Keeping your fridge running during a power outage can save a lot of headaches later on. You won’t have to worry about the contents of your fridge and freezer spoiling. There are many ways to keep a fridge on during a power outage.
You will need either a generator, a 12-volt battery with an inverter, or a power station to keep the fridge on. These come available in many power ranges, but before buying any of these, you’ll need to account for the power consumption of your fridge/freezer.
Once you have selected the appropriate backup power system, you’ll need to know how to connect it safely. Included below are tips on how to meet the surge wattage requirements for a fridge to startup and how often you’ll need to run your generator.
How Can You Run A Fridge When The Power Is Out?
When it comes to running a fridge or freezer through a power outage, you have a few different choices. You can go with either a standard gasoline/propane generator, a 12V battery with an inverter, or a battery power station. If you continue to the section below, you’ll learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
RV Mini Fridges: 12 Volt Battery
RV owners are encouraged to invest in a backup battery system for their fridges. Fortunately, it is not difficult to institute battery backup on travel trailer fridges since they are usually pretty small.
RV fridges are typically designed a little differently than residential fridges. They can run on either AC power, DC power, or propane. As such, many of them can receive power from a simple car battery. Though, the best option is a heavy-duty battery bank that can keep your fridge going for hours.
If you keep critical medicines –such as insulin- in your fridge, you may want to invest in a small portable fridge that uses minimal power and can run on versatile power sources (such as Ac and DC). Here is a good example on a small RV fridge from Amazon.
Car Battery & Power Inverter
One alternative to a gasoline/propane generator is the combination of a 12-volt deep cycle battery (such as the one found in your car) and a power inverter. The power inverter can convert DC power from the car into conventional AC power used by home appliances.
Here is how it works:
- You connect the car battery to the inverter.
- AC devices are then plugged into the inverter.
- The battery can be recharged by running the car.
For this to work, you’ll need to get an inverter that is large enough to handle the demands of the fridge/freezer. This involves calculating the fridge’s power draw and the battery’s capacity and rating in a process described in further detail here.
You’ll often see inverters that are capable of delivering 1500 watts of continuous AC power and 3,000 watts of surge power, such as is the case with this Energizer Modified Sine Wave scar Inverter. This will be enough to power a 16 cu. ft. standard fridge in emergencies.
1800 Watt Power Station (Power Bank)
If battery packs are more your speed, you may be interested in checking out the EF Ecoflow Portable Power Station. This pack delivers 1800 watts of energy, 3300 watts at the peak. When considering the up-front cost, you should keep in mind that this doesn’t require any gas to run. Moreover, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, you will find multiple uses for this power station.
These eliminate the need to draw from a deep cycle battery, which would potentially need to be recharged by running a vehicle. You won’t need an inverter or to run extension cords through your home. The main downside of power stations, however, is the associated price tag.
Gasoline 2,000 Watt Generators
A 2,000-watt generator should be enough to run a fridge/freezer through a power outage. In terms of gasoline generators, consider starting with the A-iPower 2000 Watt Portable Generator. This is a relatively affordable option, and it is equipped with a 4-stroke engine, which runs at a relatively quiet 52-decibels, according to the manufacturer.
2,000 Watt Power Station
This Pecron Q3000S Portable Power Station has an output power rating of 2,000 watts with a peak power of 4000W. It’s powered by a lithium battery with a capacity of 3024 Wh. Keep in mind that such a powerful unit takes 11-12 hours to charge to full capacity. Keep an eye on weather conditions to anticipate storms and possible power outages.
Dual Fuel 2,500 Watt Generators
This is a safer bet for successfully running a full-sized fridge during a power outage. It can run on either gasoline or propane (remember the 2021 US east coast gas shortage?) This Champion 2500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator has a running wattage duration as follows: 1850 watts for 11.5 hours on gasoline, 1665 watts on propane for 34 hours.
Whole-Home/Partial Home: Tesla Powerwall
The Tesla Powerwall is a backup battery system capable of providing power to an entire home or at least part of the home during a power outage.
Here’s how it works:
- A large capacity Powerwall battery back is connected to the electric grid and/or a set of solar panels.
- The battery pack stores energy for power outages.
- The Powerwall can also store energy during times of low energy costs so that the homeowner may enjoy energy savings later on.
