Spare refrigerator safety...
The obvious: "the refrigerator cools and freezes."
The TRUTH... the interior of the home is climatized and somewhat protected from the elements of extreme temperature changes, dust, excessive moisture and humidity....
An interior refrigerator is designed for a controlled environment; the electric wiring/components, compressor, exterior body, seals, water supply, etc..., function well regarding their intended purposes; however, if the product is moved to the exterior, performance dynamics change.
*Garage application: acceptable and most common secondary choice for an extra refrigerator; the biggest variable is the exterior atmospheric temperature range fluctuations which take a toll on the compressor, exterior body exposure to humidity(moisture) which can lead to cosmetic deterioration and deterioration of the door perimeter seals which will be more prone to becoming brittle, losing their ability to properly seal, causing compressor to run longer and interior products, not cooling/freezing as desired. Dust, is more prevalent in this application which creates a blanket around the coils, can create short circuits within the electrical contacts. Proactive measures of cleaning the coils, seals, etc..., can extend the life, performance and durability of the garage unit...
**Exterior application: Expect the unexpected....Wind driven rain and dust, infuse hazards into the units exposed components(compressor/coils/electrical contacts/etc...), which can be rather !!SHOCKING!!, literally...!! Internal rust and corrosion are "cancer" to a component and typically are not readily visible. The wind driven dust, infuses dust into the electrical contacts, wraps around the coils, etc...~ wind driven rains and humidity, turn the dust to a muddy paste which decreases the unit's life expectancy, operating efficiency and enhances the deterioration and shocking hazards within the unit. Anyone who has picked up a "weathered bucket or hose", can envision what will happen to the door perimeter seals ~ they are designed for a controlled climate to seal the interior of the unit; they are not designed for direct exposure to heat and freezing fluctuating temperatures.(115*+F ~ 20*+F degrees)... Oh yeah, refrigerator/freezers are typically are on a dedicated/regular circuit; garage and exterior outlets are typically on GFCI circuits which are more prone to trip, leaving the unit with no power ~ create a routine, to check power for the unit, (hassle free hint: plug a night light or radio in to the same circuit to create visual/audible alert).
The improper application can: increase the units operating cost$, decrease the units operating efficiency, increase the chances of food spoilage, create electrocution hazards(in the right scenario, grab the metal handle for the !!SHOCK!! of your life), expose metal components to rapid deterioration which can become somewhat unsightly and of course, rust coated sharp edges can lead to a tetanus shot if you want to live after a cut...
Common Sense: grab a parachute instead of a back pack before jumping from a plane; properly match components to scenarios for a safe, happy and worry free life....
Just a FYI..........
Not much to go wrong.
