Refrigerator in RimWorld: how to build and configure correctly

RimWorld a game where the survival of a colony depends on proper management of resources, and food quickly spoils without proper storage. A refrigerator is not a luxury here, but a necessity: it saves time on constant hunting raids and protects the crop from rotting. But how to build it correctly if the game does not have ready-made “refrigeration chambers” in the classical sense?

In this article we will look step-by-step process of creating a refrigerator from choosing the room and materials to setting the temperature and automation. We will take into account the nuances of different biomes (from arctic cold to desert heat), we will deal with ventilation, insulation i energy consumption, and also warn against common mistakes due to which your supplies will turn into a toxic mess.

Spoiler: you don’t need mods - everything is done using vanilla mechanics. But if you play with expansions like Vanilla Expanded or Dubs Bad Hygiene, you will find bonus optimization tips at the end of the article.

1. Choosing a place: where to build a refrigerator

First rule: the refrigerator should be compact, but not cramped. The optimal size is 5×5 or 6×6 cells. Less means it’s inconvenient to place shelves, more means it’s more difficult to maintain the temperature. Place it next to the kitchen, but not close to the stove or other heat sources.

Key criteria for choosing a location:

• 🌡️ Biome temperature: In arctic zones, the refrigerator can be made semi-open (saving on cooling), in the desert you will need maximum insulation.
• ⚡ Access to energy: There should be a power plant or batteries nearby - coolers consume a lot of power.
• 🚪 Logistics: Colonists should not run across the entire base for food. Ideally - exit directly to the dining room.

Avoid building in the open air (even in cold biomes): the sun's rays heat the room, and precipitation spoils food on open shelves. If there is no alternative, use Slate roof or Steel plates.

2. Wall materials and insulation

The walls of the refrigerator should be retain cold i do not allow heat to pass through. Optimal materials (in descending order of effectiveness):

Minimum wall thickness - 2 blocks. One layer is not enough: heat will leak through the cracks. For additional insulation, use Ventilation grilles (they reduce heat loss by 15%) or Curtain doors (cheaper than usual, but they insulate worse).

⚠️ Attention: Do not use sandstone or limestone in desert biomes - these materials accumulate heat during the day and release it at night, negating the efforts of the coolers.

3. Cooling system: coolers and their placement

The heart of the refrigerator is coolers (Cooler). Their number depends on:

• 🌡️ Biome temperature (in hot zones you need +2-3 coolers).
• 📦 Storage volume (for 5×5 1-2 is enough pieces).
• 🔋 Grid power (one cooler consumes 200 W).

Optimal placement scheme:

1. Install coolers at the ceiling —warm air rises.
2. Point them to the center of the roomrather than at the walls (this way the cold is distributed more evenly).
3. Leave a gap of 1 cell between the cooler and the racks for air circulation.

Set the temperature to -10°C for meat and 0°C for vegetables. Lower values waste excess energy, higher values shorten the shelf life of products.

Are coolers installed near the ceiling?|

Are all doors and ventilation hatches closed?|

Are the coolers connected to the network with a power reserve?|

Is the temperature set to -10°C for meat?-->

4. Ventilation: is it needed?

In a classic refrigerator, ventilation not required —it only increases heat loss. However, there are two exceptions:

1. Storage of living plants (for example, psychoid bushes): they need air flow, but then the temperature will have to be raised to +5°C.
2. Use Dubs Bad Hygiene: the mod adds odors, and without ventilation the colonists will complain about the "stench".

If ventilation is still needed:

• 🌀 Install Ventilation grilles at the top of the wall (warm air goes up).
• 🔄 Add Fans for forced circulation (consume 50 W each).
• ❄️ Increase the power of coolers by 30-40% to compensate for heat loss.

⚠️ Attention: In biomes with higher temperatures +30°C ventilation grilles will turn your refrigerator into an oven. Use them only with Inlet coolers.

5. Automation and temperature control

Manual control of the refrigerator is a waste of time. Set up automation through the menu. Architect → Power:

1. Connect the coolers to Battery or Accumulator.
2. Install Thermostat (Thermostat) and connect it to coolers.
3. Set the temperature range: for example, from -12°C to -8°C for meat.

