At a Glance:
What is a Garage Refrigerator?
How Do They Differ from Regular Refrigerators?
Pros and Cons of Garage Refrigerators
Finding The Right Garage Refrigerator
If you are looking to incorporate a refrigerator in your garage, you may be tempted to throw your old, unused refrigerator out there, but there are a few things you need to know before you do that. Today we are going to look at what exactly a garage refrigerator is and what you need to know before buying. Once you understand garage refrigerators, we’ll look at some of our favorite garage refrigerators from Plaza Appliance Mart today.
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RefrigeratorsWhat is a Garage Refrigerator?
Let’s first look at the biggest question you may ask yourself: what is a garage refrigerator? While the temperature in our kitchens generally fluctuates from cool to warm, a garage can reach temperatures from below freezing to extremely hot, meaning you need a refrigerator that can perform in various temperature settings. In essence, a garage refrigerator is built with special features, insulation, and thermostats that allow the fridge to work and function properly in the ever-changing temperature fluctuations common to garages.
Garage refrigerators are for anyone who just wants a designated place to hold their favorite sodas or drinks, needs additional storage for their food or groceries, or just wants a great place to store large amounts of food for parties or get-togethers. Any reason you need a garage refrigerator is a good reason!
How Do They Differ from Regular Refrigerators?
You might be wondering how a garage refrigerator is very different from a normal kitchen refrigerator. While the functions and overall job are very similar, there are a couple of key differences that separate the two.
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As we stated before, a garage refrigerator is built specifically for the fluctuations of a garage environment, while a regular refrigerator is only built for a small range of temperatures inside the household.
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Garage refrigerators will be able to handle temperatures that drop below freezing, while most regular refrigerators will shut themselves off if they reach below the temperature standard, which is usually about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Garage refrigerators are generally cheaper than regular refrigerators. Garage ready runs about $500-$2,000 on average, depending on the model you choose, while regular refrigerators average between $750-$12,000 when considering luxury, built-in, French-door, or side-by-side refrigerators.
Pros and Cons of Garage Refrigerators
While we love many things about garage-ready refrigerators, we also need to look at some of the drawbacks you might run into when investing in a garage refrigerator. Let’s take a practical look at what the pros and cons are.
Pros
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One of the more obvious benefits of having a garage refrigerator is that extra storage for additional food, drinks, and leftovers.
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You can spend less time in the grocery store by buying more food for your kitchen refrigerator and storing the overflow in the garage refrigerator.
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If you want an option to only hold food in your kitchen refrigerator, you can easily do that by placing all drinks and sodas in your garage refrigerator.
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If you frequently host parties, garage refrigerators are great places to hold large dishes or platters so as not to take up space in your regular refrigerator.
Cons
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Running a second refrigerator does cost more money on your electric bill.
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A garage refrigerator runs the risk of creating garage condensation issues because of the extra moisture a refrigerator creates.
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Food in garage refrigerators tends to be forgotten, meaning they often go to waste.
Popular Garage Refrigerators
If you are in the market for a new garage refrigerator, consider one of the options below. We will look at three different garage refrigerators and their features and share some customer reviews to help you choose the best new addition to your space.
Gladiator® 17.8 Cu. Ft. Black All Refrigerator
- Model: GARF30FDGB
- Dimensions: 72.75” H x 30.88” W x 30.88” D
- Total Capacity: 17.8 Cu. Ft.
First, we are going to look at this sleek Gladiator Garage Refrigerator. Leading the way with the industry’s only Step-To-Open All Refrigerator. This convenient feature allows you to simply push down on the pedestal to release and open the fridge in one simple step. This garage refrigerator with no freezer capacity allows for a simple one-step opening, revealing the entire refrigerator’s contents at once.
Features
Flexibility For Your Space
This garage refrigerator by Gladiator comes with heavy-duty casters on the bottom of the fridge, making it easy to maneuver the fridge around as your styles and spaces change.
Heavy Duty Shelves
With the extra thick glass shelves, you can easily place up to eight 12-packs of cans without worrying about compromising the function of the shelves.
Customer Reviews
“I can’t speak highly enough about this product! We have struggled for years to find the perfect garage ready refrigerator for our Illinois home. I am so impressed with this BEAST! During the polar vortex, where we hit -50F, the refrigerator kept temp and didn’t freeze a thing! It only dropped 1 degree. We can’t wait to see how it does this summer! So far, extremely pleased with the purchase!”
GE® 19.2 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Top Freezer Refrigerator
- Model: GTS19KYNRFS
- Dimensions: 66.38” H x 29.75” W x 34.5” D
- Total Capacity: 19.2 Cu. Ft.
Now, look at this GE Garage Ready Refrigerator with beautiful fingerprint-resistant stainless steel, 19.2 Cu. Ft. interior capacity, illuminating LED lighting, clear crisper drawers, and gallon storage bins. Easily store your favorite drinks, leftover food, or grocery overflow in this garage-ready gem by GE. If the stainless-steel finish doesn’t work for your style, GE conveniently offers this refrigerator in black, slate, and white finishes.
