My Refrigerator Freezer Stopped Working When We Moved It to Our Garage

High Temperatures

• If you put a refrigerator in a space where the temperature exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit, oil inside the appliance can overheat and break down, notes GE. This can cause damage to the compressor or sealed system in the appliance.

Low Temperatures

• At temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, refrigerator-freezers may fail to properly run the cooling and defrost cycles. Low outdoor temperatures “trick” the thermostat into thinking it is maintaining the right temperature. Food inside the appliance’s refrigeration compartment may freeze.

Efficiency

• Refrigerators begin to lose efficiency when the ambient air temperature falls below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The units also work too hard when the surrounding air temperature is very high. “A refrigerator in a 90-degree environment will use 45-50 percent more energy than one in a 70-degree environment,” advises the federal government’s Energy Star program.

Options

• It is possible to successfully operate a refrigerator-freezer in your garage. Some appliance manufacturers sell heater kits you can install in your refrigerator to allow it to handle cold temperatures. Others sell refrigerators specifically designed for use in a garage.