Refrigerator/freezer in garage doesn't keep food frozen in winter

Hello;

My name is Peter. I am a retired field service refrigeration technician.

You did not provide a model number, so I can only advise in general terms.

The basic operation of a combo freezer/fresh food section unit are the same.

Generally, the fresh food section does not have a independent cooling source. It gets its cooling from the freezer section. There is a air damper from the freezer to the fresh food section. This air damper is controlled by a thermostat. I suspect that either the thermostat is bad or the damper. Your air damper is wide open.

The other problem is, your unit is not designed to operated in a garage. If you have a warrantee or a service contract it will be cancelled by the service company. Your electrical components can short out or corrode from the drastic change in temperature. Your control board can fail due to static in the air or condensate.

The basic principle on which a "Freezer" works would dictate that the answer to your question is "Yes", it would still "Freeze". It's what it's designed to do, as opposed to a refrigerator, which works on a different principle.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/freezer2.htm

If this is a frost free freezer,the evaporator coils could be frozen over with ice,due to a bad defrost system part.
The freezer fan motor may not be working.
There could be a refrigerant restriction in the lines.
The compressor could be bad.
The refrigerant leak could be large and the refrigerant leaks out quickly.

Good day,
Yes. Domestic appliances will not work properly below approx 55 degrees.
The freezer suffers most simply because the machine runs rarely at 55 degrees and degrades as the temp goes lower.
They are designed to balance properly when in an environment where people live. Ideally 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
The machine is not broken.
Moving it inside, is the only solution.

Thank for using Fixya

If the condenser coil is clean and its fan works ,probably the unit is low on refrigerant which means there's a leak that has to be repair before recharging the system.

jeskjw

If it is below freezing in your garage the freezer will not work.
No freezer except one Frigidaire freezer will work in the extreme cold.
This one has a button to switch it to a refrigerator in the winter and a freezer in the summer.

Move the refrigerator to a room that is at least 50 degrees F.

Temps on most refrigerators are regulated by the fresh foods temp. If your garage is let's say 35 degrees, the fresh foods temp will most likely never raise enough to turn the refrigerator on. With the refrigerator never running, the freezer compartment will warm to 35 degrees, resulting in everything melting. Even if garage is a bit warmer, say 45, the refrig will not run long enough for the freezer to maintain a low enough temperture. If the garage temp falls to below freezing, say 20 degrees, the food in the fresh foods compartment will freeze. (outdoor beverage dispensers have internal heaters to prevent product from freezing !) Please don't rate this if not a Fix-Ya for you, as anything else lowers my score.

1.check the coils on the back or under side.
2.check if compressor is running
3.check if copressor is hot
4.let me know the answers

dkburing,

You said, the freezer is only keeping the food frozen on the botton of the freezee. It is cold, but only like a refrigerator.


We need more info,
What is tour brand,model number and the year or age of the fridge.
Waiting for your reply
Huuum

you have a refrigeration issue. let me guess. is the frost real thick around a small area not the entire lining? if so you have a restriction or leak. cheaper to replace by the way