Mini fridges are a great alternative to refrigerators as they are not large and bulky. They are also very easy to move and do not need a lot of electricity to operate or cool things correctly. Plus, they are way more convenient and can make life a lot easier for you no matter which room in your home you choose to place them in.
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Where should you put a mini fridge in your room?
The best place to put a mini fridge in your room is on a firm, hard surface away from the window. This will ensure minimal sunlight heats the mini-fridge while also ensuring it is operated from a steady location.
That said, do not set up your mini-fridge in an enclosed location such as a closet. This will affect its efficiency and can turn it into a fire hazard depending on what is in the closet with it.
Here are the 3 rules for where to put a mini-fridge in your room:
1. Find a hard surface
The first thing you have to think about when setting up your mini-fridge is the surface on which it will be placed. Hard surfaces are the best for this. You do not want your mini-fridge to be unstable or fall over once you are done setting it up, as this can damage the mini-fridge and be dangerous.
Hard surfaces like laminate or wood flooring would be a great place to start. However, if you have carpeting all over the room, get a mat for the mini-fridge, and this will ensure enough grip for it to stay in place even when it is full.
2. Avoid window locations
Next, you need to consider where sunlight and natural light are coming from. Do not expose your mini-fridge to direct sunlight, as this exposes it to extreme heat as it operates. When this heat builds up inside your mini-fridge, it may overheat, ruining its internal components. Additionally, having an external heat source forces the mini-fridge to work twice as hard to keep food at a reasonably low temperature.
Therefore, if you do not want your mini-fridge to get heated up and get a lower efficiency; as a result, it is a good idea to keep it in a shaded area of the room. This will give the mini-fridge a longer optimal performance lifespan overall.
3. Do not install your mini fridge in a closet
Avoid placing your mini-fridge in a closet. This will not only affect the efficiency of the mini-fridge, but it is also unsafe for many reasons. First, the cord could get trapped, making the mini-fridge harder and more dangerous to use over time. Secondly, it becomes a potential fire hazard if you have other items in the closet along with the mini-fridge.
For these reasons, it is a good idea to only install your mini-fridge in an open area or a space in the room.
Is it safe to have a mini-fridge in the bedroom?
If you have a small apartment, you may want to put your mini-fridge in your bedroom. This is also true if you stay in a dorm or studio apartment. However, is it safe to have a mini-fridge in the bedroom?
Well, yes. Mini fridges are safe in the bedroom, and they present no danger as long as they are correctly placed in the room. Perhaps the only downside is that if your mini-fridge produces a loud noise, it can sometimes be a nuisance when you sleep especially if you are a light sleeper.
Here are some more reasons why you may NOT want a mini-fridge in your bedroom:
1. They may increase the temperature in your bedroom
A mini-fridge may result in a slight rise in air temperature in your bedroom. A mini-fridge work is pretty simple: it has a compressor that consistently heats up and removes extra heat from the fridge. The resultant heat is utilized in the refrigeration process, but some of it is lost and released into the room throughout the process. This is why if you stand next to a mini-fridge or refrigerator barefoot, you will notice some warm air being emitted from it. Over time, this temperature can cause the entire room to heat up a bit, resulting in a higher temperature in your bedroom.
2. Mini fridges can be a source of unwanted noise
The compressor in the mini-fridge constantly converts cold air into heat and gas, which keeps your mini-fridge running at optimal temperatures. However, when the compressor runs, it sounds like a motor that becomes louder or quieter as it regulates the temperature. This constant noise can be a bit distracting, especially to guests who enter the bedroom, partners, and visitors.
3. It can make it harder to fall asleep in the bedroom
All the unwanted noise a mini-fridge makes can make it harder to fall asleep in the bedroom, leading to insomnia. If you are a person who cannot fall asleep with a fan, or in front of a TV, or if there is any background noise, then having a mini-fridge in the bedroom may not be a good idea. The noise generated by the mini-fridge can cause frequent interruptions in the sleep pattern of anyone who prefers the room to be dead quiet when they sleep.
4. You may get unwanted guests entering your bedroom
Imagine this scenario. You have a small apartment, and your mini-fridge is in your bedroom. You throw a house party, and lots of people show up. Suddenly everyone is going in and out of your bedroom to grab drinks from your mini-fridge.
Like most people, you probably don’t want all your houseguests to have access to your bedroom. The bedroom is a private space in which you store your valuables. Even if you don’t have a problem with people walking in and out of it, it sets you up to having things go missing or getting stolen.
This is also true if you have kids. On days when all you want is to sleep in, they’ll be digging through your mini-fridge for snacks, and this might interfere with your sleeping pattern.
5. You may get a freon leak
Freon is the fluid that passes through your mini-fridge, getting heated or cooled as needed. In very rare situations, one of the coils with freon in them may break, causing freon to leak out. This worst-case scenario occurs extremely rarely, but it is not impossible.
Mild exposure to freon, especially in a well-ventilated room, is not serious. However, large amounts of freon leaking out can impact your health. Freon can affect your breathing and cause headaches, skin and eye irritation, nausea and vomiting, and bouts of coughing.
Is it safe to sleep next to a mini-fridge?
Sleeping next to a mini-fridge is completely safe as long as it is at least 1-2 feet away from your body. This is to reduce the effect a gas leak would have on you in case it occurs. If you notice a sharp smell of ammonia coming from your mini-fridge, it is a sign of leakage, and you should turn it off and move it out of your room. Repair the mini-fridge immediately or dispose of it to prevent refrigerant poisoning.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, mini-fridges are safe in your bedroom except under special circumstances, as elaborated above. If you have a small apartment or bedroom, a dorm room, or a room in your basement, having a mini-fridge is completely worth it. They are convenient storage locations for drinks and snacks. Just be sure to put it on a hard surface with no beddings, cushions, or soft surfaces nearby because the bottom coil will heat up and cool down throughout its operation.
If you have been planning to get a mini-fridge for your room, these tips should help you figure out where is the best place to put it. Always have your mini fridge on a hard surface in an area of the room that is away from the window or direct sunlight. This is the best way to guarantee the highest levels of efficiency from the mini-fridge without posing a safety risk.
Related article:
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The Best Ways to Share a Refrigerator with Roommates
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Last update on 2023-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
