Freezers
10.17.2022
Many people have a need for freezer storage. Coming in assorted sizes and two main configurations (chest and upright) there are reasons why one may not work as well for your needs as another. From frozen pizza to prized cuts of meat, we all want a freezer that will get the job done and protect the things we love. Let’s take an icy look at what’s out there!
Manual Defrost vs. Frost-free
Chest freezers are quite simple in design and are going to be designed as a “Manual Defrost” appliance. Over time, you will notice that in a chest freezer there will be ice buildup, and once or twice a year you will have to empty and thaw out your freezer to prevent excessive buildup.
Upright freezers are commonly configured to be Frost-free. This means that the unit does not have ice buildup and does not require regular, manual defrosting. The frost-free freezer is possible thanks to a clever evaporation system that essentially thaws ice buildup and then cools the freezer back down to keep your food protected.
Long-term Storage?
Traditionally speaking, a chest freezer will do a better job for food you like to have “hibernate” for a bit. The reason being is that they actually retain their temperature better. The buildup of frost and ice on the inside helps with temperatures, but the configuration of the lid helps too.
Having a chest freezer allows you to open up the top and lose less frigid air because it is heavier than the warmer air on the outside. An upright freezer will lose much more cool air as the vertical doors open which allow for a larger amount of warm, outside air to flow in a push out the cold.
Usable Space and Footprint
Upright freezers are easier to organize. Much like a fridge, you will find that the freezer has storage shelves (some models will also include drawers/bins at the bottom).
By providing these fixtures, you can access things better than if they were buried in the bottom of the chest freezer but at the cost of a bit less usable overall space model for the model.
An upright freezer and a chest freezer of similar cubic footage will take up vastly different amounts of floor space. Take for example Frigidaire’s FFCL2042AW (chest) and their FFUF2021AW (upright). The upright unit has a width of 32” and a depth of 28”. The chest on the other hand had a width of 74” and a depth of 29”.
Energy Efficiency
Generally speaking, it takes less energy to run a chest freezer than an upright (all things being equal). The chest freezer does not run an internal evaporation system that is constantly cycling on and off throughout the day, soaking up a fair amount of energy. Additionally, going back to the way they open, the chest freezer’s ability to retain the freezing air better helps the unit keep a consistent temperature which also helps out the energy bill each month.
Conclusion
A lot of what we talked about will come down to preference and what you actually plan to store. If you are looking for something to go the long haul with, a chest freezer is a way to go.
If you need something that provides easy access to the ice cream on a sweltering day, the upright might be more your style. Whatever you decide to purchase, please contact us, and let us know how we can help!
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