Buying a Chest Freezer For Your Outbuilding
If you own garage or a shed is a good idea to look at chest freezers for your outbuilding. They can be used to store food items, to preserve produce, or to simply free up some space in the house.
As air does not circulate as well, chest freezers tend maintain food more effectively than upright freezers. To reduce operating expenses, choose the freezer that has a high energy rating.
Size
Decide how much space require before deciding on the chest freezer. A best practice is to have one cubic foot of freezer space per household member. If you have more people than that, then you'll require a bigger freezer. You may also want to opt for an upright freezer that has locks, particularly if you're planning on keeping it outdoors. This will stop anyone from getting your frozen food.
Another thing to think about is whether you'd like your freezer chest to be capable of operating in frigid temperatures. If so, search for one that is designed to endure low temperatures, or you'll have trouble keeping the foods inside fresh. Freezers that are designed to withstand freezing temperature are typically more insulated, therefore their contents can remain frozen for longer.
If you're in search of a small freezer that will fit in your garage, consider this compact model from Midea. It can be used indoors or outdoors and is able to hold 7.2 cubic feet. It has a manual drain, adjustable temperature control, and storage baskets to help you stay organized. You'll need to sacrifice certain features to purchase it at this price with a counterbalanced front and an internal light. However, if you're looking to maximize the storage capacity of your freezer it's a great bargain.
Energy efficiency
Chest freezers are generally longer and lower to the ground than upright models, making them perfect for small spaces. They can operate in colder environments than standard freezers and use less power - this is due to the side-wall insulation that keeps them at very low temperatures without consuming a lot of energy.
To maximize energy efficiency, opt for an energy STAR certified chest freezer. They offer up to ten percent more energy savings than minimum federal standards and include thick insulation to ensure optimal temperatures. Find out if your utility company offers rebates on these products.
The annual power consumption of the freezer is also important to consider. This is usually expressed as a KWh value (1 KWh is one unit of electricity). Some manufacturers will provide this information on their product or in their user's manual, while others offer it read more online.
Also, you should check the weight of your chosen freezer prior to purchasing. Consider if you will require assistance in moving it into or out of the garage or outbuilding. You should consider buying a freezer with caster wheels, or rolling rollers to make it easier to move around. If you're considering using the freezer as a food storage device for outdoor activities like gardening or hunting it is important to ensure that it can be operated in freezing conditions.
Convenience
If you're a hunter gardener, or simply have lots of leftover food from cooking at home, a chest freezer could be a handy addition to your outbuilding or garage. It provides more storage space than a conventional refrigerator, which is ideal for those who are buying bulk or keeping the produce from their vegetable garden. Some models are able to hold meat and other food items, which is a great option to stock up for the winter.
Contrary to upright freezers, chest freezers are typically cheaper as they use less power due to their side-wall insulation. They also have many useful features, such as drains for defrost and manual temperature control. Certain models also come with a fast freeze function, which can reduce the time to freeze for certain foods in order to save time.
Most freezers can be operated safely at temperatures as low as -18 Celsius. This is ideal for colder climates. Residents who live near the coast should search for freezers designed to withstand the sea air, as salt could harm freezers over the course of time.
Beko and Russell Hobbs models are also available to those who want a freezer built to last. These manufacturers were among the first to test their freezers at temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius to ensure that they could be used in non-heated buildings.
Safety
Store your chest freezer in a garage, or any other space that is secure from the elements. Some people claim that they have their freezers outside without issue. However, most experts in repair of appliances agree that this is not an ideal solution. The outside temperatures can be too low for the freezer to function efficiently. Additionally, the humidity in the air could harm it over time.
The chest freezer must have an unlocked lock that stops children from opening it. It should also have a heavy lid that is difficult to open accidentally. It should be equipped with shelves or wire bins to store smaller objects and the door is reversible and reversible.
A quality freezer has an alarm for temperature that will sound when the temperature inside begins to increase. This will help you keep food safe as it will notify you in advance if there is any problem. This feature is a must-have for any freezer. Also, make sure it has a drainage system for defrost.
Another feature to consider is whether the freezer has internal lighting. This is crucial for maintaining the freezer's organization especially if you keep it in a dark location such as a garage or basement. This feature will help you find what you are looking for quicker and reduce the number of times that the lid of the freezer is accidentally opened, which will result in the temperature dropping.