It would be overkill to install a Powerwall solely to power a fridge, but this is an intriguing option for homeowners who want to provide solar power backup to their entire home. The Powerwall costs somewhere in the territory of $12,000 – $15,000 to install.
Check for current state and federal tax incentives for additional savings.
Which Type Of Generator Do I Need For My Refrigerator?
A generator or backup battery can alleviate a lot of stress, especially if you live in a region that frequently experiences power outages. You’ll learn more about which size and type of generator will work best for you in the sections below.
Step 1: Calculate The Wattage Requirements
The wattage requirements of your refrigerator will determine what type of generator you need. This information is typically shown on the manufacturer’s tag of your refrigerator/freezer and is expressed in terms of both starting wattage and running wattage.
The starting/surge wattage describes the amount of energy required to start a fridge. In contrast, the running wattage is the energy needed to run continually after the first startup.
The average running wattage of refrigerators is 700, while the surge wattage typically reaches 2,200. As such, you can anticipate needing at least 2,000 watts out of a generator/battery system. Your best bet is to go with a generator or battery capable of more than this, especially if you expect to power a full-sized fridge.
Step 2: Consider The Climate
If you live in a temperate climate, then you may have already noticed your fridge laboring more during the hottest months of the year, especially if it is located in your garage. The same impact will be noticeable if you lose air conditioning inside your home.
For food to be kept safe for consumption, a refrigerator must maintain an internal temperature of 35-38 degrees F. Hot ambient temperatures can cause a fridge/freezer to burn out from overuse.
Step 3: Think About Your Living Space
Where do you live? Do you live in an apartment, house, or condo? If you live in an apartment complex, you will most likely not be able to use a generator under your lease agreement. Even if you’re renting out a house, the lease agreement may still stipulate that no generators are used.
This is not a major hitch in your plans since, luckily, there are various battery pack systems that can keep a fridge/freezer cool during a power outage without producing any noise or toxic fumes. You just have to find a battery pack that can store enough power to keep a fridge cool for at least several hours.
Step 4: Consider The Type & Size Of Your Fridge
First off, the age of the fridge can have a significant impact on the amount of electricity that it uses. Energy-star-rated fridges will use anywhere from 10-50% less energy per year than their equivalent. That’s not accounting for the fact that older models of standard fridges will be even less efficient.
The volume of a fridge will also affect the surge and running wattages of a fridge.
Below you’ll find the expected running wattages of various fridge sizes:
| Type | Wh/Day (Watt Hours/day) (8 hours per day) | Running Watts per Hour |
| Freezer-Upright-15 cu. ft. | 1240 | 155 |
| Freezer-Chest-15 cu. ft. | 1080 | 135 |
| Fridge-16 cu. ft. | 1200 | 150 |
| Fridge-20 cu. Ft. | 1411 | 176 |
Courtesy: Unbound Solar “for the most efficient units in their class.”
The calculations above are based on the estimation that most fridges run 8 hours per day. If the temperature inside your house is higher than average, then you can expect these appliances to work harder to keep items cool. This is why it’s a good idea to get a generator that will far exceed the minimum power consumption of your fridge/freezer.
Step 5: Calculate How Long A Battery Pack Will Last
If you’re going with a battery pack, then you’ll need to know how long the battery lasts. With generators, you don’t need the power to come back on to recharge them, but battery packs are a little bit more complicated.
Battery packs have a limited capacity that renders them useless once this capacity has been reached and you don’t have any way to recharge. The good news is that battery packs often come with an attachment that allows you to draw power from your car battery if need be.
Here’s how you calculate your battery capacity:
- Estimate the wattage hours of your fridge by multiplying the running watts by the number of hours that the fridge will be running.
- Look at the description of the battery pack, which should show the number of watt-hours, as well as the peak.
You will need to account for the surge wattage of the fridge, which will be significantly higher than the running wattage. At the very least, you will need to get a battery pack capable of delivering a maximum output of 2100 watts. Your best bet is first checking the manufacturer’s tag for the running wattage and the surge wattage.
How To Connect A Generator To A Refrigerator/Freezer
In the section below, you’ll learn how to safely connect a generator to a refrigerator or freezer. You will need to account for noise, fumes, and the loss of voltage that occurs in the extension cord running from the appliance to the generator.
