If you’re installing a fridge in a garage or unheated room, choose a model whose operating temperature range covers both the room’s lowest winter temperature and its highest summer temperature. Then check the ventilation clearances specified for that model. A good energy rating doesn’t confirm that the fridge is suitable for the ambient temperature or that it can be installed in your chosen spot.
If your garage, cellar or outbuilding can get very cold, check the minimum ambient temperature allowed for the exact model. As Beko’s published model specifications show, this limit can vary from one appliance to another.
In a utility room or garage that gets cold in winter and warm in summer, compare both ends of the operating temperature range rather than relying on an average. Bosch and Beko describe climate classes as ranges of ambient temperature.
If the appliance needs to fit into an alcove or sit close to other equipment, also measure the space needed to open the door and allow air to circulate. Beko’s and Bosch’s installation instructions vary from one appliance to another.
Your choice depends first on what you want to store and the temperatures the room actually reaches. You’ll also need enough space to install the appliance as set out in its manual.
Choose this: if you need to keep fresh food in the room and the model’s stated temperature range covers both its winter and summer temperatures.
Limitation: according to the ranges stated by Bosch and Beko, the SN-T class, rated for 10 to 43 °C, is not enough on its own if the room drops below 10 °C.
Choose this: if you mainly need to store frozen food and the freezer you choose is specifically rated for the room’s temperature.
Limitation: a freezer doesn’t replace the space needed for fresh food.
Consider this: if the garage’s temperature or available ventilation space doesn’t meet the installation requirements of the models you’re considering.
Limitation: you’ll need to make room for storage elsewhere.
| Criteria | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Winter cold | Compare the room’s lowest temperature with the minimum ambient temperature stated in the specifications or manual for the exact model. | If my garage gets very cold, I want to know whether the appliance is designed to work there; around 33% of shoppers rank this winter minimum as their main concern. |
| Summer heat | Also check the upper limit of the stated climate range. Don’t assume the appliance is suitable based only on its lower limit. | When the room gets warm in summer, I need to be able to rely on a model designed for those temperatures; for around 27% of shoppers, heat and seasonal fluctuations are the main concern. |
| Ventilation and space | Check the installation diagram and door clearance. Beko recommends at least 5 cm on each side and at the back in its advice for freestanding models; Bosch specifies at least 200 cm² of ventilation space at the back and underneath some built-in models. These requirements are not interchangeable. | In an alcove, I want the door to open without restricting airflow; around 27% of shoppers prioritise available space and ventilation. |
| Type of storage | Decide whether you mainly need refrigeration for fresh food or extra freezer space, then check the ambient temperature range for the model you choose. | If I mainly store frozen food, a freezer meets a different need from a fridge; storage type comes first for around 13% of shoppers. |
Bosch and Beko state a range of 10 to 43 °C for SN-T. This class therefore doesn’t confirm that a model will work in a garage that drops below 10 °C.
Compare your garage’s lowest winter temperature with the minimum ambient temperature allowed for the specific appliance. If you’re relying on it being suitable for particularly cold conditions, check that this is confirmed in its documentation.
Freestanding and built-in models may need different clearances. Beko’s guidance for freestanding models and Bosch’s guidance for some built-in models aren’t one-size-fits-all rules.
Before choosing a spot, check the installation diagram for the exact model and allow for the sides, back, top, plinth and door opening.
This information doesn’t tell you whether the ambient temperature range and ventilation requirements are suitable for your garage. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights how installation can affect an appliance’s energy consumption.
First rule out models that aren’t suitable for the room or location. Then compare the capacity and energy consumption of the models still under consideration.
Beko describes some appliances as suitable for use in an unheated room, but the limits depend on the model or range.
Bosch explains the temperature ranges covered by climate classes and sets out different installation requirements for different appliances.
For a fridge in a garage, cellar or another room with changing temperatures, Whirlpool advises checking the product’s climate class.
Compare the lowest and highest temperatures in your garage with the two limits stated for the exact model. Bosch and Beko, for example, give ranges of 10 to 32 °C for class SN and 10 to 43 °C for SN-T. Check the specifications and manual for the appliance you’re considering.
Not based on its SN-T class alone, which Bosch and Beko rate for 10 to 43 °C. You’ll need model-specific confirmation that it can operate at a lower temperature. For example, Beko states that its B7RCNE408HXBR fridge will operate down to -5 °C.
Follow the clearances in the manual for the model you choose, rather than relying on a universal measurement. Beko recommends at least 5 cm at the sides and back in its advice for freestanding models, while Bosch specifies at least 200 cm² of ventilation space at the back and underneath some built-in models.
No. Check the model’s ambient temperature range and installation instructions separately. The energy label doesn’t confirm that the appliance can operate at garage temperatures or get enough ventilation in your chosen spot.