Garage Freezers

[Michael 61]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?

[GpaVader]

We recently bought a second refrigerator for the same reasons and was told that you should be able to find out if they are Garage Rated. We bought one that was, it was made by Fridgidare. The Garage Rating indicates that it can tolorate the heat, humidity or the cold and can get wet.

[Stu from NYC]

We have had one in garage for past year and no problems.

[retiredguy123]

I wouldn't go out of of my way to find a garage rated freezer, or pay a lot more money for one. A regular freezer should function fine in the garage. They say the same thing about "outdoor" televisions in a lanai. A regular television will function fine in the lanai.

[photo1902]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?

One other piece of advice. Plug a small nightlight, or similar light into the same receptacle as the fridge/freezer. Set the light on top of the unit, or somewhere you can see the light. Like most of us, we don't go into the unit in the garage as often as the one in the kitchen. If you lose power to that receptacle, the light being out will be the first sign of an issue.

[retiredguy123]

One other piece of advice. Plug a small nightlight, or similar light into the same receptacle as the fridge/freezer. Set the light on top of the unit, or somewhere you can see the light. Like most of us, we don't go into the unit in the garage as often as the one in the kitchen. If you lose power to that receptacle, the light being out will be the first sign of an issue.
I agree. I had several nightlights in my house until I realized that, when the power goes out at night, you are in total darkness. I replaced some of them with rechargeable emergency flashlights ($12 on Amazon). Now, when the power goes out, the flashlights come on. The flashlight coming on may be more noticable than a nightlight going out.

[photo1902]

I agree. I had several nightlights in my house until I realized that, when the power goes out at night, you are in total darkness. I replaced some of them with rechargeable emergency flashlights ($12 on Amazon). Now, when the power goes out, the flashlights come on. The flashlight coming on may be more noticable than a nightlight going out.

Thanks for catching that. Indicator light is what I meant to type Here's what I use.

[Battlebasset]

We recently bought a second refrigerator for the same reasons and was told that you should be able to find out if they are Garage Rated. We bought one that was, it was made by Fridgidare. The Garage Rating indicates that it can tolorate the heat, humidity or the cold and can get wet.

I had the same concerns about a refrigerator in the garage. Had several in the past up north, and they would struggle/die in the summer, and if the winter was too cold, they would fail also.

Obviously cold weather isn't the issue, but heat is. I researched and found the "garage rated" as well. Got an 18.1 cubic inch from Best Buy, their Insignia brand. Got it delivered in April, so it has gone thru the summer. Very happy with it, and it performs great. Wasn't any more in price than a comparable "standard" refrigerator. All things equal would go with the "garage rated". Not sure if this made any difference, but I put a $15 fan I got from Amazon and pointed it at the compressor to increase the air circulation. I would plug it in when the garage began to get too hot, and otherwise, leave it unplugged.

An alternative would be to find a used freezer/fridge cheap here on TOTV, if you have the ability to transport. Then, if it dies in a few years, you aren't out too much, assuming you can rescue your food in time!

[xkeowner]

Brought a well used garage freezer we bought second-hand down here over 12 years ago and it is still going strong.

[Keefelane66]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?
I would be concerned that ALL garage POWER OUTLETS ARE ON GFI, if it trips your out of your bulk food. Our neighbor had this happen and lost 20 lbs of shrimp couldn’t get rid of smell had to get rid of freezer.

[Carla B]

Yes, be sure not to plug it in to a GFIC. We've had a regular freezer in the garage for several years, never failed.

[B-flat]

We have had one in garage for past year and no problems.
Same here we've had one for 3 years and no problems.

[keepsake]

Yes. Biggest risk in garage is the GFI required outlet. They are usually daisy chained around other places in the house. An patio outlet receptacle can have a bad load, trip the GFI in the garage, and thaw $1000 worth of food. Beware. I'd run a separate circuit for just the freezer.

[keepsake]

Plenty of time you will see the fridge in the kitchen is a separate circuit from the rest of the outlets in the kitchen and on the counter.

[Woodbear]

Yes. Biggest risk in garage is the GFI required outlet. They are usually daisy chained around other places in the house. An patio outlet receptacle can have a bad load, trip the GFI in the garage, and thaw $1000 worth of food. Beware. I'd run a separate circuit for just the freezer.

I had two outside contractors that are mentioned on TOTV often give me a quote for a new outlet in the garage and both said they could/would only install a GFI outlet in the garage.

[PJ_Smiley]

We have had refrigerator/freezers in our garage for over 30 years in Florida. We have always purchased cheapest, simplest (no smart or Bluetooth), just basic unit. They last for years. We install water line for icemaker, so we have extra ice for coolers. We have had our current cheap refrigerator/freezer for probably 8 years (in 2 different houses). Works great. Plugged into FGCI outlet, but that has never been a problem.

