Beer Forum

I have a mudroom (without doorway) at the entrance to my place and this summer I found a second frig for my kegs for cheap. Lately it has been cold in these mountains 19 was the high, 0 the low. I have heard that frigs in very cold environment can be strain and break because of having to run in the very cold environment.

Anyone know if it's true?

I haven't taken any chances of late and put up a plastic sheeting over the doorway of the mudroom to insulate it once I am home for the night, but does it really matter?

I don't see how the cold would actually damage the fridge. However, if the ambient temperature in the room is colder than what the thermostat is set at, it won't run. That is simply because the temperature inside won't rise enough to trip the thermostat. The big problem is that there isn't anything to keep the fridge from getting too cold for the stuff inside if the ambient temp is too low.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

There are lots of supposes and possibles in here, but hey it's my two pennies. Air conditioners and refridgerators operate on the same basic idea of cooled forced air. You'll have to be careful that the fridge isn't running too often or else your compressor coils may freeze over from trying to cool already close to freezing air. It may not be a problem because of the thermostat being inside the refridgerator (an already cool environment) instead of inside your house (a warmer place.) If the refridgerator isn't running for long periods of time, you ought to be OK, but I guess the possibility is still there. And someday I'll spell refridgerator correctly too.

I can't see this being a probably for your refridge. A lot of people keep their freezers for food out in the garage in my parts and it was -10 this morning. The only problem is that things in the fridge may freeze. I use a 60 watt light bulb in mine to bring the temp up a little. That keeps things from freezing.

The problem is the oil in the compressor gets cold and viscous/thick and doesnt lubricate as well when it kicks on thus making it wear out a little easier. It wont turn on in cold ambient temps until the ambient heats up a few degrees above the thermostat setting in the fridge. So even of it is wearing a bit more it doesnt run hardly at all. You should be ok. Also, some compressors have "crank case heaters" which are little heaters that keep the oil warm in the bottom of the compressor in colder conditions to avoid this problem all together.

Curt E.

CurtE wrote:The problem is the oil in the compressor gets cold and viscous/thick and doesnt lubricate as well when it kicks on thus making it wear out a little easier. It wont turn on in cold ambient temps until the ambient heats up a few degrees above the thermostat setting in the fridge. So even of it is wearing a bit more it doesnt run hardly at all. You should be ok. Also, some compressors have "crank case heaters" which are little heaters that keep the oil warm in the bottom of the compressor in colder conditions to avoid this problem all together.

Curt E.

That's what I had heard as well and if it gets any colder in my garage, I'll be sticking a low-watt light bulb in the compressor comparment of the fridge.