Freezer Buying Guide
When it comes to selecting the best freezer for your home, the most important thing to remember is that most freezers focus on function not style. Many of today’s modern upright and chest freezer look similar to models from years ago. However, today they use less energy, so they can operate more efficiently.
Before you start shopping for a freezer for your home there a few things you need to consider, such as:
• The style
• Capacity
• Energy-efficiency
• Manual defrost or automatic defrost
• And more
Installation Location
When you deciding where you are going to install your new freezer in your home be sure to keep in mind the dimensions, the noise factor. The fact that most freezer can operation in a room with a temperature range of 32 degrees to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. This means you can place it in your garage, basement, laundry area, or elsewhere without a problem.
You should avoid placing your upright or chest freezer in a common living area due to the noisy operations.
The Capacity
Freezers can be purchased in four basic sizes:
• Compact units – 5 cubic-feet
• Small units – 6 to 9 cubic-feet
• Medium units – 12 to 18 cubic-feet
• Large units – more than 18 cubic-feet
Blackout Performance
When considering a new freezer for your home, it is important to take a look at the black performance. Most manufacturers claim their freezers can keep foods adequately frozen for 24 hours without out electricity, as long as the door remains closed. It is important to keep in mind this claim is made on the assumption your freezer door will remain closed during a power outage.
Self-defrosting vs. Manual Defrosting
Based on the average user experience, most freezers maintain even, consistent temperatures. Manual-defrost upright freezers are no exception. Without the same fans as self-defrosting units, units without fans to circulate cold air throughout the interior tend to higher temperatures on the door shelves than in the rest of the freezer compartment.
Manual-defrost freezers are typically more energy-efficient and quieter than self-defrosting models. However, manually defrosting your freezer can take hours, and it forces you to unload and unplug your freezer on a regular basis.
Temperature Performance
Most chest freezers and upright freezers maintain an even, consistent temperature throughout the interior cavity. In fact, many maintain an even 0 degree Fahrenheit. Freezers work hard to ensure your food is kept frozen, so it does not spoil before you are ready to prepare.
In the event of a long power outage, or someone leaving the freezer door open for hours, any food that reaches 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for longer than a two hour time period needs to be thrown in the garbage to avoid food borne illnesses.
Energy Efficient
Freezers today are more energy-efficient than they were ten to fifteen years. If energy savings is a key element in your decision, be sure to look for the Energy Star logo. Otherwise, you are viewing information based off of manufacturer tests.
Types of Freezer
When it comes to deciding which type of freezer is best, the deciding factor is your lifestyle. Which model will match your lifestyle and fit you home? You have two types of freezers to choose from.
Chest Freezers
Chest freezers offer a deep, fully exposed interior cavity, with removable hanging baskets for easier organization purposes. These deep freezers tend to offer more usable space than upright models. In addition to more room, chest freezer is also more energy-efficient and are less prone to freezer burn.
The major downfall about these models is they are more difficult to organize. Even though manufacturers include hanging baskets, you will still find yourself digging and rooting through the deep compartment to find your favorite and most frequently used items.
Upright Freezers
Upright freezers are great, because they take up less floor space, offering your more installation possibilities than chest freezers. Manufacturers design these models to be easy to organize and prioritize with shelves, bins, and drawers so you can find you most commonly used items quickly and easily.
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