Chest Freezers Questions and Answers
We are often being asked freezer related questions, some of which are already answered in our buyers guide or some of our other news articles.
However, to help you out, here is a quick rundown of some of the most frequently asked queries - hope it helps!
Are chest freezers frost free?
At the very low temperatures that these units work at, frost will inevitably build up, so there are no completely frost free chest freezers. Some of the more expensive ones may have valves or fans to circulate the cold air more, but even these will need defrosting at some point and they have are other drawbacks.
Are chest freezers suitable for garages?
We've written a whole article on freezers in the garage! In summary though, the rule of thumb has been that a chest freezer cannot be reliably used in an unheated outside space (garage, shed, outbuilding) where the ambient air temperature will be below 10 degrees Celsius.
However, more manufacturers these days are making freezers that can safely withstand much colder temperatures. You can find them on this page.
Is a chest freezer easy to defrost?
It's quite straightforward. You need to remove any food inside and switch the freezer off. As the ice melts it will run out of the drain port if fitted.
It's easier if this port is located at the front rather than the side or rear. Some cheap freezers may not have a drain - then you'll need to scoop or mop out the water!
Are chest freezers energy efficient?
This depends on its energy use and that depends on its size. Typically though a small chest freezer will cost £30 to £40 per year in electricity use so much less than £1 per week. Bigger freezers tend to be more efficient than smaller ones per litre of storage. Check our Chest Freezer Energy Consumption comparison page.
Which size chest freezer?
Which freezer is best?
This is primarily going to depend on what space you have available - they do take up quite a bit of floor space especially width wise. Also, how much are you going to use it? 100 litre freezers are quite small and ideal for flats or as an overflow to your main freezer but may be too small as a main freezer for a family.
What is the lowest temperature a chest freezer can achieve?
It is generally -18 or -21 degrees Celsius. We've often been asked by people who work in laboratories if chest freezers can go down to -30 or even -40. For this application, you will require a specialist freezer.
Need more help? Read our full Chest Freezer Buyers Guide.
See Also
