How To Install Garage Refrigerator Heater Kit [The Easiest Method]

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Needless to say, keeping a refrigerator in the garage and storing your drinks there will free up space for one in the kitchen.

That’s all good but keep in mind, during winter your garage gets cold. If you’ve got an uninsulated garage this will bring all sorts of trouble.

The refrigerator will stop functioning at some point and will start thawing your foods in there. Installing a garage refrigerator kit provides the best solution in such a case.

how to install garage refrigerator heater kit

But that begs the question, how to install a garage refrigerator heater kit? Don’t worry. We’ll walk you through the exact steps here so that you can install one in your current refrigerator.

But before jumping into it, let’s talk about the basics of a garage refrigerator kit.

What Is A Garage Refrigerator Kit?

Well, a garage refrigerator kit is a handy heating coil installed within the thermostat of a fridge to keep the air warm around it. Mainly it is used so that the refrigerator hardly reacts to the air temperature of the garage. 

How Does A Garage Refrigerator Kit Work?

A refrigerator garage kit consists of wire filaments kept inside a glass tube. The thermostat supplies the electrical power that goes through the wires. Due to this, the tube gets heated which then keeps the thermostat warmer when it can’t manage itself.

This, in turn, allows the compressor to run longer and keeps your foods frozen despite the colder outside condition.  In the aftermath, you’ll have properly frozen food even when the garage isn’t insulated during winter.

How To Install Garage Refrigerator Heater Kit

To install the kit, you have to go through a few steps, which we’re about to discuss here in detail. But before you start, be sure to turn off the power switch first. It’s a universal caution dealing with any electrical assignment.

Tools you need:

  • A screwdriver
  • Flashlight
  • Garage refrigerator kit

To install a garage refrigerator kit:

  • Unplug the refrigerator first. The refrigerator will be connected to a wall socket.
  • Separate its control housing. You’ll see four hex screws holding the upper and the backside of the housing. Unscrew them carefully. A flashlight will ease your work during the process.
  • Unscrew the front screw of the housing control and gently unfold the wiring.
  • Disengage the connector and move the controller back and forth slightly. This will help the back wall get rid of the defrost drain spout. Keep the control housing in a safe place.
  • Unscrew the defrost timer when you’re done separating the control housing.
  • Remove the heater pad following the instructions written on the kit paper.
  • Remember to take out the heater backing. Watch out if the heater pad gets folded or not.
  • Raise the defrost timer and gently press the heater pad into the inner housing. Probably, you need to drive out the thermostat tube to place the heater properly.
  • Check out the wiring of the thermostat. You will discover two cables, one is orange in color, and another one is black. It carries 120 V, whenever power is given to the kit.
  • Take those two wires apart (from the thermostat). Locate this in place with heater connectors. These two wires have a small connector on their back.
  • You need to route the wires maintaining the color uniformity. It means orange wire goes with the orange, while black goes with the black.
  • Reconnect the terminals over the thermostat.
  • Finally, start reinstalling control housing following the opposite sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

u003cstrongu003eCan I keep a freezer in an unheated garage?u003c/strongu003e

Conventional refrigerators are meant to operate well in warm to moderate climates. Therefore, keeping a freezer in an unheated garage isn’t recommended especially during harsh winter and under 50 F. Because in such a condition, the refrigerator won’t be able to pass heat outside due to a less cool atmosphere inside.

u003cstrongu003eCan I plug a refrigerator in a garage?u003c/strongu003e

Plugging a refrigerator in the garage sounds good. But you have to be careful and try not to plug it into a duct, which is monitored by a switch. It can cause discontinuity when the switch is turned off. Try to clean it more often because a garage-based refrigerator gets dirty quickly.

u003cstrongu003eIs it expensive to operate a refrigerator in a garage?u003c/strongu003e

According to some studies, using a freezer in your kitchen will cost you $84 in a single year, whereas using it in the garage will cost you $95. So, yes, using a refrigerator in your garage will cost you more.

Should I unplug my garage refrigerator in winter?

If you have water lines or foods in your refrigerator then unplug it when the garage temperature drops below 35F. It will prevent the water line from freezing and then bursting for possible hazards. However, don’t keep it unplugged for more than 24 hours.

What is the best garage refrigerator heater kit?

If you have a Frigidaire garage refrigerator as most of us do, then Frigidaire 5303918301 is the best option.

Final Verdict

In case you move your refrigerator to the garage, installing a garage refrigerator kit is the best means to save both money and time.

And knowing how to install a garage refrigerator heater kit, will assist you in the process to a great extent. I hope you’ve liked the information above and will follow along to safely install the kit.

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Hi, I am Brent Hartman. I am a DIY enthusiast and love to improve and organize the garage in the most innovative way. I created this website out of my passion for helping people organize their garages.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.