Have you at any time thought about the neat magic that comes about inside of your freezer and fridge? They may possibly appear like shut cousins, but they do perform various game titles when it comes to chilling. With food routines evolving and kitchens adapting, in some cases a fridge matches the bill more than a freezer.
To convert a freezer into a fridge, modify or change the thermostat. This regulates the temperature, generating it great for each day merchandise relatively than deep freeze.
This manual will stroll you by means of the why’s, the how’s, and the guidelines to make the transformation smooth.
Freezers vs. Fridges
Although freezers and fridges are wholly various in terms of how they conduct, there is additional to it than meets the eye.
Temperature Ranges and Their Uses
Your freezer is the polar bear’s den, functioning at 0°F and below. It’s the place ice creams are living and meat hibernates. It’s all about extensive-phrase storage, infant. Foods keep frozen, nutrition locked in, and microorganisms – effectively, it is pretty significantly the Video game of Thrones for them.
On the flip aspect, your fridge likes it cool, not cold. Imagine 32°F to 40°F. It is a place the place milk lounges, leftovers chill, and veggies crisp up. It’s your go-to for small-time period foods storage, holding issues cool more than enough to keep clean, but not frozen.
Electricity Usage Comparison
Your freezer is effective extra time and uses much more power to retain things frozen solid. It is like a rock live performance, all amps to 11. Fridges is extra of a jazz brunch, comfortable and vitality-economical. So, switching points up might just see a dip in those costs.
The Mechanics
The solution of these cold havens is in the compressor, refrigerant, and condenser. Freezers run a tight ship, with the compressor doing work challenging to maintain temps minimal, creating them the ice fortresses that they are. Fridges have a lighter touch, with compressors that kick in and chill when needed, making sure your eggs, cheese, and late-evening snacks remain at their peak.
Customizing the Awesome
Whilst freezers and fridges have their distinct roles, magic comes about when you know how to tweak them. With a little know-how, turning a freezer into a fridge can open a earth of storage opportunities. It’s about knowing the thermostat’s purpose, dialing in the right temps, and knowledge how to balance humidity concentrations.
Basic safety First: Precautions In advance of Beginning
Right before going on this chilly experience, let us chat about basic safety. Soon after all, nobody likes a fried circuit or a mini fridge flood.
- Unplug that freezer! No surprising surprises, be sure to. Though it is off, give it a very good clear.
- Is your freezer more mature than your grandma’s dance moves? If it’s been about for a decade or additional, converting may well be tough. More recent styles are normally additional adaptable.
- Situation your shortly-to-be fridge away from the walls. It demands space to breathe, just like you right after a jog. Let 1-2 inches of room on each and every facet for ventilation.
Equipment and Products Needed
Prepared to enjoy kitchen scientist? Here’s your gear.
1. Thermostats
It’s the mind of the procedure! Thermostats management temperature. For this job, you want a single that is adjustable and leans a lot more towards the fridge array.
2. Wiring Essentials
Seize some wire strippers, connectors, and it’s possible even a multimeter. You know, to examine the electrical vibes. But if ‘multimeter’ sounds like a foreign language, probably phone in a buddy who’s savvy.
3. More Equipment
A screwdriver, some pliers, and most likely a flashlight. Also, hold a handbook or video clip guide handy on your cellular phone. No harm in double-examining steps.
Stage-by-Stage Conversion Process
Alright, household chefs and chill-masters, all set to flip the change (or additional correctly, the thermostat) on your freezer? Stick to this trusty manual, and shortly you’ll have a relatively brand name new fridge.
Move 1. Finding and Accessing the Thermostat
Your freezer’s thermostat is like its brain that instructs how cold it ought to be. Very first thing’s very first, we require to find it.
- Open the freezer door and lookup for a dial or a electronic panel. This is often wherever you adjust the coldness.
- If it is not in plain see, it could be hiding at the rear of the internal lining or at the again. A rapid peek at your model’s handbook (or a speedy on-line search) can aid pinpoint its location.
Stage 2. Adjusting or Changing the Thermostat
Now that we’ve observed the brain, it is time to teach it some new tricks.
- If your thermostat has a fridge setting, merely change or set it to that. You’re rather a great deal finished. Chat about quick-peasy!
- No fridge setting? No challenge. You may well need a new thermostat designed for fridges. Again, a swift search at your design on the net can point you to suitable types.
- The moment you have the new thermostat, disconnect the outdated 1. Normally, it’s a subject of unplugging a couple of wires.
- Plug in the new just one in which the previous a person was.
Phase 3. Testing and Calibrating the New Temperature
Here’s wherever we get a little bit science-y. But don’t sweat, it is cooler than it sounds.
- Plug your freezer (now aspiring fridge) back again in. Set the thermostat to a usual fridge temp, say all over 37°F.
- Soon after a couple of hours, pop in a thermometer. Is it exhibiting all over 37°F? If yes, get a victory sip of your drink. If not, alter the thermostat marginally and examine all over again in a handful of several hours.
- Keep in mind, tolerance is a virtue, in particular when actively playing with temperatures. It may possibly acquire a several tweaks to get it right.
Step 4. Securing and Finalizing the Set up
Just about there! Just a handful of ending touches to wrap points up.
- When you are joyful with the temperature, make certain all wires and the new thermostat are securely in place. We don’t want any surprise wire pop-outs in the course of midnight snack raids.
- Based on your product, you may well want to seal any places the place you had to access the thermostat. A tiny adhesive or tape can do the trick.
- Swap any shelves or drawers you removed through the method.
Phase 5. Adjusting for Humidity
Fridges and freezers tackle humidity in different ways. Here’s a fast humidity hack for your new fridge.
Move 5.1: Put a little, open container of baking soda inside of. It’ll soak up any excess humidity and continue to keep things dry. In addition, it combats odors. Acquire-win!
Step 5.2: If you recognize far too much condensation, you may want to marginally modify the temperature. A tiny tweak can make a entire world of distinction.
Alternate Strategies
If the freezer-to-fridge transformation feels a bit like a cooking recipe with much too quite a few components, no sweat! There are other methods to provide up this.
1. Exterior Thermostat Controllers
- Invest in an external thermostat controller from your local components retail store or on the web.
- Plug your freezer into it, established your sought after fridge temperature, and let this minor gadget do the heavy lifting.
2. Employing Freezer as Partial Fridge
- Established your freezer to its warmest location.
- The prime component will act cooler (like a fridge) though the bottom stays frosty. Greatest of the two worlds!
3. Amazing Boxes and Ice Packs
- Switch off the freezer and let it get to room temperature.
- Incorporate industrial ice packs or amazing containers to manage the chill stage. Switch as they heat up.
FAQs
1. Can all freezers be converted into fridges?
Most modern day freezers can moonlight as fridges with a little bit of tinkering. In point, some good fridges come with a freezer-to-fridge aspect. Even so, more mature designs may well throw a tantrum. Often check out your model’s specs or manual prior to trying this lifetime-altering procedure.
2. Can I reverse the procedure if I want my freezer back?
Totally! If you miss the icicles and frosty really feel, you can usually change points back. Just reverse the methods or reset the thermostat, and you’ll have your previous chilly buddy back again in motion.
The article How to Change Freezer to Fridge appeared initial on HowdyKitchen.