Features
Upfront Temperature Controls
The upfront temperature controls allow users to easily adjust both the refrigerator and freezer temperatures with the simple turn of a dial.
Adjustable Glass Freezer Shelves
Create endless storage possibilities with the adjustable glass freezer shelves, which allow you versatile storage options for your favorite frozen treats in this garage-ready top freezer refrigerator.
Customer Reviews
“We needed a new fridge for the garage and this one works perfectly. The shelving is adjustable for great organization and the compartments on the doors are large enough to hold loads of drink bottles.”
GE® 21.9 Cu. Ft. Black Top Freezer Refrigerator
- Model: GTS22KGNRBB
- Dimensions: 66.38” H x 32.75” W x 34.5” D
- Total Capacity: 21.9 Cu. Ft.
Lastly, let’s look at this GE garage-ready 21.9-cu ft Top-Freezer Refrigerator. This refrigerator has been tested to perform from 38 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit and comes with a premium inner door that boasts modular bins for extended storage options. Choose from black, black slate, stainless steel, slate, and white color finishes for the perfect new addition to your garage.
Features
High-Gloss Finish
No more dingy-looking garage refrigerators here! With the High-Gloss Finish, you can be sure your refrigerator will shine and stand out in any setting.
Edge-To-Edge Glass Shelves
Not only is it pretty from the outside, but the inside boasts beautiful edge-to-edge glass shelves that give off a polished look that is easy to clean and maintain.
Customer Reviews
“I like the spacious vegetable bins and the bins on the door. I especially love the bottom inner door shelf. I put my bottled water there and it allows me more space on the glass shelves. The sliding deli compartment is a plus.”
Finding The Right Garage Refrigerator
Let’s look at some things to consider before investing. These tips will hopefully help you find the best garage refrigerator that will work for you and your space.
Size and Storage
This may seem like an obvious step when factoring in what type of refrigerator you will put in your garage, but surprisingly it’s forgotten more than you think. Be sure to measure the space in your garage before going out and spending the money on a refrigerator for your garage. You also need to consider the practical storage capacity for your and your family’s needs.
Is Your Garage Too Hot or Too Cold?
If you have a garage that is not insulated, this is where many problems can occur when looking for a garage refrigerator. While garage-ready refrigerators are built to withstand a wide range of temperatures, consider insulating your garage before installing any refrigerator, as non-insulated garages go to extreme temperatures on both sides of the spectrum.
The Area You Install Your Refrigerator
Don’t just place your garage refrigerator all willy-nilly out in your garage. You need to find a spot that is dry, even, and clutter-free. Placing the refrigerator in a damp or uneven spot in your garage will affect how well it works. If you don’t have an ideal space in your garage, consider a leveling kit when you purchase your garage-ready refrigerator.
Energy Consumption
Consider the wattage and energy consumption of your refrigerator before you purchase. Adding a second refrigerator is already an added cost, but buying a refrigerator that uses less energy will save you in the long run. Most refrigerators have cold controls, so if the temperature in your garage falls below freezing, your refrigerator should turn itself off since it does not need to get colder to keep your food and drinks cold.
Budget
Last but certainly not least — the budget. Operating on a budget is a good principle for any new investment you make in your home or outside your home. Consider how much you can/will spend on a garage refrigerator and stick to that budget. Being committed to your price will keep you from overspending on something you can’t afford. Plus, you can find great garage-ready refrigerators at budget-friendly prices.
It’s clear that garage refrigerators have many benefits, including being the ideal place to put your favorite beverages and storing leftover food or groceries. At Plaza Appliance Mart, we are proud to carry several garage-ready refrigerators from multiple brands. Call, shop online, or visit your local Plaza Appliance Mart to consult with one of our knowledgeable staff members today!
Why Trust Plaza Appliance Mart?
Plaza Appliance Mart is a local, family-owned, appliance store in North Carolina where you can get personalized, expert service that you won’t find at the big box stores. Plaza Appliance Mart is YOUR source for competitive prices with knowledgeable in-store professionals here to help you every step of the way, whether you need to replace an old appliance, or if you’re remodeling and need an entire kitchen full of new brand-name products. And, our delivery and installation specialists will assure that your new appliances arrive safely and are installed properly.
If you were to ask the employees at Plaza Appliance Mart about their roles in the company, they’d say they’re not just employees, they’re family. So as you might imagine. a team of professionals like this who are already so tightly knit and bonded together make for a perfect partner with the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. Apart from their community ties, Plaza Appliance is an accredited Better Business Bureau company with an A+ Rating.
Shop Refrigerators at Plaza Appliance Mart
Stop by Plaza’s Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, or Pineville locations to see what a difference buying local with an experienced staff can make. Or shop refrigerators online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you learn more about garage refrigerators — whether you call us at 704-568-7600, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
Learn More: Charlotte Appliances: Plaza Appliance Mart