Can I use a fridge in my garden shed?

wizurd · Aug 26, 2016

Hi all.

I wanted to see if the above was possible since doing some reading suggests that fridges don't like outdoor setups unless you stump for one that is specifically built for outdoor use (and therefore costs a lot more). I was wondering about other people's experiences of running a fridge in a shed as a brew fridge and whether it works OK or if the fridges die really quickly?

Cheers

Dan

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gl0ckage · Aug 26, 2016

Ones in my fridge. However my shed is insulated slightly.

wizurd · Aug 26, 2016

Yer my shed is definitely not insulated.

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gl0ckage · Aug 26, 2016

Unsure really I mean mines only got silver backed bubble wrap insulation around it as in the shed. but it keeps it a steady temperature. My fridge still works and it's been there for 4 months now.

chuffer · Aug 26, 2016

don't see what the problem would be as long as there's an adequate/safe power supply in there

Cwrw666 · Aug 26, 2016

Inside a shed isn't `outdoors'. I suppose if your shed gets baking hot in summer the motor might burn out from constant running but if the fridge has good insulation it shouldn't happen.

wizurd · Aug 26, 2016

I was under the impression a shed would count as outdoors because of the temperature variation. It's good to know that others have made it work OK though. Bit of bubble wrap insulation for my shed by the looks of it then.

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MarkMayf · Aug 28, 2016

I think there are more problems with freezers when used outside. When it gets cold the freezer can switch off, defrosting everything.

MarkBowie · Aug 28, 2016

I haven't managed to get a brew fridge yet, however I've lined my shed with tarpaulin as had a load in my garage. Keeps it warm in winter and doesn't get hotter then inside the house in summer so I will be using my fridge in there when I get round to getting it all started.

mickthetrick · Aug 28, 2016

i have a fridge and two chest freezers outside in my shed for 6 years or so. no problem

Ale · Aug 29, 2016

Could there be a problem with a fridge in the shed when it drops below freezing for a few days in winter?

gl0ckage · Aug 29, 2016

Mine hasnt had any issues and my shed hit - 1 if not more a few nights ago.

MarkMayf · Aug 30, 2016

A few night ago? Yikes, where in Huddersfield are you?!

Robin54 · Aug 30, 2016

MarkMayf said:
A few night ago? Yikes, where in Huddersfield are you?!

Iceland.........................................:lol:.the shop perhaps:lol:

Cwrw666 · Aug 30, 2016

MarkMayf said:
I think there are more problems with freezers when used outside. When it gets cold the freezer can switch off, defrosting everything.

No problem with a freezer out in a shed. Mine's been `outside' in my workshop (unheated) for 21 years with no problem. Don't really see how your freezer could defrost if it's in sub zero temperatures!

Grizzly299 · Aug 30, 2016

Depends entirely on what the fridge is being used for.

If it's a fermentation fridge then it's not going to be working particularly hard to stay at 15-25ÃÂ°. Then you've got the tubular heater and exothermic fermentation handling the heating bit.

Where as if it was functioning as a largering fridge it would probably have to work a little harder to maintain lower temps say 3-5ÃÂ°C.

Say Your kitchen is sitting at 20ÃÂ°c fairly steadily, the fridge is theoretically going to have to work harder than It would outside in cooler temps, unsteady or not.

Summer heat is your only issue, but then you have to actually consider how much hotter your shed would be than the average kitchen. If it's not regularly exceeding 25ÃÂ°C then I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

MarkMayf · Aug 30, 2016

Cwrw666 said:
No problem with a freezer out in a shed. Mine's been `outside' in my workshop (unheated) for 21 years with no problem. Don't really see how your freezer could defrost if it's in sub zero temperatures!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...owell-do-freezers-need-to-be-kept-inside.html

IainM · Aug 30, 2016

Our home fridge is in an unheated uninsulated extension next to the house. With a hole in the roof. It is basically a shed, and we've had no problem with it being on 24/7.

Soton · Aug 31, 2016

Fridges can be effected by cold temptures, I have had a couple that stopped working when it got to cold! But once the outside temptures went back up they started working again, check out the link below for more info

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...82/Can-fridges-and-freezers-get-too-cold.html

geetee · Aug 31, 2016

I have a car port, not a garage and the back is open to the garden. There are two fridges out there and both have worked well for the last 5 - 6 years.
The wind does blow in somewhat in the winter but the roof keeps off any frost when the weather is coldest.

Can I use a fridge in my garden shed?

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