Can my kenmore chest freezer be in the garage during hot summers and cold winters in Minnesota?

I think it is a freon leak.

Hello Donna F - Typically freezers are not recommended to be located outside because if the garage temperature is above 100 degrees, it will have difficulties performing optimally due to un-circulating air. Some manufacturers have garage kit design to help with this issue. It is design to solely be used during the winter to provide heat to the coils which trigger the compressor to come on. During the summer months, generally it is not needed.

The hot sides is normal, this is how they expel the heat from inside the freezer, sometimes it may help to use a fan to help cool. Also make sure there is about 12" of room around all sides of the freezer .

The first thing is to find out if there is a fan that runs next to the compressor. If not then in the summer the machine is overheating and passing the heat up to the machine itself thawing or preventing the freezer from operation properly

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jason_4570d45317834dd3

Hi, can you put your hands on front of freezer, and check from 1 to 5 without getting burn? how long can you keep your hands on front of freezer? check from 1 to 20 and let me know, normally there's a condensate line, or part of condenser lines that passes through freezer body , purpose of those condensate line is to prevent your door gasket from freezing , especially during winter. It's normal for front of freezer to be warmed, on hot days it will be a little hotter, you said "very hot" makes me wonder how hot it is, put your hands on front of freezer, use number method and let me know, but it's normal. good luck.

Sometimes it does hurt it and sometimes it doesnt. When a freezer sits for any length of time sometimes the freon will leak out. It would be best to leave the freezer plugged in.

If the freezer was stored and not running for 7 years it may have lost coolant.  Since the compressor is running recharging the coolant may fix the problem.  Hot compressor might indicate low coolant since its motor is immersed in it.

The battery compartment is on the left hand side of the freezer. You can open the battery door with a flat head screw driver. It take a 9v battery.

as long as it is just a freezer, not a fridge-freezer, should be no problem