[Sensei]

One other piece of advice. Plug a small nightlight, or similar light into the same receptacle as the fridge/freezer. Set the light on top of the unit, or somewhere you can see the light. Like most of us, we don't go into the unit in the garage as often as the one in the kitchen. If you lose power to that receptacle, the light being out will be the first sign of an issue.

Thoughtful suggestion...I will do that as well.
john

[RICH1]

I love when old people purchase bulk food, Solar Panel systems, new roofs with 30 year warranties…instead take a cruise, buy a new tv, plan your “Today”, give your Kids a monetary gift today when it really means something! Jump in the pool while you can… rather than stress about a freezer full of bulk food….

[photo1902]

I had two outside contractors that are mentioned on TOTV often give me a quote for a new outlet in the garage and both said they could/would only install a GFI outlet in the garage.

GFCI protection is required in a garage receptacle/circuit

[Medtrans]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?

We’ve had an old upright freezer in our garage for 8 years with no problem. Just a basic freezer, nothing fancy. I’m a Costco shopper too and buy all my meat there. I also keep a cup of frozen water with a coin on the top. If the coin goes to the bottom then I’ll know the freezer went out and the food thawed. Hasn’t happened but don’t want any surprises when we are out of town.

[Alarmed]

Yes, be sure not to plug it in to a GFIC. We've had a regular freezer in the garage for several years, never failed.

Every outlet in the garage is GFI.

[Wilharm]

I have a like new freezer for sale and can deliver it to you. See my classified ad in Talk of The Villages. Ron Wilharm. 251-979-3680

[Remembergoldenrule]

Just wondering out loud. Have you really calculated your “savings” for buying huge bulk amounts? My husband and I took the cost difference from the price paid at Costco and our regular store and realized that it would take YEARS to pay for the freezer and added cost of running it not to mention losing space in smaller garages here. Also, consider the freshness of the meat or frozen foods. Do you end up throwing out because it becomes frost bit or doesn’t taste quite as good because it has been frozen for long time. Then if there is power outage all has to be thrown out. For us after doing the true calculations we weren’t saving anything. It was just a habit we were used to from when we had larger family to feed. Just a thought.

[Carlsondm]

Consider a separate circuit (gfi protected in the garage) for your refrigerator so you have less to worry about. We have a small Frigidaire that we use for beer and steaks. We use it a lot. Will get a larger one when this one retires.

[Andyb]

You need a NON GFI circuit

[NoMo50]

You need a NON GFI circuit

Not necessarily. You just want an outlet that is not daisy-chained to other GFI outlets. That way, the only thing that will trip the breaker is the appliance itself. Plus, installing a non-GFI breaker in a garage would be a code violation. No licensed & insured electrician will do that.

[Joeint]

You need a NON GFI circuit

Code violation!

[Tadpole]

We bought a Whirlpool refrigerator/freezer here around the time they started making them with square corners. Maybe 15 years ago. Anyway, it sits against the north wall and I don't know if that makes a difference. However, it has been a gem! Never had a problem. And if we have a problem now, since I've bragged on it, I'm gonna really be ****ed.

[Gpsma]

Just wondering out loud. Have you really calculated your “savings” for buying huge bulk amounts? My husband and I took the cost difference from the price paid at Costco and our regular store and realized that it would take YEARS to pay for the freezer and added cost of running it not to mention losing space in smaller garages here. Also, consider the freshness of the meat or frozen foods. Do you end up throwing out because it becomes frost bit or doesn’t taste quite as good because it has been frozen for long time. Then if there is power outage all has to be thrown out. For us after doing the true calculations we weren’t saving anything. It was just a habit we were used to from when we had larger family to feed. Just a thought.

Exactly! I dont understand the need to hoard food at this stage of life.

[retiredguy123]

Thanks for catching that. Indicator light is what I meant to type Here's what I use.
Note that you can also buy a GFCI duplex outlet that has a built-in trip alarm that will sound an alarm if the GFCI outlet trips. They are about $30 on Amazon.

[art32163]

I use a radio 24/7 it just is easier and does not require a specific look. Also according to Sears a garage unit is designed for winter starts. It has a preheated or well insulated for cold starts

[rjn5656]

We have had the same one in the garage for 11 years. No problems. Only suggestion is put in a electrical circuit just for the freezer. That way nothing will cause circuit to trip.

[Rodneysblue]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?

If and when you do get one. Get an indoor, outdoor thermometer (with lead not wireless) to keep a check of temperature. The outdoor temperature will be the inside of freezer

[nn0wheremann]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?
No, any freezer will work, but in a hot garage it will work harder than in a cool basement.

[hlr1190]

I have a 6 month old GE R/F (side-by-side stainless) that came with our spec house in DeLuna for sale if you are interested? Sold new according to HD for about $1900, asking $1000.

