Garage Fridge Freezer WARNING

[jennyjj01]

I had no idea this was a thing! There was a second ‘spare’ fridge/freezer in our cellar when we moved in which we used (particularly each Christmas) but then it seemed to stop working so we bit the bullet last year and got rid of it … after reading this thread, I suspect it wasn’t functioning correctly in cold weather - oops! I have since filled the space with spare toilet rolls

It's definitely a thing and no doubt gets many units chucked away thinking they are faulty.

My limited understanding of the science is two-fold:
The fridge freezer combo has one chilling mechanism and one thermostat in the fridge part. The device assumes that if it's managed to keep the fridge part at a measured-5C ( or similar) then the freezer part will be right down at -15C or so. But if the room itself is at -5C, then the fridge will be cold enough without the mechanism working, and in that state the freezer will slowly warm up to room temperature of -5C
Secondly, the mechanism relies on coolant condensing into a liquid and that just doesn't happen in a cold environment, so basically, it just stops working.

As the room warms up, the fridge freezer starts to work normally again.

As stated, taking the chill off the garage with an electric heater does work, just don't 'do a jenny' and run it 24/7 for three months

[Insulin]

Yeah, I’ve had that happen too! It’s a bummer when the weather gets too cold for the garage freezer to work properly. It’s good to know it's not broken, just the cold messing with it. A quick fix could be heating the garage, but I agree, that can get pricey.

[jennyjj01]

Yeah, I’ve had that happen too! It’s a bummer when the weather gets too cold for the garage freezer to work properly. It’s good to know it's not broken, just the cold messing with it. A quick fix could be heating the garage, but I agree, that can get pricey.

Laugh at my expense. A few years ago, I left the garage heater on for about three months and it cost hundreds. Last year and this year, we ran the freezer down and just had low value food in it. But still I heated the garage slightly for a few days. The big risk is that we could get a thaw and refreeze and not know about it. Fridge freezer works just fine Feb to Nov. I might pick up a replacement freezer this year. It would easily cost in. usually affect combo fridge freezer only

[berbie]

If you put an ice cube in a tub at the top and it thaws, it will vanish.
cheaper than a max-min thermometer

[jennyjj01]

If you put an ice cube in a tub at the top and it thaws, it will vanish.
cheaper than a max-min thermometer

great idea. Thanks.
I have digital min Max thermometer but it's useless as the max will show the room temp it went in at. Also the batteries fail to power it at such low temp.