Additional features:

• 📊 Use Environmental monitor (Mod: Vanilla Expanded) for remote control.
• ⚡ Connect the coolers to Solar panels via Automatic switch —they will work only during the day, saving energy at night.
• 🛠️ In fashion Dubs Mint Menus you can set cooling priorities (for example, first meat, then vegetables).

Critical mistake of beginners: connecting coolers directly to generators without batteries. If there is a power outage (for example, during a storm), the temperature in the refrigerator will rise and the food will spoil in a few hours.

What to do if the power goes out?

If the power grid has fallen and there are perishable foods in the refrigerator:

1. Immediately disconnect the coolers from the network (they consume energy idle).

2. Move the most valuable supplies (meat, milk) to Outdoor storage area in the shade.

3. Use Ice (if available) - place it in the corners of the refrigerator for temporary cooling.

4. In arctic biomes, take food outside (but make sure animals don't steal it!)

6. Organization of storage: racks and zones

Products in RimWorld spoil at different rates. Optimal organization:

• 🥩 Meat and fish: store on -10°C on Granite racks (they do not rot).
• 🥕 Vegetables and fruits: enough 0°C, you can use Wooden racks (cheaper).
• 🧀 Dairy products: required -5°C and a separate zone (they spoil quickly).
• 🍖 Ready food: store -5°C no longer than 3 days (even in the cold it loses quality).

Tips for placement:

• Separate zones Storage priorities (in the menu Stockpile): meat first, then vegetables.
• Do not mix raw and finished products - this speeds up spoilage.
• Use Containers for small items (berries, mushrooms) - they take up less space.

In fashion Vanilla Cooking Expanded appear Freezers —they are more expensive, but increase the shelf life of meat by 2 times.

7. Typical mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced players sometimes make mistakes. Here are the top 5 mistakes when building a refrigerator:

1. Lack of backup power: Coolers turn off at night → food spoils. Solution: batteries or wind generators.
2. The room is too large: Coolers can't cope with the volume. Solution: divide into 2 refrigerators by 4×4.
3. Doors wide open: Colonists forget to close them. Solution: use Automatic doors or Curtain doors.
4. Storing dirty food: In fashion Dubs Bad Hygiene this causes poisoning. Solution: wash food before storing.
5. Ignoring the biome: In the desert they build a refrigerator from sandstone. Solution: granite + double walls.

Another common problem is condensation. If water accumulates in the refrigerator (for example, from melting ice), install Drains (Drain) in the corners or use Pump to pump out.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about refrigerators in RimWorld

Is it possible to make a refrigerator without electricity?

Yes, but with reservations:

• In Arctic biomes it is enough to dig a hole in the ground and cover it with a roof made of slate.
• In temperate zones use ice: put it in the room and close the door (enough for 2-3 days).
• In desert it is impossible to make a refrigerator without electricity - the food will spoil in a few hours.

For long-term storage without energy, a mod Alpha Biomesthat adds natural glaciers is suitable.

How many coolers do you need for a 6x6 room in the desert?

Minimum 3 coolers, located in a checkerboard pattern near the ceiling. Optimal - 4 (one in each corner). Don't forget about:

• Double granite walls.
• No ventilation grilles.
• Backup generator (for example, Geothermal).

How to preserve meat for longer than 5 days, even in the refrigerator?

The standard shelf life of meat -10°C is 5.5 days. To extend it:

• Use the mod Vanilla Cooking Expanded - appear there Freezers (+10 days).
• Process the meat into Pemmican (stored forever, but requires Kitchens i Stoves).
• Add to the colonists' diet Vegetarian dishes —they spoil more slowly.

Why do food spoil even though the temperature is -10°C?

The reasons may be the following:

• The seal is broken: check the doors and walls for cracks.
• The products are on the ground: use racks.
• The room has high humidity (mod Dubs Bad Hygiene): add Dehumidifier.
• Bug with storage zone: restart the game or reassign the zone.

How to automate loading food into the refrigerator?

Set up Logistics zones (Stockpile) with priorities:

1. Create a zone Storage - Refrigerator and tick only food.
2. In the zone settings, set Priority: Critical.
3. Associate a zone with Transporters (mod Conveyor Belts), if you want full automation.

Colonists will automatically take food to the refrigerator as soon as they appear at the base.