Any appliance gurus out there?

Angler of Repose · 11-27-2006, 07:01 PM

I just bought a small freezer for crab bait that I'm going to keep in my garage at the beach. The manual that comes with the unit says "do not store in an un-insulated garage or below 50 degrees". For crying out loud, freezers are suppose to go in the garage. Can anyone tell me why they would have this disclaimer in the manual, other than a CYA in case of warrenty claims?

Basskolnikov · 11-27-2006, 07:05 PM

that is obsurd. totally a CYA clause.

abalone-girl · 11-27-2006, 07:19 PM

This is just a guess, but they no longer use freon as a refrigeratant. It could be that the new processes could freeze at a higher temp than freon did. If were the case perhaps the refrigerant would not move through the system properly.

IDWITHELD · 11-27-2006, 07:24 PM

I wonder if the compressor might "freeze up"?

Freighter Bait · 11-27-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDWITHELD

I wonder if the compressor might "freeze up"?

Good chance of that, if no defrost apparatus.

Nathan Bohlmann · 11-28-2006, 05:35 AM

i'll bite: (repair them for a living)

its about condensor temperature, refrigeration is a mechanical process where 'cold' is developed by removing heat from a space via the compressor cycle through the condensor, usually the cabinet shell on a freezer.
The compressor/evaporator/condensor process is designed to operate at normal room temperature to assure good compressor oil return.

In the case of a refrigerator/freezer combination, the cold control which is normally localed in refrigerator section and will not cycle properly unless somekind of heat gain, therefor freezer temps may rise, especially in defrost cycle.
the new refrigerant R-134a shows no preformance differences than old R-12, just slightly different operating pressures. No issue here.

PS: Very HOT garages are also a big issure. If your unit has a cabinet 'shell condensor', it will be on three surfaces, top and both sides... Need 4 inches clearence on sides and more on top, i like to see a foot there. keep junk away and no no no recess installations.

Chrome Bumper · 11-28-2006, 10:32 AM

Guess you will have to put a heat lamp on it.

BCF · 11-30-2006, 04:24 AM

Wrap the freezer in heat trace.

BCF

tnj8222 · 11-30-2006, 07:03 AM

i have heard this before but have also seen people do this with no problems after years.

Chrome Bumper · 11-30-2006, 03:24 PM

Cold doesn't seem to hurt them, but I never read the owners manual. Like Nathan B said, a hot garage is bad news and make sure air can circulate if it has coils in the shell.