H. Roseen
hlr1190@yahoo.com

[Sandy and Ed]

One other piece of advice. Plug a small nightlight, or similar light into the same receptacle as the fridge/freezer. Set the light on top of the unit, or somewhere you can see the light. Like most of us, we don't go into the unit in the garage as often as the one in the kitchen. If you lose power to that receptacle, the light being out will be the first sign of an issue.
Great tip!!! We have had our upright freezer in the garage on common wall with laundry for three years without issue. We keep a cup of frozen water with a quarter sitting on it so we can tell if we’ve lost electric for any length of time. Even so the light is a great idea.

[cherylncliff]

We had one in our garage for 10 years with no problems. Just a std chest freezer. Does tend to need defrosting during humid months.

[vinnytalk]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?

I would talk to a professional and not take the word of post here, do you own research

[bopat]

Our freezer is not frost free, I know when it's summer and humid it builds up ice pretty quickly.
We defrost it in the winter, just put the stuff in the snow while the freezer thaws.
We like "not frost free" since "frost free" gets rid of the frost by periodically warming up, and thereby shortening the shelf life of food in the freezer...
I wonder if anybody uses "not frost free" in The Villages in their garage. In the house it might be better, the humidity might be less?

[maistocars]

We purchased a freezer at Sam's and installed a separate dedicated GFCI so it doesn't go out when others breakers pop.

[Pmarlow]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?
We have had a standard chest freezer in our garage for the last 3 years with no issues. You shouldn’t need a garage rating. We paid $140 for ours at Costco when we were still in Michigan and brought it down with us. It was in our garage for a few years up there as well

[Michael 61]

Exactly! I dont understand the need to hoard food at this stage of life.

I’m not looking to hoard food, or really looking for any savings - it is more for convenience, so I don’t have to do weekly trips to Costco - plus I want to be able to store ice for my coolers.

[BrianL]

We have 2 full size freezers in our garage. One we purchased when we lived up north and had to worry about very cold temperatures the other we purchased a few years after moving to Florida. We use one for vegetables and the other for meat, we have whole cows butchered and a cow will fill up a full size freezer. Both of our freezers are Frigidaire freezers.

The thing you need to do is look at the owners manual for whatever freezer you are thinking of purchasing and look at the operating temperature range. The upper end of that for our freezers is 110 F. Our garage has never gotten that hot, even on the hottest days of the summer. The hottest it has gotten, in our garage is 102 F. That was summer day when my spouse and I had both returned at the same time so the car engines were both cooling simultaneously.

Having a freezer in the garage in Florida is much easier than in the North as you don't have to worry about the low temperature rating, at least not for most freezers.

[Carla B]

Every outlet in the garage is GFI.

Not at our house.

[Carla B]

I’m not looking to hoard food, or really looking for any savings - it is more for convenience, so I don’t have to do weekly trips to Costco - plus I want to be able to store ice for my coolers.

I agree. We don't really buy much bulk food but we treasure the garage freezer. We prepare some food in family-sized quantities in advance and store it in the freezer because we like the convenience. Today I'm preparing seven or so quarts of good old ham and bean soup and corn bread. Already have quarts of Zuppa Toscana and Chili. Next on the schedule is homemade Marinara sauce. And, imagine if every time we wanted a Tex-Mex meal and had to make Charro beans from scratch, what a chore that would be.

We had a GE small chest freezer but husband wanted to be able to find food easily. I found a full-height freezer on Next Door for sale in perfect condition. The old little one was sold to a friend, still working perfectly.

[jjombrello]

We have had a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer in our garage for 24 years and have had no problems. The unit was new in 1995 and we moved it from Cleveland.

[Gpsma]

Not at our house.

Dont assume because an outlet in the garage is not a GFI because it just looks like a plain outlet.

We had problems with our outside lamp shorting out. The lamp is part of a GFI circuit that contols all the outlets in the garage and the lanai.

Lenhardt Electric that finally fixed the problem told me that itis code in Florida that all garage outlets must be GFI protected

[retiredguy123]

Dont assume because an outlet in the garage is not a GFI because it just looks like a plain outlet.

We had problems with our outside lamp shorting out. The lamp is part of a GFI circuit that contols all the outlets in the garage and the lanai.

Lenhardt Electric that finally fixed the problem told me that itis code in Florida that all garage outlets must be GFI protected
Correct. Outlets in the kitchen, bathrooms, garage, and outdoors must be on a GFCI protected circuit.

[tallyhoer]

I plug my freezer into the garage door opener outlet plug in the ceiling. It is not GFI protected so will not trip if others in the garage do.

I had two outside contractors that are mentioned on TOTV often give me a quote for a new outlet in the garage and both said they could/would only install a GFI outlet in the garage.

