Warning to anyone with a freezer in garage
Anyone who has a freezer or fridge freezer in their garage has been issued a warning.
Households are being warned over putting a freezer in their garage - due to the risk of fire and the risk to your food.
A fridge freezer is a hugely useful appliance, especially for shoppers always on the lookout for supermarket yellow sticker items to hoard for later. A fridge freezer, especially a large chest freezer, can give you ample room to store all sorts of foods and then break them out to defrost later, meaning you don’t have to constantly go back to the shops every few meals.
But if you keep your chest freezer in an outbuilding like a garage, you need to avoid the risks that come with putting the appliance there, especially in the hot summer months.
Appliance experts at Fridge.com have issued a warning over the ‘significant’ risks to putting a freezer in the garage.
They warned that ventilation, poor quality wiring and flammable materials can all pose problems.
They warned: “A significant concern with placing a freezer in the garage is the risk of fire. Various factors can contribute to this, including electrical faults, flammable materials, and improper ventilation.
“Ensure that the electrical circuit in your garage can handle the load of the freezer. Overloading a circuit can lead to overheating and potentially cause a fire.
“Proper ventilation is essential to prevent overheating. Make sure there is enough space around the freezer to allow air circulation and avoid placing it in a cramped or enclosed area.”
In hot summer months, like the one we’re having right now, higher temperatures can also put the safety of your food at risk.
They added: “Temperature fluctuations in the garage can also impact the quality and safety of the food stored in your freezer. Consistent freezing temperatures are essential to preserve food quality and prevent spoilage. Variations in temperature can lead to partial thawing and refreezing, which can degrade the texture and taste of food, as well as increase the risk of bacterial growth.”
They suggested that you should make sure temperature and humidity are strictly controlled in your garage, and that if you can’t manage that, try putting one in a utility room, cellar or kitchen instead.
