Friday, March 19, 2021

Refrigerator Garage Kit Review - Garage Freezer Not Freezing Help

Refrigerator Garage Kit
If your garage freezer doesn't stay cold enough for frozen food, you may need a refrigerator garage kit. 

We found out the hard way this past winter, that when the temperature outside gets cold, the freezer in our refrigerator/freezer located in our garage, stopped maintaining a freezing temperature. All of our frozen food thawed out and had to be thrown away.  This may seem baffling, but the newer refrigerator models have a different type of temperature control than our trustworthy "never die" refrigerators and freezers from bygone days.  

In spite of appearance, there is only one thermostat in a refrigerator-freezer.  It is located in the refrigerator.  The temperature control slider in your freezer is not a thermostat. It will not turn on the compressor motor. Therefore, everything is controlled by the temperature of the refrigerator. When it is cold, the refrigerator stays cool enough that the compressor motor doesn't cycle on, which means the freezer stops freezing and frozen food thaws. (For a thorough description, view the video featured below)

New, power saving technology drives a dagger into the heart of reliable durability once again!  Therefore, we must take counter measures to bring life back into our everyday needed appliances. I need my garage freezer every day!


The Refrigerator Garage Kit

After doing a bit of research, we found a garage kit for our refrigerator freezer.  We were fortunate that the kit will work in our Frigidaire refrigerator.  It is my understanding, the kit doesn't work in all models, so be sure you check for your model before you purchase a garage kit.  There may be a different garage kit made specifically for your refrigerator model.

Be sure to remove all of the glass shelves in the refrigerator before you start the installation.  Plus, unplug the refrigerator.

Installing the refrigerator garage kit isn't hard, but it may seem intimidating at first glance.  I have featured the video below to take the angst out of the installation.  You will find tons of helpful tips and instruction in this video. This is a must watch video before you start the refrigerator garage kit installation.



What You Need to Install a Refrigerator Garage Kit

In addition to the actual garage kit, the guy in the video shared a few tool tips that make this job easier. The "secret" tool that he used in the video is a telescoping magnetic grabber. Even if you don't plan to install a refrigerator garage kit, that tool is a tool we all need in our tool box. You will also need light once the fridge is unplugged. My personal favorite tool suggestion was the magnetic dish for holding the screws!  I might need 3 or 4 of those.  They would be handy in the garage, kitchen, and in my craft room.

 


 5303918301 - OEM Upgraded Replacement Refrigerator Garage KitCheck Price Slim 25” Durable Telescoping Magnetic Grabber/Retrieving MagnetCheck Price Titan 11061 Mini Magnetic Parts Tray, 4-1/4"Check Price Go Green Power Inc. (GG-36725) 16/3 25' Portable Hand LampCheck Price

 


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14 comments:

  1. Huh! I had no idea there was such a thing as a refrigerator garage kit. We used to always have a garage refrigerator for that extra food storage one always needs until our last one did not survive a move (wouldn't work after moving it cross-country). Nice to know there is a solution when a fridge stops freezing. Thanks for this helpful review, Sylvestermouse.

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    1. We had an older model that never had this issue. So many things are simply not made as well (in my opinion) as they were 20+ years ago. It was rather shocking to discover a new refrigerator/freezer won't work well in the garage.

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  2. Wow! You have just solved a puzzle I had this winter when we had below freezing temperatures for 19 days. I went to get ice cream from our garage refrigerator freezer and it was all mushy. I quickly moved all my meat inside and I was fine but I couldn't figure out why the freezer wasn't freezing during the cold. Now I know. Thanks for an interesting review.

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you caught it soon enough to save your meat, Mary Beth! It was very distressing to have to throw away our food for fear that it would make us sick if we ate it. Who knows how long it had been thawed out, sitting at "garage room" temperature. Perhaps this discovery will help prevent that happening again for both of us.

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  3. I had no idea this was a problem. When it gets cold enough here, we just put a rubbermaid container out on the balcony and let the temperatures outside do the trick. This is really good information for those who do rely on an extra fridge/freezer in their garages! I will pass this along to my peeps! Thanks Miss Sylvestermouse Cynthia!

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    Replies
    1. I didn't know it could be a problem either Olivia until we actually had it happen to us. Rather upsetting to say the least.

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  4. We don't have a freezer outside in the garage, just a fridge freezer indoors, so I never realised this could be an issue. However in our next home we are hoping to have an extra freezer in the garage. It must have been awful to know all your food was spoiled and have to throw it all away.Thank you so much for this review as now I will be prepared!

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    1. Definitely a question to ask (actually search out in the appliance manual) before you make a new appliance purchase. I would not have bought the one we bought had I known it wouldn't freeze in the garage in the winter. Although, I don't know that they even make them to work in the garage these days. It is rather sad that something we could do all of my life, is no longer a "out of the box" option.

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  5. I had no idea that this was a problem for newer garage freezers! Our garage freezer is a huge chest freezer that I’ve owned for nearly 40 years and, knock wood, is still working.The nearly 30-minute, step-by-step installation video is terrific, and I can see why it’s a must-watch for anyone planning to install one of these garage freezer kits. I agree completely about the tools, too. I have one of those telescoping magnets, and want to buy my husband at least one of those magnetic bowls for holding screws securely. Thanks for this wonderful and helpful review!

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    Replies
    1. I didn't know until it happened to us either Margaret! Our original garage freezer was so old it had to be defrosted because ice would build up on the inside. Truthfully, I would trade back for it in an instant and defrost it every few months again if I could. I thought we were getting an improvement. The telescoping magnet and magnetic bowl really are awesome, and truly essential for any tool box.

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  6. We don't have a freezer in the garage, ours we keep in the basement. If this would have happened to us I would have thought the freezer was broken. I've never heard of this and had no idea the cold weather could cause this problem. How on earth did you guys ever figure that out? I must live a sheltered life :) The video is an excellent step-by-step and so easy to follow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would you believe my husband actually read it in the manual that came with the refrigerator when he was trying to figure out why a new freezer wasn't working correctly! He is a rather handy man to have around :) He grew up in a home with a basement and they always had a freezer and second refrigerator in their basement. Plus, we have had a freezer in our garage for decades. Didn't realize it was a mistake to "upgrade" to a new one. Who knew they have to be indoors in temperature controlled homes now! Definitely not an upgrade!

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  7. Wow, what an impressive, detailed video. My hubby is always using YouTube videos for projects. I'll be sure to save this one if we ever put a fridge/freezer in our garage again. We used to have one in the 1990s in our garage but as you said, "they don't make 'em like they used too." Excellent article and a money saver for anyone planning on keeping a fridge in their garage. This video is a must.

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  8. Another wow! I never would have thought freezers in cold weather garages would have that problem! So expensive to lose the freezer - what a practical kit - thanks for the info!

    ReplyDelete

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