A refrigerator in an uninsulated garage will require a lot more energy to run during the hot summer months and may not operate correctly if the temperature gets too cold.
During the summer, if the average temperature of your garage is significantly higher than room temperature, your refrigerator will consume a great deal more energy than it would inside your kitchen. Each 1 degree F variation in ambient temperature from the normal ambient temperature of the kitchen leads to a 2.25% to 2.5% variation in energy consumption. Thus, a refrigerator in an environment with a 70 degree ambient temperature will use 22-25% less energy than a refrigerator in a 80 degree environment. A refrigerator in an
90 degree environment will use 45-50% more energy than one in a 70 degree environment.
If ambient air temperature drops below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the thermostat on the refrigerator may not run its cooling and defrost cycles for the appropriate amount of time. Further, refrigerators are not designed to heat their interiors, so placing a refrigerator in an environment that is below freezing may result in the freezing of your foods. Check the owner's manual for manufacturer recommendations regarding ambient air temperature and proper operation.