I have a chest freezer that has operating temperatures down to -15C. I want to leave it on the balcony, which has a roof and it is shielded from the elements. But for shorter periods of the year we get weather colder than -15C.

Will it damage the freezer? Will the freezer just stop running temporarily? If the ambient temperature is -20 and the inside is -5-10C then atleast it won’t get hotter, so the food won’t spoil if it gets colder inside.

Edit: I could connect a smart plug and disconnect it if below -15, if that would help

  • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
    22·
    2 days ago

    The one problem I can think of is it might get so cold that the compressor motor is frozen solid, can’t start and ends up damaging itself.

    But the compressor shouldn’t be running if it’s that cold, except maybe due to a defrost cycle but IDK if chest freezers do that or just normal fridges.

  • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
    10·
    2 days ago

    It depends on the freezer. Some are “garage rated”, so they are designed to operate in a greater temperature range, while normally, they should only be used at room temp (plus and minus reasonable swings). Check your manual to see if it gives an operating range. I suspect that the more important factor is when it’s too hot outside for the level of insulation and compressor to keep up with, but too cold could be a problem

  • Rivalarrival@lemmy.todayEnglish
    14·
    2 days ago

    My mom’s deep freezer has been in her garage for 30+ years, reaching ambient temperatures as low as -30C.

    Send it.

  • chaospatterns@lemmy.worldEnglish
    8·
    2 days ago

    I could connect a smart plug and disconnect it if below -15, if that would help

    If you didn’t know already, many smart plugs are not rated for the amount of power that fridges and other compressor based appliances. They can overlosd the plugs and cause failures or fires. Also shutting off a compressor mid cycle increases the wear.

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    I don’t know the answer, but I’d guess that lubricants might be a factor.

  • T00l_shed@lemmy.world
    1·
    2 days ago

    Pretty sure my fridge freeze combo, with freezer on the bottom had a freezer temp defaulted to -18. So maybe it’s within operating parameters?

    • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 days ago

      OP is asking about ambient temperatures below -15°C.

      I recently bought a cheese freezer which had the exact same specification listed as a feature. I considered keeping mine in the garage that I keep around 7-10°C in the winter.