Filling your freezer to capacity makes it more energy-efficient by minimizing the amount of warm air that can enter it when you open the door. Also, the mass of the contents helps to recool the air.
The more cold food is in your freezer, the colder it will stay if the power goes out. If you don't open the freezer door at all, a full freezer will maintain its temperature for up to 48 hours before it starts to warm up—a half-full freezer will only last half as long.
There is no such thing as overfilling a freezer. This is one of those times when more is better. Your freezer works best when it is full. Once things are frozen it takes less energy to keep it frozen. People should fill bags with ice to use up unused space.
Freezer efficiency tip: Keep it full If your freezer isn't currently full to capacity, add jugs and bottles of water until it's full. A full freezer is more efficient and will stay cold longer if the power is out. Most of you probably already know this tip, but it's good to mention the basics for newcomers.
The main disadvantages of a chest freezer include the need for manual defrosting, difficulty organizing items, and the larger amount of floor space it requires.
A chest freezer should also be kept away from heat sources such as direct sunlight, ovens and radiators. These will raise the atmospheric temperature adjacent to the chest freezer forcing it to work harder to maintain its temperature. This will lead to higher energy consumption which can be considerable over time.
Both upright and chest freezers can last an average of 10 to 15 years. To make your freezer last longer and live its best life make sure the unit gets proper ventilation, don't overload it with food and keep it set at a consistent temperature.
A freezer will run more efficiently when full. This is because it doesn't have to work as hard to cool down the internal temperature. It is therefore cheaper to run a freezer that is full. Do old freezers use more electricity?
Storage tip: Keep your freezer full, but not packed. Keeping your freezer around 75-80% full helps retain cold air. If the freezer is fully filled, food may block the internal air vents, making it harder to distribute cold air throughout the freezer.
Setting the Temperature
The temperature selection on a Chest Freezer is made by setting the dial from ONE to SEVEN, with SEVEN being the coldest. The normal safe freezing level is obtained by setting the control on FOUR.
Overfilling the Freezer
But if the freezer is crammed too full, all that food prevents good air circulation. As a result, every time you open the freezer door, warm, moist air settles on the frozen food and causes icing.
If there are small ice crystals, this shows that the food has lost its moisture. If the ice crystals are very large, this may indicate that the meat has thawed and refrozen, meaning that it is likely to spoil.
To determine how many pounds a chest freezer will hold, the basic rule of thumb is 1 cubic foot holds between 15 and 20 lbs.
OVERPACKING
If your freezer is not working, the first thing to check is if the shelves are packed too tightly. Overstuffed freezers can cause an airflow blockage, especially when the evaporator fan is blocked. If your freezer is not cold enough, try clearing off your freezer shelves.
Even with the same capacity in cubic feet, chest freezers have more usable space than upright freezers. Energy efficiency is higher in chest freezers because they have an airtight seal.
Filling your freezer to capacity makes it more energy-efficient by minimizing the amount of warm air that can enter it when you open the door. Also, the mass of the contents helps to recool the air.
Freezer's work at their most efficient when at least 75% full. The less space available, the less the freezer has to do to keep the temperature down. a good thing. Overfilling the freezer can block air vents, restrict the flow of cold air, and overtax your refrigerator's condenser, which could lead to a burn out.
Understanding the Correct Operating Temperature in an Upright or Chest Freezer. The correct operating temperature of Chest and Upright Freezers, including smaller, compact models, is -5 to +5 degrees Fahrenheit.
A full freezer retains cold better than an empty one. When you open the door, the mass of frozen food will help keep in the cold, and the unit won't have to work as hard to cool empty space. But don't jam pack the freezer either; you need air to circulate.
You see, freezers work best when they are full. This is because freezers expend most energy when they have to cool down the warm air that gets in when you open the door to take food out. A packed-to-the-brim freezer means there is less room for warm air to get in.
Because the compressor is on the exterior of the unit, exceptionally cold temperatures may cause a build-up of ice or reduce the viscosity of the oils used to lubricate moving parts. Any of these may result in compressor failure or malfunction resulting in a costly repair.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.