Can You Put a Mini Fridge in the Bedroom?

Have you ever craved a late-night snack but felt too tired and lazy to grab anything from the kitchen? Such incidents can make you toy with the idea of putting a mini-fridge inside your bedroom. However, you should be sure whether or not putting a mini-fridge in your bedroom is a good idea.

Currently, there is no scientific proof that putting a refrigerator where you sleep harms your health. The primary concern is usually the danger of EMF radiation exposure or gas poisoning, but the chances of such incidents occurring are minimal. However, in the event they occur, the levels would be too insignificant to be deemed toxic.

Is It Safe To Put a Mini Fridge in a Bedroom?

Yes, mini-fridges are usually safe to keep in your bedroom as long as you keep them on top of a hard surface. If you live in a small apartment—especially for college students who would always want to store drinks and small meals, a mini-fridge is a must-have.

Nowadays, refrigerators are electrical, so there is no danger of being exposed to toxic fumes unless you have older models which are gas-based. Besides, electrical refrigerators usually come with a sealed compressor filled with gas, so the danger of gas leaks is not likely.

It is unlikely to be harmful if the gas leaks, as most cooling systems do not have enough refrigerants. In other words, gas may only be harmful if you have an allergic reaction or live in a place that does not have adequate ventilation.

Older refrigerators are being removed from the market as they have damaging effects on the environment through CFCs. The new models use HFC gas, also referred to as tetrafluoroethane, which is less toxic than CFCs. 

Are Mini-Fridges Safe in a Bedroom?

Yes, putting mini-fridges in your bedroom does not pose any health risk. However, refrigerators can be noisy and can interfere with your sleep. Additionally, refrigerators are big and consume a lot of electricity to heat/cool properly.

If you want a quiet and peaceful sleep, you might have to rethink the idea of putting your mini-fridge in your bedroom. First, having a fridge may affect your sleep pattern resulting from the noises produced by the motor.

Common Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Keep a Fridge in The Bedroom

Having a fridge in your bedroom does not harm your health in any way. However, there are minor inconveniences that come with having a refrigerator in your bedroom.

These inconveniences may lead to long-term hazardous effects, which is why you need to know some of the reasons why you shouldn’t keep a fridge in the bedroom.

1. There Could be Temperature Increase

Whenever you stand beside a fridge, you’ll feel the heat that emanates from the fridge. This heat results from the fridge compressing extra heat and dispersing it to the surrounding areas.

When the heat from the fridge is released, room temperature usually increases, so make sure you place your fridge close to a window for it to release the heat away from your bed.

2. Disturbing Noise

Unlike other electrical appliances such as blenders or microwaves, refrigerators need to run to keep their contents fresh constantly. Unfortunately, a refrigerator’s compressor does not usually run quietly. 

That said, you’ll take a bit longer to get used to the constant hum coming from a fridge. It is, therefore, better to keep your fridge in the kitchen as you’ll barely hear the noise.

3. Possibilities of Leaks

The possibility of freon leaks is one of the major reasons you should not keep a refrigerator in your room. Freon leaks are infrequent, but they can result in illness when they occur, especially if the leaks happen while sleeping.

But what exactly are freon leaks? Freon is a liquid gas (can be in liquid form or gaseous form) released due to the fridge heating and cooling. Gaseous leaks are hazardous when inhaled as it cuts off the oxygen supply to your lungs and blood cells, while liquid leaks are mildly damaging. 

Although freon leaks rarely occur, it’s a danger to your health. If you have a refrigerator in your room, make sure you service it regularly.

4. Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation

Most people assume that all electrical devices emit radiation, and while that is true, radiation is all around us. Radiation can occur naturally from water, soil, the sun, outer space, or even our bodies. Electrical power lines, x – rays, radio waves, among others, are man-made radiation. 

People are naturally programmed to deal with low amounts of radiation since they are exposed to naturally-occurring radiation.

Please note that long exposure to them can lead to skin and tissue damage caused by UV rays. On the other hand, exposure to low radiation levels does not have immediate health effects but increases your chances of getting cancer.

Is It Safe To Sleep Next to a Fridge?

Yes, it is safe to sleep next to a fridge if it’s 1 to 2 feet away. A fridge emits high radiation levels, so it’s better to keep some distance to avoid radiation exposure.

Fridges have refrigerant gases which are harmful if they leak. These gases work together with other components to absorb heat and maintain cool temperatures in a refrigerator. Since these gases are toxic, they are used in small amounts.

Usually, gases might leak if the appliance is faulty, and this might cause harm to people. This is the reason why you need to watch out for pungent smells originating from your fridge—with a sharp smell of ammonia signifying gas leakage.

Repair your fridge immediately if you notice any leakages to avoid refrigerant poisoning that comes about when toxic gases are emitted into the environment.

Can a Mini Fridge Explode?

Yes, fridge explosions can happen on rare occasions. There have been a few reports about fridge explosions in the past. Fridge explosions occur when the gases can’t vent properly in the compressor leading to the bursting of the coils.

The back of a fridge can become hot during gas movement in the compressor—this leads to contraction of the coil; thus, the gas is trapped.

The compressor, usually located at the back of the fridge, has a pump and motor that facilitates gas refrigerant movement through the coils. Gases usually turn to liquids when they cool down, thus absorbing heat and maintaining cool temperatures in the fridge.

You should clean your fridge’s coils regularly to avoid clogging. The best solution is to buy modern refrigerators as they’re manufactured with materials that shield heat. Modern refrigerators have safety features absent in old models, so you should invest in modern refrigerators to avoid fridge explosions.

What Can You Keep in Your Bedroom Mini Fridge?

• Pizza:  If you can’t manage to finish a whole pizza, you can preserve some for future consumption in the fridge.
• Chocolate: Your body needs chocolate as it contains antioxidants, so you should keep some chocolates in your bedroom fridge.
• Booze: The majority of the dorms prohibit booze for people who haven’t reached the legal drinking age. If you want to hide your booze, mix it with juice and place it in a water bottle to avoid any suspicion.
• Cheese: You can stock as much cheese as you can in a fridge since it can be used as a topping, meal, or even a snack. You can never regret eating cheese, so make sure you fit it into iceboxes and preserve it in a fridge.
• Veggies: Sometimes, vegetables can be unpalatable when you have options like pizza, cheese, and booze, but you need to eat vegetables to boost your immunity. So you can keep veggies in your fridge for preservation purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions