old chest freezer-going

coup · #1 01/31/10, 10:30 AM

Our old chest freezer(20-25years) was running and shaking bad this morning..it is about 15ft guess.....
i ordered a freezer alarm this morning..
i have an slightly newer upright in reserve probably 12ftguess...

i am wondering if two small chest might be more econ as could unplug one when space is not needed...
also though about buying one small chest and using upright till it goes.

uprights don't keep near as well during power outages but now have generator....... any ideas-thoughts app.

NWMO · #2 01/31/10, 10:35 AM

So not sure I would worry as much about it, and would not buy two versus one. And although the uprights are maybe a little accessible to get to, I think I prefer the chest type. I would go big. You won't regret having too much space as long as you have room for it.

Kshobbit · #3 01/31/10, 10:38 AM

I can't quote any sort of savings you might get from having two smaller freezers and unplugging one when not in use, but it seems logical. i have two freezers and do just that but it wasn't on purpose. I bought the smaller one new, then got the chance to get a bigger used one cheap. I do keep jugs of water in them to help keep them full and running less. I use the frozen jugs to help keep my rabbits cooled off in the summer.
You might check and make sure your freezer fan is unobstructed as that will make you freezer run rough.

Wayne02 · #4 01/31/10, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coup

i am wondering if two small chest might be more econ as could unplug one when space is not needed...

This is kind of what we do, although I guess it is more like one medium (14 cuf) and one small (7 cuf). Mostly because the amount of meat we get varies quite a bit, sometimes we will have 1/4 cow and other times (like recently) we butcher in batches of 3-4 animals and our family ends up with 1.5 cows worth. When the smaller freezer is empty we unplug it and let it sit until needed again. We didn't plan on having two freezers it just ended up this way.

The nice thing about having some reserve capacity is we can take advantage of sales or other opportunities that happen to come up without stressing over whether there will be enough room in the freezer.

Having said that, I don't know that there would be any true savings using two smaller freezers vs. a single larger one. Chest freezers are pretty efficient by design and you can always fill the empty space with one gallon plastic jugs of water to keep the freezers efficiencies up.

The Sears appliance site will provide some data relative to size vs. energy use.

Big Dave · #5 01/31/10, 12:31 PM

Replace the compressor. As much as a small freezer?

Joshie · #6 01/31/10, 12:36 PM

Wouldn't an unused, unplugged freezer get a bit stinky? I've always left them open when not in use and wouldn't really want to leave a freezer open.

Is it in the basement? Garage? Could mice get into an open freezer?

Travis in Louisiana · #7 01/31/10, 12:42 PM

You say it is shaking? Is it still cooling? If it is shaking, maybe one of the rubber crummets (sp) under the compressor is rotted or dry rotted out or the support bracket for the compressor is broken or rusted. Unplug it, move it and look. It maybe a simple fix. Later Travis

george darby · #8 01/31/10, 06:21 PM

check the voltage to that outlett we had a problem a couple of years ago the freezers quit working thought they needed replacement but noticed that the light bulb was barelly glowing . the older freezer was semi working and seemed better shape than the new one it would run but not well the new one would not even kick in at that voltage