refrigerator advice

Farmall plowboy · Jun 16, 2017

So with so many smart folks out there, I ask this. What is to hot to have a refrigerator in my pole shed? I average about 90 degrees all closed up in the summer, also I'm just talking about an apartment sized one, Thanks for your advice, Craig

rustyfarmall · Jun 16, 2017

90 degrees should not be a problem. Of more concern might be how cold it gets in the winter.

mozark · Jun 16, 2017

I had one of the compact refrigerator a friend gave me in my shop. The shop is shut up with no windows, no vents and no a/c so it gets really hot in the summer. The little refrigerator kept the water bottles and beer cold. It had some age on it when I got it and didn't last, but a couple of years. I suspect it ran a lot during the summer which may have led to its demise.

kcm.MN · Jun 16, 2017

The only noticeable thing you'll see (if you look hard enough) is that it'll run a bit more than if it was in a 60F environment. Otherwise, that's what they're made for.

Farmall plowboy · Jun 16, 2017

Rusty, I would unplug it for winter, wouldn't have the need for it then, just set my beer or soda outside for abit.....

wjytexas · Jun 16, 2017

I have a 1948 Hotpoint in my garage/shop. Air temp here gets over 100 regularly in the summer and it hums along and keeps the beer cold. I do have to defrost the freezer more often in the summer. The door gets opened more often.

Brent Zappe · Jun 16, 2017

Back when I lived in Riverside Cal. I use to have a small office size unit in my carport. during the summer time we got very hot weather. some days in August and Sept. it got up to 100 or hotter. I just reminded myself to keep it away from walls about 6 inches to a foot. It then had away to get air around the coils in the back plus remember to keep the coils in the back clean from dirt and other stuff.

rustyfarmall · Jun 16, 2017

(quoted from post at 05:40:26 06/16/17) Rusty, I would unplug it for winter, wouldn't have the need for it then, just set my beer or soda outside for abit.....

Good idea, IF you remember to do it. I've got a dorm sized refrigerator in my shop. It is a total mess inside because I forgot all about it and the 4 cans of Pepsi I had in it froze and burst. Didn't bother the refrigerator one little bit. It was still running just fine, but I unplugged it.

Farmall plowboy · Jun 16, 2017

Brent, good advice I will keep that in mind. Rusty, I did that not in the fridge but just setting on a shelf.

casecollectorsc · Jun 16, 2017

Have a 48 Frigidaire by General Motors in the screened porch....coldest beer in the county.

OldFarmTractor · Jun 16, 2017

Why should a refrigerator have problems in a shed? Many homes are not air conditioned and get in the 90s during the summer, especially the kitchen?

As was mentioned, make sure there is good air circulation around the coils. Try to keep the refrigerator pretty much filled. That will help stabilize the interior temperature.

I wonder if adding insulation to the sides and top might not help the whole situation? Just make sure the sides and top aren't warm. Some units use the skin as part of the cooling system.
Extra Fridge Insulation

Farmall plowboy · Jun 16, 2017

Oldfarmtractor, I had thought about the heat in a house, I just value as many thoughts and advice from others as I can get.....

44 massey · Jun 16, 2017

I once bought an apartment sized frig, one of the bigger sized one for my shop!! Reading instructions that gcame with it other then leaving proper space for circulation behind did not say anything about how warm it could stand BUT did state that it should NOT be exposed while operated in BELOW FREEZING temps for extended periods of time as contents could freeze!!! Believe I read that those little frigs are not designed to "reverse cooling" to keep contents from freezing when needed as the large ones can!!!!

old · Jun 16, 2017

I have had one out in my shop for years now. It is a full size refrigerator that I got for free years ago and it has worked just fine be it 100 out of -10 out other then in the winter it is more like a freezer which is ok since we used it to store deer in right after we skin them out

Sean Feeney · Jun 16, 2017

I may have to test that.

47fivewindow · Jun 16, 2017

I too have one in the barn and we use it a lot. Only problem is in the winter it never runs and the stuff in the freezer thaws out.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 16, 2017

I have a small refrig in garage with no heat or cooling. It works fine in hot summer. In winter, ice cream will melt because refrig won't come on unless you add heat to refrig section with a light bulb.

casecollectorsc · Jun 16, 2017

Come on over!! E SD.

Aleuicius · Jun 17, 2017

If the door seal is good, you shouldn't have a problem. That is the primary point of concern in warmer weather. It isn't quite so efficient at 90, but it would need to be closer to 120 to be a problem for the system. Refrigerators will work best when its cold enough not to need it, but too cold will allow the refrigerant to remain liquid and "slug" the valves in the compressor. Too hot and it will stop transferring heat and burn up the motor trying to satisfy the thermostat.
Keeping it full and closed helps - but where is the fun in that?

refrigerator advice

Farmall plowboy

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rustyfarmall

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mozark

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kcm.MN

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Farmall plowboy

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wjytexas

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Brent Zappe

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rustyfarmall

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Farmall plowboy

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casecollectorsc

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OldFarmTractor

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Farmall plowboy

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44 massey

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old

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Sean Feeney

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47fivewindow

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Geo-TH,In

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casecollectorsc

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Aleuicius

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