For a lot of homes, having a spare refrigerator is a necessity. It handles extra food, especially during the holidays, and if you have hungry teenagers, or a large family, it’s an important secondary option for storing your weekly shopping items. Many “spare” refrigerators are regulated to the garage. This is alright most of the time, however, you should consider a few issues when using these “garage” refrigerators.
Typically, a spare refrigerator is an older model. These models often are not as energy efficient as newer models. You may be using more energy then you wish. The next thing to consider is placement of the “spare” refrigerator. Basements are great if you do not mind running up and down stairs. The temperature is stable and typically you can keep your refrigerator running with no issues.
However, many, many people have a refrigerator in their garage. This works well most of the time, although, Conner’s Appliance would suggest that if your refrigerator is in the garage, you place it on an interior wall if possible. This will help with varying temperatures throughout the year.
Whether it’s a shop fridge, a beer fridge or a snack fridge…a garage refrigerator provides extra space and convenience. But most garages aren’t climate controlled, meaning sweltering summers pose a few problems for ideal operations. High temperatures add stress to the machine by forcing the motor to run constantly, especially if your garage exceeds 110 degrees, which is totally possible in many parts of California. At best, energy bills will spike. At worst, the motor could burn out from overuse, leading to food spoilage.
Keep Your Fridge Full
In a hot garage, the refrigerator will battle against the ambient temperature to keep your goodies cold. Help it out by keeping it well stocked. If you don’t need the whole refrigerator, consider filling space with gallons of water. They will remain cool and help the refrigerator maintain its temperature when the door is opened on a hot day. In an empty refrigerator, warm air rushes in and cold air rushes out every time the door opens. Water, or anything else you keep in the fridge, will leave less room for warm air, allowing the inside air to return to appropriate temperatures far faster when the door is closed.
Unplug Your Refrigerator
Seems simple enough. Look at what you are placing in the refrigerator and freezer section of your second refrigerator. If you only have soda or a few items in the refrigerated section and a few items in the freezer, it’s probably in your best interest to just empty and unplug it. Remember though, if you have it unplugged and empty, you need to make it safe for any children that are around you. An empty, unplugged refrigerator can be dangerous to a young child.
Your spare refrigerator can be of great benefit to you and your family. Just remember to weigh all of your options when considering where to place it and if it is energy efficient enough for you.
