When planning on hosting a summer party outdoors, you’ll want to ensure your drinks stay cold and in reach. So, you may been wondering, can you put your refrigerator outside?
In this article, we’ll discuss whether you should put a refrigerator outside.
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Can You Put a Refrigerator Outside?
A refrigerator outside would make hosting summer gatherings even more accessible, but can you? Some appliances get damaged if they’re exposed to the outdoors.
The good news is that if you can figure out an electricity source and weather protection, you can put a refrigerator outside. Refrigerators are coolant machines, which means that as long as they have a source of electricity, they will keep the food inside cooler regardless of outdoor temperature.
That doesn’t mean that you should wheel your refrigerator outside. You need to choose the right location where it’ll be protected from the weather. Too much sun can cause your fridge to overheat, while rain or snow could rust it.
Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Refrigerators
Don’t let the excitement that you can put a refrigerator outside carry you away and make you start unplugging your kitchen fridge. Your kitchen fridge is designed to work indoors, where the temperature range is usually between 55-80 degrees Fahrenheit unless there is a power failure or natural disaster. It will be less effective if you take it outside and expose it to extreme temperatures.
Luckily, some refrigerators work perfectly outdoors. They’re usually known as patio refrigerators or garage refrigerators in the store. These fridges are more weather-resistant, meaning that they work no matter what the temperature is outside. Their materials are also more resistant to rain and sun (although you should still try to cover them from direct exposure).
Outdoor refrigerators are slightly less reliable in terms of temperature control, so you shouldn’t store food that could quickly spoil in them. Instead, use your garage refrigerator to store drinks so you can quickly restock during your next gathering.
Problems With Using a Refrigerator Outside
Before you drag your fridge outside, you should know that several problems could arise under less-than-ideal conditions.
Too Hot
Refrigerators are designed to keep food cool even when outside temperatures are warm. But, if the temperature outside rises above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the fridge will be less effective and have to work harder to keep the food cold, putting more strain on the parts.
Even if the heat doesn’t cause your fridge to deteriorate, a hotter ambient temperature will force it to work harder and use more energy, directly impacting your electricity bills.
Too Cold
Cooler temperatures are a bigger problem for fridges than hotter temperatures. Believe it or not, fridges need heat because they need to heat air when it goes through the compressor. The cycling of temperatures helps your fridge work efficiently, and its disruptions affect its ability to keep things cool. You probably won’t notice it in the fridge part if the outside is already cool, but food in your freezer might thaw.
Can You Leave a Refrigerator Outside in the Winter?
No, you should not leave a refrigerator outside in the winter. Cold weather will cause permanent damage to your appliance in the form of burst pipes and other nasty surprises.
Can You Leave a Refrigerator Outside in the Summer?
You can leave a fridge outside in the summer, as long as it’s an outdoor fridge designed to withstand hotter temperatures and you protect it from direct exposure to the sun.
Conclusion
So, you can put a refrigerator outdoors if you follow some precautions. We advise buying an outdoor refrigerator as it can withstand harsher weather conditions than regular refrigerators.
