Appliance Repair in 19031 · Ambler, Fort Washington & Flourtown

Most people expect a garage fridge to struggle in summer heat. Fewer expect it to fail in January, yet cold is just as hard on many models. A typical refrigerator has its thermostat or temperature sensor in the fresh-food section. When the garage drops near freezing, that section stays cold without much help, the compressor rarely runs, and the freezer, which depends on that same cycle, slowly warms up. People find soft ice cream and thawed meat and assume the refrigerator is broken.

Many manufacturers specify a minimum room temperature, often somewhere in the 50s or 60s Fahrenheit, below which the unit may not work properly. Some models are built for garages or offer a heater kit that tricks the thermostat into running. Others simply are not meant for an unheated space, and no repair will change that.

Freezing temperatures bring other risks too. Water lines to an ice maker can freeze and split, and lubricants in the compressor work less well in deep cold. Before you call for a repair, check the manual for the rated temperature range. If the unit is acting up even inside its range, a technician can test the thermostat, sensors, defrost system and compressor start parts.

Clear space around the refrigerator and pull the car out if the garage is tight. Write down the temperature in the garage when the problem shows up, and have the model number handy so the rated range can be checked. Shut off the water to any ice maker line that runs through the cold garage.