Fridges, freezers, and fridge-freezers are all designed to operate within specific temperature ranges (climates). If you place one in a kitchen, or in a separate room inside your house, it’s likely that it will operate as intended. However, it’s not advisable to place a refrigeration appliance next to a heat source such as a radiator or a cooker – or even in strong direct sunlight).
If you place one in an outside building such as a shed or garage you may be putting it into temperature ranges that fall outside the designed limits. You could then experience problems such as not working properly or completely malfunctioning.
So think carefully before installing a refrigeration appliance in a garage or outbuilding if the temperature inside is likely to get much higher or much lower than that of its stated climate class. If you buy any refrigeration appliance in the UK it is highly likely to be only designed to work in a kitchen or utility room. (e.g. Freezer defrosted: Can you put a fridge freezer in a garage?)
All fridges, freezers, and fridge freezers should have a climate class printed on their rating plate (or maybe in the instruction book). This class indicates the minimum and maximum temperatures that the appliance is suitable to work in. The most common climate classes sold in the UK are listed in the form below. (where is the serial number on a fridge or freezer?)
NOTE: Your appliance may not necessarily use the phrase “climate class”, on my freezer the writing is very small and it just says “class SN”. I would expect most refrigeration appliances in the UK would be climate class SN but check your rating plate.
| Climate Class | Min Temperature | Max Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| N | 16 ° | 32 ° |
| SN | 10 ° | 32 ° |
| ST | 18 ° | 38 ° |
| T | 18 ° | 43 ° |
The above climate classes stand for – N = Temperate climate, SN = Extended Temperate climate, ST = Sub Tropical, T = Tropical.
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Re: CHEST FREEZERS in garage
sorry to tell you that they do have resricted operating temperatures as I’ve recently tried to find a small chest freezer and can only find one. My old one, made in denmark, was fine but now the only small one easily available , Norfrost made in scotland, hasn’t been climate class rated. John Lewis do their own brand but this has an “ambient operating temperature of 10-32c ” which isn’t any good in a garage !
So its just the same as trying to find a fridge-freezer except there’s more of those so it’s actually harder to find one. Of course the sales people say not to worry as hundreds of people put their freezer in the garage……..and then lose all their frozen food !!
Thanks for all this freezer info on here, but shame it’s so hard to find.
With regard to freezers able to work in an unheated out building. I have researched a number of major manufacturers.for my own needs. Frost free uprights……only Beko minus15c-plus 32c meets my needs Chest freezers …..Bosch have mailed to say minus 6c degrees is the lowest ambient temp. All others to my knowledge both uprights & chests are plus 10 degrees. Unless you know more? Comet salesman
These are brilliantly helpful comments and I’m now plumping for a Beko FF freezer as a result, so thanks!
I also want to get a separate fridge for the garage (so we can turn it on and off separately when we’re not using it) but can’t work out what the recommended brands are for fridges. Given the temperature issues discussed, can anyone advise how UK weather affects fridges and recommend what the best brands/models are for a garage? (Our garage is dry but not at all insulated.) Thanks.
@Katy C
I believe the issue only arises when operating fridge freezers in garages. Basically, when the ambient temperature falls below a certain temperature, the thermostat (on single thermostat models) believes that it is cold enough to store the food in the fridge and turns off the compressor for both the fridge and the freezer and thus the contents of the freezer can defrost. If the appliance has 2 thermostats – one in the fridge and one in the freezer section – this will not occur.
As I mentioned in previous posts, I bought a Beko CDA565FW and it operated perfectly when the temperatures reached -10 last winter. I travel a lot because I am an English teacher and have lived in probably more than 30 different places over the past 30 years and I can honestly say it is the best fridge I have ever had.
Having said that, I must warn you that some models of Beko fridge freezer had a design fault which has caused fires including the one in the London block of flats recently. Here is a link for more information:
https://refsafety.beko.co.uk/
Good luck Kathy
Thanks Anne: I changed “have” to “had” because the safety issue you mention only affects fridge freezers made between 2000 and 2006.
Thanks Anne. I was also advised by someone at Comet that Beko were perceived as a more reliable brand than Hotpoint for fridges and freezers so may look into that Beko fridge model you have.
@Katy C
When the man delivered my Beko, he told me that he had far fewer call-outs to collect/repair Bekos than the other top-name brands. He shared the Comet salesperson’s opinion that they were more reliable than other big-name brands.
The model I have has a lovely, sleek design (taller and narrower than most). It does not frost up – big thumbs up! The drawers are quite roomy. It is about 50:50 (freezer/fridge). The only negative comment I read in the reviews was that shorter people find it difficult to reach the top shelf but I am 5ft 6 and I have had no problems.
Hope this helps
A x
In the USA (and you can probably get them over here) it is possible to buy “crankcase heaters”. These are a belt or strap tailor made to fit the compressor (the motor or “pot”) of the appliance. The strap contains a heating element that consumes about fifty watts. If one has a crankcase heater it is possible to run a freezer in a garage or unheated outbuilding. It is possible to fit a thermostat so that the heater only powers up in cold weather. Not rocket science is it?
Hi,
I just spent hours searching the net and reading forums and am still unsure!
So, can you put a chest freezer in a unheaded garage or not?
I am getting brain freeze, trying to find out.
Please help
Tut: I’ve added a paragraph “what about chest freezers?” on my article – can you put a fridge freezer in a garage?