If you’ve got a smaller kitchen and you’re running out of space or you simply need more space to store your frozen food, you might have considered putting a freezer in your garage. It seems like the perfect place - out of the way but easily accessible. Having an extra freezer is ideal to store all of your meal prep if you are into batch cooking or if you like to bulk buy.

Before buying a new freezer for this purpose, you need to know whether freezers can go in the garage. The answer is that not all freezers are suitable for garages or outbuildings. However, there are freezers that can go in the garage. It all depends on the type of freezer that you have and the conditions of where you are going to place it. In this blog post, we’re going to help you to understand which freezers are garage safe. This will help you to avoid costly mistakes and keep your frozen food safe year round.

Why Does the Garage Temperature Matter?

All refrigeration appliances including freezers are designed to work within a very specific ambient temperature range. This range tells you the minimum and maximum temperatures that the area you are placing the freezer in needs to be. If the temperature is outside of this range, the freezer won't work efficiently. This is called the climate class. 

In the UK, winter temperatures can drop below 0°C, especially during the night. Most garages and outbuildings don’t have heating, so they will reach similar temperatures as the outdoors. During the summer, especially in a heatwave, temperatures can go above 30°C. Most garages are uninsulated and have concrete floors and walls which absorb and retain heat. This means that the temperature inside a garage during the summer is usually higher than it is outside.

If the ambient temperature is outside of what is recommended you may experience the following issues:

• The freezer could stop working efficiently and may use more energy than necessary.
• The internal thermostat can be confused at the change in temperature which can cause the freezer to switch off.
• If the freezer switches off or the internal temperature fluctuates, food may end up partially or fully defrosting. This will affect the quality of the food and is also a health hazard.
• The compressor will end up working harder than it should. This means that it could become damaged over time and will shorten the life of your freezer.

Climate Classes

If you don’t know the temperature range for the specific model of freezer you are looking to buy, you should check with the manufacturer. The climate class should always be listed in the appliance’s user manual. The climate class will be displayed like this:

• N (Normal): +16°C to +32°C
  
• SN (Subnormal): +10°C to +32°C
  
• ST (Subtropical): +18°C to +38°C
  
• T (Tropical): +18°C to +43°C

As you can see from the above climate classes, most refrigeration appliances work efficiently in an area that is above 10°C. If the temperature drops any lower, then you will start to encounter issues. If you want to store a freezer in a garage or outbuilding, then you will need to look for models that are specifically designed for this use. 

Can Chest Freezers Go in the Garage?

Chest freezers tend to be the best option for garage and outbuilding use. The way they are designed means that they are much better at coping with colder environments. Most models are able to work in temperatures as low as -15°C. All of the chest freezers at Home Feeling are listed as ‘safe for garages and outbuildings’.

Pros of Chest Freezers

• Chest freezers are designed to keep cold air inside when the lid is opened. All of the Willow chest freezers open from the top and as cold air sinks, it stays inside when the lid is opened.
• They’re better insulated than most upright models.
• Chest freezers come in many different sizes - ours range from 51L all the way up to 400L.
• Most are designed to work in lower ambient temperatures.
• They generally have lower running costs over time as they use less energy than upright freezers.

A chest freezer is usually the safest and most reliable choice for a garage or outbuilding. Before you commit, always make sure that you check the specs and the climate class. Depending on the size of the chest freezer, it may take up more floor space than an upright model so always measure your available space. You’ll need to ensure that you have enough space for ventilation around the freezer - 5cm around each side is generally recommended.

Can Tall Freezers Go in the Garage?

Whilst tall freezers are usually more popular as they are easy to organise and don’t require excessive bending to access them, they are more sensitive to cold temperatures. Unlike chest freezers, the doors are located at the front of the unit. This means that when they are opened, cold air is able to escape, especially if they are opened for an extended period of time. 

Most models will stop working efficiently when the ambient temperature goes below 10°C. At this point, the thermostat is tricked into thinking that the freezer is already cold enough and, as a result, the compressor may not turn on frequently enough. You’ll then find that the internal temperature will rise and your food will start to defrost. 

A tall freezer will only work in a garage if the space is insulated and stays above the minimum temperature or if the freezer is specifically rated for use in garages or outbuildings. 

Can Undercounter Freezers Go in the Garage?

Undercounter freezers are usually chosen because they are compact and convenient. They work well in smaller kitchens as they slot under the countertop. Unfortunately, they are the least suitable type of freezer for garages. As they are designed to fit underneath countertops, they are only designed for indoor use in a kitchen. The doors are located on the front of the unit and much like tall freezers, this allows cold air to escape. The compressors are not built for extreme temperatures and they have a narrow climate class range.

The only instances where an undercounter freezer will work in a garage is if the garage is fully insulated and heated and the temperature is guaranteed to not drop below 10°C.

How Do You Choose the Best Freezer?

Now we’ve explained which freezers work in garages and outbuildings, you should have more of an idea of which type of freezer will work best for you. If you are planning on putting your freezer in a garage or outbuilding, then a chest freezer is your best option. If you would prefer a tall freezer, you will have to make sure that it can withstand extreme cold temperatures. Always check with the manufacturer before you purchase. If your garage is fully insulated and heated then you will have a lot more choice. 

If you have any questions about any of our freezers, feel free to contact us. Our friendly, in house customer service team are available to help you. Our phone lines are open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday or you can email us on support@homefeeling.co.uk and we will get back to you within one working day.