Buying a Chest Freezer For Your Outbuilding
It is advisable to consider chest freezers in the event that you have an outdoor shed or garage. They can help with food storage, preserving produce or even to make space in the house.
As air does not circulate as much so chest freezers tend to maintain food more effectively than uprights. Look for one with high energy label ratings to help reduce the running cost too.
Size
When choosing a chest for your freezer decide on the amount of storage space you require. As a general rule you should have one cubic foot for each member of your family. You'll need a larger freezer when you have more than that. You might also want to opt for an upright freezer that has an alarm, especially in the event that you intend to keep it outside. This will prevent anyone from getting frozen food from your freezer.
You should also think about whether your freezer chest will be able operate at temperatures that are freezing. If you want to ensure that your food is fresh, opt for a model designed to endure low temperatures. Freezers made to withstand freezing temperatures are typically more insulated than those intended to be used indoors, so they'll keep their contents frozen longer.
This compact model from Midea is ideal for those who want a small, garage-friendly freezer. It can be used indoors and outdoors and can hold 7.2 cubic feet. It comes with a manual drain for defrost and an adjustable temperature control, and it comes with storage baskets to aid in organisation. Its low price means you'll have the option of sacrificing some features, like the lid that is counterbalanced as well as an internal light, but it's an easy trade-off when you're looking to maximise your freezer storage.
Energy efficiency
Chest freezers tend to be larger and lower to the ground than upright models, which makes them perfect for small spaces. In addition, they are able to operate in a colder environment than standard freezers and use less power - this is due to the side-wall insulation that keeps them at extremely low temperatures without consuming a lot of energy.
Look for a chest freezer that is Energy STAR certified to gain the most energy efficiency. They offer up to ten percent more energy savings than minimum federal standards and come with thick insulation to lock in optimal temperatures. Check to see if your utility company offers rebates on these products.
The annual consumption of electricity for the freezer is also important to note. This is usually stated as a KWh number (1 KWh is one unit of electricity). Certain manufacturers will show this information on their product's website or in their user's manual, while others offer the information online.
It's also worth looking into the weight prior to purchasing. You should plan ahead if you require assistance moving it into and out of the garage or outbuilding. You may also want to look into buying a model with rollers or caster wheels, which will make it easier to move around. If you're considering using the freezer to store food in a device for outdoor activities like hunting or gardening it is important to ensure whether it's able to be used under freezing temperatures.
Convenience
If you're a hunter gardener, or simply have lots of leftover food from cooking at home, a chest freezer can be a useful addition to your outbuilding or garage. It can provide more storage space than a standard refrigerator which is ideal for those who buy in bulk or keeping the fruits and vegetables from their patch. Some models can hold meat. This is a great method to get food supplies for the winter.
Chest freezers are more affordable than upright freezers because they consume less energy due to the insulation on their sides. These freezers also have numerous useful features, like a defrost drain and a temperature control manual. Some models even have the ability to freeze quickly, which reduces the freezing time for some foods to save time.
The majority of freezers are made to operate safely down to 18 degrees Celsius which is perfect for colder climates. If you live near the ocean make sure you choose freezers that are built to withstand salty air.
Beko and Russell Hobbs models are also available to those who want an appliance that will last. These companies are among the first ones to ensure that their freezers can be safely used in unheated buildings by testing them in temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius.
Safety
You should keep a freezer in your garage or other place that is safe from the elements. Some claim to use their freezers outside without a problem. However, most experts in repair of appliances agree that this is not an ideal option. The outdoor temperatures can be too cold for a freezer to continue operating reliably, and the humidity in the air could cause damage to the freezer over time.
The chest freezer should be equipped with locks to stop children from opening it, and the lid is heavy and difficult to open accidentally. It should also have shelves or wire baskets for storing smaller items, and a door read more that can be opened in the direction you prefer.
A great freezer will have an alarm for temperature, which will sound when the temperature inside starts to rise. This will help you keep food safe as it will notify you ahead of time in the event of any problem. Choose a model that has this feature, and ensure that it includes the ability to drain the freezer after defrost.
Another aspect to consider is whether the freezer is equipped with interior lighting. This feature is essential to keeping the freezer in order and organized, particularly if you store it in a dark area like a garage or basement. This feature can help you find what you are looking for more quickly, and it will reduce the number of times that the lid of your freezer is accidentally opened, which will result in a drop in temperature.