What Does a “Garage-Ready” Freezer Mean? And Does it Matter? - (2023)

FAQs

Do I really need a garage ready freezer? ›

You should get a garage ready freezer if you want an extra place to store frozen food without worrying about fluctuating temperatures. The common industry range for garage ready freezers is 0-110°F, meaning that it can handle the varying temperatures typically found in a garage without malfunctioning.

A garage ready freezer can handle hot or cold outdoor temperatures while maintaining an optimal temperature inside. Garage ready freezers can be kept in a garage of any temperature from 0°F to 110°F without malfunctioning.

Most standard freezers are not designed to be used in extreme weather conditions like an unheated garage. In extremely hot conditions, freezers have to work extra hard to keep items frozen. In cold temperatures below freezing, freezers can shut off.

Most garages have sawdust, grime, dust and more which can collect the garage refrigerator's coil. Boxes and clutter can pile up on and around the fridge, limiting airflow and restricting its performance.

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.

Beko's innovative Freezer Guard technology means that your freezer can be placed anywhere on your property; in the garage, the kitchen, or any outdoor buildings and your food will remain frozen even if the external temperature drops as low as -15° C.

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.

To prevent problems, buy a garage-ready fridge that can function efficiently when it gets bitterly cold and also stiflingly hot in your garage. A refrigerator designed to run in a garage has better insulation and components that can handle temperature changes. This special design does make them a little more expensive.

So while you may save electricity initially by having less work for the freezer to do in the lower ambient temperature, over time you'll reduce the freezer's ability to keep that heat out. Come summer you'll find the freezer uses more energy than before, because the insulation is shot.

Will a Fridge Work in a Cold or Unheated Garage? Very cold temperatures can interfere with your garage fridge's thermostat. If the temperature in your garage dips below a certain level, the thermostat senses the drop in temperature and may register that the fridge is already cold enough, even if it isn't.

Can you put a freezer in an uninsulated garage? ›

If the garage space is uninsulated or too cold, the freezing temperatures will trick the freezer into thinking it has reached the desired level of refrigeration and it may fail to turn on, which could result in damage to the unit and food spoilage.

This is because the insulation isn't designed to cope with the extremely high temperature and the unit cannot repel enough heat ingress or Keep the cold air in well enough, this can and does lead to many an early failure.

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.

It may take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours to reach and stay the proper temperature, however. Use a thermometer to monitor the freezer temperature and determine the time needed for subsequent defrosts.

If you have a combination refrigerator-freezer that isn't freezing, a very common cause is dirty condenser coils. When coils aren't maintained properly, it reduces the cooling capacity of your freezer. To clean the condenser coils you can vacuum the coils with a crevice attachment.

A loose marketing term but generally, it is intended to operate at lower and higher ambient temperatures. Normal freezers and refrigerators are usually in a house where the temperatures are fairly stable. Garages can get much hotter and colder. “Garage ready” freezers can operate from maybe 0–100 F.

2018 and newer upright and chest freezers are garage ready and are proven to perform at room temperatures ranging between 0 degrees F. and 110 degrees F. Freezers Certified for Garage Use.

Garage ready means that the freezer is well insulated and equipped to handle temperature extremes in an enclosed garage. The garage must be enclosed so that the freezer is not subject to snow, rain and other environmental weather conditions not meant for an electrical appliance.

What type of freezer is more energy efficient? ›

When it comes to upright freezer vs chest freezer energy usage, chest freezers use up less energy than upright freezers, providing some relief to both the planet and your wallet. This is largely because chest freezers have an airtight seal at the top to keep the food inside fresh.

Energy Efficiency

Probably the biggest downside of the frost-free appliances is that they are less energy-efficient than their older cousins. Fridge freezers are measured by a sliding scale, from A+++ to G.

The Cons. Less Flexible Storage Space. Since upright freezers have up to 15 percent less storage space than chest models, storing larger items can be difficult. It may be hard to stash things like large cuts of beef or venison, whole turkeys and other odd-shaped items.

Freezers. Many homeowners enjoy the convenience of a separate freezer, either an upright or chest model. Today's freezers have a lifespan of up to 20 years, but they average about 11 years, according to the NAHB.

Yes, you can store an unplugged fridge in an unheated garage, but it might not be useful. Also, your fridge's internal components might get damaged if the garage gets to freezing temperatures.

How much energy does a fridge freezer use? Your fridge freezer needs to stay on all the time, so it typically uses the most electricity of all the kitchen appliances – an average of 408kWh per year.

Yes. Here's why it works. In summer, if heat is radiating into your home from your garage—or if cold winter temps are making that room above the garage unbearable—insulating your garage is going to be a major life upgrade. It can also help you cut down on wasted money in your energy bills.

Whilst it is recommended to keep your freezer below -18 degrees Celsius, it is important to not drop the temperature too low. Although 4-star freezers can operate down to -25°C, over time foods frozen at this temperature may start to dry out, causing freezer burn or a loss in quality.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you keep your refrigerator temperature at or below 40°F and your freezer temperature at or below 0°F. However, the ideal refrigerator temperature is actually lower. Aim to stay between 35° and 38°F (or 1.7 to 3.3°C).

Is it OK to cover a freezer with a blanket? ›

Cover the freezer in blankets to provide extra insulation

You can add a small amount of insulation to your freezer by covering it in blankets. Wrap blankets all around the freezer but be sure to fasten them away from the air vents.

To prevent problems, buy a garage-ready fridge that can function efficiently when it gets bitterly cold and also stiflingly hot in your garage. A refrigerator designed to run in a garage has better insulation and components that can handle temperature changes. This special design does make them a little more expensive.

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.

If the garage space is uninsulated or too cold, the freezing temperatures will trick the freezer into thinking it has reached the desired level of refrigeration and it may fail to turn on, which could result in damage to the unit and food spoilage.

While this can be beneficial, most garage refrigerators stop working at some point during the winter if left unmanaged. Putting a refrigerator in the garage without prepping can cause the freezer part to thaw food or the refrigerator part to freeze food.

Garage ready means that the freezer is well insulated and equipped to handle temperature extremes in an enclosed garage. The garage must be enclosed so that the freezer is not subject to snow, rain and other environmental weather conditions not meant for an electrical appliance.

Should You Unplug a Garage Fridge for the Winter? If you don't have any food in the fridge, unplugging it during icy weather will save you the trouble of heating the thermostat. However, if you still want to use your fridge for food storage, it's best to leave it plugged in.

Refrigeration appliances can be adversely affected by the environment they are placed in. If the temperature in a room surrounding the appliance is hotter or colder than the climate class rating specified by the manufacturer, then they can stop working (Climate Classes for fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you keep your refrigerator temperature at or below 40°F and your freezer temperature at or below 0°F. However, the ideal refrigerator temperature is actually lower. Aim to stay between 35° and 38°F (or 1.7 to 3.3°C).