Within the last five years the mechanical refrigerator has become a popular piece of household equipment. Its year-round use has caused architects and others interested in planning for the convenience of the housewife to recommend placing the new cabinet in kitchens and other convenient places, with little thought about the effect on the operation of the refrigerator. The purpose of this publication is to point out some of the conditions under which the refrigerator has been expected to operate successfully, and some of the effects of these conditions upon the operation of the machine