Texas Winter - What do you do with outdoor fridge?

[lardo5150]

I have a fridge outside as part of my outdoor kitchen.

What do my fellow Texas peeps (Dallas to be specific) do with this fridge during the winter? Do you empty it and shut it down? Let it run?

 

[jeremycrook]

Not in TX but that is where the "adult beverages" remain.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

If you aren't using it, keep it propped open to avoid mold.

 

[Texas Splash]

I have a feeling if you left it out, with the colder temps you typically get up there as opposed to down in our area, the fridge would be fine. Perhaps not cycle on/off quite as much? Not sure it would hurt anything by leaving it out.

 

[blazer58]

In Chicago, and I have an extra one in the garage. Our winters here are colder than yours, but if we have a week of 20 degress or less, the auto defrost line has frozen up.
Rest of the winter it works just fine.

 

[jatkinson]

In theory, it shouldn't start or run when it's cold outside. And IF it does, compressor damage can happen because it doen't have oil in it designed for low temps. In addition, refrigerators lack a compressor heater to keep the oil preheated so it flows. Those with heat pumps will see this compressor heater band if they look at it. Same for HVAC heat pumps. They have a heater so the compressor will start when it's cold outside. When it doesn't, it's time for the emergency electrical heat strips. :-/

Personally, I would unplug it, dry it out, install a box of backing soda in it and shut the door. If it's a small fridge, I'd put it in the garage with the door cracked open. Again, also unplugged. Refrigerators are not designed to run in 30degree weather even inside your cold garage.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

We have a 3/4 sized fridge out in our un-insulated pool shed and just leave it alone for the most part. It still has drinks in it that Skippy will grab when mowing the lawn or something. We might turn the temp up a bit but haven't always.

Maddie

 

[txgunlover]

I have a fridge outside as part of my outdoor kitchen.

What do my fellow Texas peeps (Dallas to be specific) do with this fridge during the winter? Do you empty it and shut it down? Let it run?

I'm in Dallas, leave my running year round.

 

[mojo1980]

I go with cheapest fridge possible and leave outdoors. No mater what even high end fridges will go in three years. I bought cheapest of cheap and got 3 years leaving is straight outside.

Im in Houston too.

 

[pooldv]

We've had our old side by side kitchen fridge outside on the screen porch for quite a few years in DFW. Runs year round and works great.

 

[steveinaz]

Our Kenmore full size (no freezer) has been living on the patio for 10+ years, and still works great. MInd you we NEVER go below 0 degrees, but can get in the teens in the Winter.

 

[cfherrman]

Drink from it