Storing a Refrigerator Outside Your Home: Is It Possible?
For large families or those who love to store many items in the fridge, having an extra fridge is a godsend. Unfortunately, one problem stops many people in their tracks, and that is the lack of space in their kitchens.
If you relate to this problem, you are probably thinking about placing your second (or third) fridge outside. Is that a good idea? The answer to this will depend on various factors. Let us find out together whether you can place your fridge outside your home.
Outdoor vs. indoor fridges
There are fridges you can buy for this specific purpose. They are built to work outdoors and will also work indoors without any issues. That being said, outdoor fridges are built quite differently than typical indoor fridges.
One example relates to its construction. An indoor fridge is generally designed to operate within 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures beyond this range may negatively affect the machine’s performance.
Outdoor fridges will generally be much more insulated to ensure it does not get too hot or too cold. Additionally, outdoor fridges typically have stainless steel finishes to keep them safe from rust and other elements. These factors mean that many outdoor fridges are generally bulkier and more expensive than indoor fridges.
Storing a fridge outside
Whether you are working with an outdoor or indoor fridge, there are many factors you have to consider.
The first factor that will affect your fridge will be its placement outside in relation to your local weather. In areas where temperatures get hot or receive plenty of direct sunlight, even outdoor fridges can overheat and perform poorly. The same can happen if outside temperatures are too frigid, where fridges will not maintain the right temperatures or stop working altogether. For these reasons, you must place your fridge in an area safe from outside elements and away from the harsh heat or cold.
The second factor you will need to consider is the type of fridge you are working with. If you are working with an indoors-only fridge, you should not try to make it work outside. They are not designed for such purposes and can quickly fail and break.
For that reason, you should invest in an outdoor fridge if you want to place your fridge outside. However, if you need to move your indoor fridge outside temporarily, you can do so, but only as long as it does not get too hot or too cold outside. Do not forget to keep it safe from outside elements as well.
Conclusion
Can you place a fridge outside? That answer will depend on the factors above. If you have an indoor fridge that you are considering putting outside for long-term use, it is much better to invest in an outdoor fridge. Then again, if you live in an area where temperatures get searingly hot or freezingly cold, even an outdoor fridge might not be a good idea.
For this reason, you need to find areas outside your home that maintain stable temperatures and stay safe from the elements, no matter the season. That way, you can ensure that your outdoor fridge remains operational for years to come.
Pixel Fridge is your go-to blog for fridge-related articles, from reviews and analysis to recommendations and more. If you are wondering how much energy a mini-fridge uses or anything else related to your fridge, check out our content for more answers!