I recently purchased a Kenmore refrigerator that after 2 months was not getting cold enough anymore. When the repairman came out, he said that it was not working because it was not meant to be used in the garage due to the temperature extremes. This occoured during the summer, not the cold months. Other than buying the Gladiator series, which are very nice and made for the garage, but are $1000, which fridges will work? I've had many fridges in the garage in the past and never had a problem, so I was suprised that the repairman said this.

Hi Russh,

Almost all refrigerators will work in an unheated garage. The older refrigerators used more insulation than the newer models and now they use a foam type insulation which has different properties. I've found it all depends on how cold it gets in the garage and for how long. Remember there is a cold control in the refrigerator that wants to keep the temperature above freezing. It also keeps the freezer temperature around zero degrees. A few days of say 20 degrees shouldn't be a problem. When a few days turns into a few weeks, the cold has made it past the insulation and to the cold control. The cold control is satisfied and does not turn on the compressor which means the freezer temperature now climbs from 0 degrees to 20 degrees. Then you get a bunch of warm days and the refrigerator is still cold inside and out and in a garage. Extreme cold can keep the compressor from starting and cause it to fail. The refrigerator in a garage should be set on it's lowest setting during the winter months. Hope this helped.

Rick

__________________
SERVICE TECHNICIAN: BEEHIVE APPLIANCE....... 1985-1988
SERVICE TECHNICIAN: HANSEN REFRIGERATION. 1988-1998
OWNER/SERV TECH: RICK'S APPLIANCE REPAIR...1998-2001
SERVICE MANAGER:Used Appliance store..... 2004-PRESENT
ONLINE SERV TECH: ApplianceBlog.com ApplianceJunk.com
LINCOLN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE:..................... 1977-1979
CERTIFIED TYPE 1; TYPE 2.....REFRIGERATION SERVICE E.S.

Thank you for the feedback. What about hot summer days though? The repairman from Sears said that the reason I was having problems was because the compressor was overheating because the fridge wasn't meant to be kept in a garage. This particular fridge hasn't gone through a winter, just a few hot days in the begining of the summer. I'm just not sure if the repairman was making excuses as to not having to cover the fridge under warranty, or if it was a legitamite concern. I've since returned the fridge. I want to buy another fridge, but I don't want to run into the same problem.

Russh,

As long as everything is working properly, hot weather shouldn't matter. Refrigerators will work just fine in 100 degrees plus.

Rick

__________________
SERVICE TECHNICIAN: BEEHIVE APPLIANCE....... 1985-1988
SERVICE TECHNICIAN: HANSEN REFRIGERATION. 1988-1998
OWNER/SERV TECH: RICK'S APPLIANCE REPAIR...1998-2001
SERVICE MANAGER:Used Appliance store..... 2004-PRESENT
ONLINE SERV TECH: ApplianceBlog.com ApplianceJunk.com
LINCOLN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE:..................... 1977-1979
CERTIFIED TYPE 1; TYPE 2.....REFRIGERATION SERVICE E.S.