When The Power Goes Out, Don’t Add Any Uncooled Items
Avoid adding any items at room temperature to your fridge when the power goes out. This will make the fridge have to work a little harder to keep everything cool. This is a good rule-of-thumb for everyday life as well: only add what you need for a few days.
Plugging Into A Portable Generator
As long as the generator meets the energy requirements of the fridge, then you can simply plug directly into the generator, keeping in mind the fact that you can’t just place a generator anywhere in your home.
It’s also better to plug appliances directly into generators than it is to use extension cords. Cords may overheat, as well as being a tripping hazard. Voltage is lost throughout a long extension cord (make sure the extension cord is at least 14 gauge!), rendering the generator slightly less powerful than its peak wattage.
Here are some critical safety guidelines:
- Gasoline/Propane generators must always receive proper ventilation. Never place generators in enclosed spaces.
- Generators may need to be grounded per the instruction manual to prevent electrical shock.
- Any extension cords should be at least 14 gauge rating should be placed in a manner where they don’t act as a potential tripping hazard.
Where To Place A Portable Generator
The portable generator should be placed in a flat spot outdoors, near where the fridge is located in the home’s interior. The generator should be at least 10 feet away from the home, as well as far away from any canopies or awnings.
The extension cord needs to be at least 14-gauge. Skinnier cords are a significant fire hazard since they are not built to handle the continuous voltage of a generator.
How Often Should You Run Your Generator? When Should You Run It?
Based on the FDA guidance on perishable items, you can expect 1 hour of running a generator to keep the fridge cold for roughly 4 hours if the generator is shut off after 1 hour.
Neighborly etiquette calls for homeowners to not run generators during the nighttime hours. It’s also a good idea to periodically shut off the generator so that overheating does not occur.
Here is how you can keep your fridge cool during the hours that the generator is off:
- Avoid opening the fridge/freezer door.
- Transfer frozen items to the fridge if you can. When a fridge or freezer is full, it will do a better job of staying cold.
How Long Will It Take Food To Spoil If Your Fridge Loses Power?
According to the FDA, a fridge can remain cold for up to 4 hours (as long as the door remains unopened!). A freezer can hold its temperature for up to 48 hours, as long as it is stocked full of items and the door remains closed. A crisis can be averted if you have a generator on hand that is at least able to keep your fridge/freezer cold.
Much of this depends on room temperature and the types of foods or beverages contained within your fridge, but you may be surprised at how quickly items can begin to spoil, even if your power is out for only a few hours.
The worst-case scenario is when a midsummer thunderstorm knocks out your power. If this has ever happened to you, then you are well aware of how rapidly the interior of your home warms up to a stifling temperature.
How To Keep Your Fridge Ready for Any Potential Outage
In the section below, you’ll find some tips for keeping your fridge cool year-round. If you commit yourself to these preventative measures, it should be easier for you to save the contents of your fridge during a power outage.
Keep Your Fridge Clean
If the front grill is filled with dust, then this will interfere with the flow of free air to the condenser. You are encouraged to clean out the condenser coil several times a year. Removing any dirt, lint, or dust could be more of a chore for garage fridges, so it may be best to perform deep cleanings more frequently.
Tools Needed:
- Brush
- Vacuum Cleaner
Food should also be kept covered, as this will further help the fridge do its job. Uncovered items release moisture into the fridge, which in turn makes things harder for the air compressor.
Give Your Fridge A Little Space
Be sure to leave space between your fridge and the wall. This will allow air to circulate freely to and from the condenser. A fridge or freezer should be at least 3 inches away from the nearest wall.
Plug Up Any Leaks
If your fridge is leaky at all, then this will undoubtedly inhibit the ability of a generator or battery pack to keep things properly cooled during a power outage. Common sources of leaks in fridges include gaskets and seals along the door.
You can test out the sealing ability of your fridge by doing this:
- Place a piece of paper or a dollar bill on the door frame.
- Carefully close the door so that the paper is still resting on the frame.
- Try pulling the paper out with the door shut. If there’s little resistance, this may be a sign that the gasket needs to be replaced.
Final Thoughts
Refrigerators and freezers can be powered through blackouts via the use of either a generator, 12-volt battery, or a power station. In the sections above, the wattage requirements of fridges are discussed. This is critical information for sizing a backup power supply system for appliances.
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