Freezers in freezing weather

[mscher]

Experts?

I have experienced and heard many other's also, of refridgerators and freezers becoming less effective in cool/fold/freezing temps. Thes are units set up in unheated garages or sheds.

There have been installs where heating elements have been added to exterior coils.

My theory is that cold inside the unit and cold outside, diminishes the "heat exchange" required to remove heat from the unit.

Any "reefer" pros comment?

Thanks

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

I have a fridge/freezer in my unheated garage in when it gets REALLY cold here in the winter, the freezer and fridge will become the same temperature (about 38 degrees, I think).

The way I understand it is this:

Cold air is only pumped in to the freezer and gets in to the fridge through vents.

The thermostat is only in the fridge.

If the outside temperature is the same or colder than the thermostat in the fridge is set for, nothing ever tells the compressor to turn on to make more cold air. That allows the freezer to warm up to the same temperature (or the outside temperature) as the fridge.

My fix is pretty simple, a little bit of a pain, but it works....

It's an old beat up ugly garage fridge, so I just pop out the button that turns on the light in the fridge so that it stays on all night/day (but only when it's really cold out). This creates enough heat inside the fridge to keep it working properly.

I know - it sounds dumb to have to heat up the inside of your fridge but for the 5-10 days a year I do this, I guess it's better than the chance of losing everything in the freezer...

Some people add heating coils or a pipe warmer around the compressor to keep the freon viscus.... I haven't had a problem yet but if I do and the fridge dies, I figure I'll just replace it with another cheap used beat up garage fridge.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

Your explanation of the freezer not getting cold enough in the cold weather makes much sense to me. I never thought about that.

The part about some people keeping the freon warm for viscos reasons don't add up to me because that stuff works down to un-godly temperatures.

 

[240sx4u]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

There are some refrigerators made specifically for unheated garages etc...

Will a freezer work properly if it is very cold or hot in my garage?
You must have the temperature set properly. Temperatures should not go below 40?F or hotter than 100?F for proper operation. If temperatures are lower than 40?F your thermostat may not allow the product to turn on based on colder than normal temperatures. The warmer the ambient temperature is (above 100?F) the more the product will run, and it will be less efficient.

Lifted directly from whirlpools FAQ's.

Evan

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

I'm not a reefer pro, but I've had a freezer in my unheated garage for the past 10 years, and I've never had a problem with it not keeping everything frozen.

 

[Major Woods]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

I'm not a reefer pro, but I've had a freezer in my unheated garage for the past 10 years, and I've never had a problem with it not keeping everything frozen.

Dito..
I have 2 freezers in a attached garage (unheated) no problems in 15 years here in CT.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

I'm a certified major appliance repairman. The reason that any cooling appliance is less efficient in the winter or in a cold environment is because the air that it is drawing in starts getting closer and closer to the temp of the air that it wants. The air inside the freezer or fridge gets closer and closer and eventually it won't even run. This is bad because it is not going to remove the moisture from the fridge and you'll have mildew problems.

It's the same reason that you don't run your AC in the winter and expect it to accomplish anything.

 

[hazwild]

Re: Freezers in freezing weather

It's the same reason that you don't run your AC in the winter and expect it to accomplish anything.[/QUOTE]

I also work on refrig and give the same quote to people to try and make them understand that u need room air to be heated so the unit can operate correctly.

Now if u have an old R-12 frezzer or refrig they did run better in the cold.But the new 134a unit will not work right below 50 deg.