they go in the garage. Had a freezer outside for a couple winters with no issues as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoTier Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 Thanks everyone for your answers. I was primarily concerned that the cold temps would hurt the freezer, but it seems that it will simply not run below 20 degrees unless it's a freezer designed to be placed in cold places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 I have a second fridge in my I heated garage. It’s a cheap Frigidaire model without the heater that enables the unit to run when the temp gets low. I bought and installed it and it runs really well all through the winter. The heater kicks in and makes the compressor cool things down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 My MIL has an old fridge in her garage running all year in central CT. No problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherlock Holmes Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Depends, how many bodies you are trying to keep cold?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarleyNY Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 On 9/18/2020 at 9:02 AM, SoTier said: Thanks everyone for your answers. I was primarily concerned that the cold temps would hurt the freezer, but it seems that it will simply not run below 20 degrees unless it's a freezer designed to be placed in cold places. Years ago I had an old refrigerator in my garage. When it got cold during the winter it would turn off both the refrigerator and freezer sides. I used a hack a friend told me to remedy this. I hung an incandescent bulb behind it near the sensor during the coldest part of the winter and it worked fine from then on. Obviously go with a freezer made for cold places if you can, but if you’re ever in a pinch....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nester Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 I had a heck of a time buying an upright freezer for my Garage (heated) this week. Many companies said they are back ordered 3 months due to the pandemic. I think i got the last larger one in my town ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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