[LovingTVLifestyle]

One other piece of advice. Plug a small nightlight, or similar light into the same receptacle as the fridge/freezer. Set the light on top of the unit, or somewhere you can see the light. Like most of us, we don't go into the unit in the garage as often as the one in the kitchen. If you lose power to that receptacle, the light being out will be the first sign of an issue.

I think I found them on Amazon wasn’t too much money and makes a nice loud sound that you can hear or the house I have insulin in my refrigerator and would hate to lose a lot of money’s worth of medication

[champion6]

I plug my freezer into the garage door opener outlet plug in the ceiling. It is not GFI protected so will not trip if others in the garage do.Caution -- my house was built in 2011 and the garage door opener outlet plug in the ceiling is definitely GFCI-protected. It tripped last week because of outside Christmas lights getting wet during a shower.

[Jimmy Lee]

As others have posted according to electrical code outlets in a garage must be GFI protected. This usually done by builders by stinging together garage outlets with outside or lanai outlets that must also be GFI protected. The problem is that if one of these outlets trips you lose power to all the GFI outlets on the circuit including the ones in your garage. We had an ordinary freezer in the garage of our Florida home for several years with no problem. Then we went away for 2 months in the summer. When we got home and opened the garage door, phew what a smell and what a mess in our freezer. Apparently a strong storm had blown rainwater into one of our outside outlets and tripped the GFI. We had a buddy who was handy with electricity install a non-GFI outlet in our garage off the record and lived happily ever after because when we sold the house the building inspector failed to spot the non-GFI outlet

[Pairadocs]

Hi - I’m wanting to purchase a freezer and place in my garage, so I can stock up in bulk from frozen items from Costco. I’m new to Florida, so want to know of any issues with our hot and humid summer temperatures. Do I need to purchase a special kind of freezer to sustain the high temps in a garage? Anything else I should be aware of, or is this all as simple of just purchasing a freezer, plugging it in, and I’m good to go?

Our first one lasted 14 years, it was a Whirlpool. We replaced it with a GE, not our favorite brand but was available for delivery immediately, and had the features we decided we never wanted to be without again.... a temp reading on OUTSIDE of door, and an alarm that freezer has stopped running. Those two features would have save us $$$ had they been on the previous freezer ! Live and learn. We've had this one 3 years now, find the temp reading ON the door is like power windows on an automobile, once you've had it, you don't want to be without...LOL ! Speaking of, is there such a thing as an auto without power windows .... don't think so.

[Battlebasset]

I plug my freezer into the garage door opener outlet plug in the ceiling. It is not GFI protected so will not trip if others in the garage do.

I didn't have a convenient outlet where I wanted the fridge, but I had the garage light switch. Put in a combo outlet/light switch. Don't think it is GCFI protected.

[doctorknow]

I have had a refrigerator in my garage for 10 years without a problem. It is not a garage rated one either. It was new when I bought the house 10 years ago and it is on the inside wall of the garage next to the door. In order to help the heat problem in the garage I installed a window fan on a thermostat so it come on when the heat gets above 82. Yes it runs almost all summer sometimes in the heat. Window air conditioners in garage are not allowed (and raises the price of using the refer anyway). I also put R6 insulation on my garage door. I thought about a ceiling vent fan or a solar tube but after consulting an engineer that cost benefit turned out to be not good. I also tinted my garage windows (if you don't have windows then no problem there)> You can get a louvered vent for the garage door too to allow air flow through the garage. I didn't do that but it is an option.

[Gatorgreen]

I would be concerned that ALL garage POWER OUTLETS ARE ON GFI, if it trips your out of your bulk food. Our neighbor had this happen and lost 20 lbs of shrimp couldn’t get rid of smell had to get rid of freezer.

We have two refrigerators and one freezer in the garage and no problem. Also, there are no gif plugins in our house of one year old , not any in the garage unless you have to take the cover off to reset them.
.

[retiredguy123]

We have two refrigerators and one freezer in the garage and no problem. Also, there are no gif plugins in our house of one year old , not any in the garage unless you have to take the cover off to reset them.
.
The electrical code requires all outlets in the garage, kitchen, and bathrooms to be on a GFIC circuit. If you don't have GFIC outlets that have a reset button on the faceplate, then I would check the electric panel in the garage for GFIC breakers that control these outlets.

[REDCART]

We have two refrigerators and one freezer in the garage and no problem. Also, there are no gif plugins in our house of one year old , not any in the garage unless you have to take the cover off to reset them.
.

Others have suggested that you check your panel box for the GFI breaker. You should also check to ensure that it’s a 20 amp circuit. With 2 fridges and a freezer, you must be very close to hitting the 20 amp max, especially if two of the compressors should start simultaneously. Has that occurred to you?