Does Freezing Batteries Extend Their Life?

There are countless tips and tricks for everything imaginable posted on the internet and discussed around office water coolers, most of them too obscure to believe. Keep dust and dirt off of your home's curtains by applying several coats of hairspray to them. Place three drops of vinegar on your tongue to cure the hiccups. Store your household batteries in the refrigerator to make them last longer. Speedy Subzero may not know much about curtains or the hiccups – but we know refrigerators – which is why we are going to take a closer look at the last tip to see if it is true or not.

According to GreenBatteries.com, standard alkaline batteries stored at a normal room temperature self discharge their energy at a rate of 2% per year. Raise the temperature to 85° F and the rate increases to about 5% per year. Increase it again to about 100° F and the rate skyrockets to 25% per year! With this knowledge, it is easy to understand why people advocate storing your batteries in the fridge.

The truth is that you should not store batteries in the refrigerator, especially if you do not live in an extremely hot climate. The best case scenario is that you increase their lifespan by an insignificant margin. On the other hand, refrigerating your batteries can lead to condensation, which can actually corrode and damage them. In fact, both Energizer and Duracell advise against this method, instead saying to store their products in a dry, room-temperature climate for optimal performance.

For over 60 years Speedy Subzero has been repairing refrigerators so that everything in them stays fresh, even batteries. Our “warehouse on wheels” storage approach allows us to provide one hour service to New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. We are open 24/7, even on holidays, so give us a call at 866-782-9376.