Freezer For Sale By Owner (2024)

FAQs

What do I need to know before buying a freezer? ›

You can use non-food items like newspapers, bags of shipping peanuts and containers filled with water to fill empty spaces in the freezer, contributing to its energy efficiency. To really optimize your freezer's efficiency, defrost and dry it first.

On average, the life expectancy of a refrigerator-freezer or chest freezer is 16 years. Freezers typically last anywhere from 12 to 20 years. Along with gas and electric ranges, freezers tend to be the longest-lasting kitchen appliances. But that's not a guarantee!

You can put food in your new fridge freezer after letting it settle for 4 hours if it was transported on its side or 1 hour if it was transported upright. After this amount of time you're absolutely fine and safe to put your food in your new fridge freezer.

If you want to save money upfront and on ongoing utility bills, a chest model may be the best freezer for you. If you want to conveniently store and organize foods in an appliance that fits in a limited space, an upright freezer may be your best choice.

Chest freezers tend to be slightly more affordable than upright freezers and may be less expensive to run. They also are more likely to keep your frozen foods frozen during a power outage because they hold a more consistent temperature. Overall, a chest freezer is a more economical option.

Energy-efficiency

Chest freezers are more energy-efficient than upright freezers. Generally, they cost a little more than $4 a month to run when divided. Upright freezers cost around $14 a month to run. Both options come in energy-efficient models, which can further your cost savings.

The good news is that it doesn't ultimately matter much whether you keep your freezer full or empty. The exception is if you live in an area where power outages are common: if that's you, you'll want to keep your freezer full to help keep foods cold longer when you lose electricity.

Chest freezers are more efficient than upright models because they typically have more insulation and cold air does not sink out of them when they are opened.

Which refrigerator brand is most reliable? All three of the appliance experts we spoke to for this roundup said Whirlpool and LG were the most reliable refrigerator brands due to their durability, reliability and ease of repairs. Samsung and GE were also mentioned by our experts as high-quality fridges.

Is it OK to turn off the freezer every night? ›

Many also complain about the noise the appliance makes, and powering it down will help in better sleep. But there are more than a few reasons why you shouldn't be turning off your fridge at night. With the fridge switched off, the temperature inside rises, so will the chances of growth of harmful bacteria.

Very loud noises or strange sounds could be an indication that your fan motor needs to be replaced. Other possibilities include a malfunctioning ice maker. If the freezer is making gurgling sounds, it could be the sound of water draining off the coils during a defrost cycle.

Once the unit is in the house you should: Leave the appliance to sit for 3 hours. Then plug it in and switch it on. It should then be left overnight to stabilize before putting any fresh food into it.

You can safely refreeze frozen food that has thawed—raw or cooked, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. To safely refreeze, the thawed product must have been kept cold at 40 degrees or below for no more than 3-4 days.

As a general rule of thumb, frozen food will keep for three months in a standard home freezer before starting to show signs of freezer burn. This is true for raw meats, cooked meats, prepared foods, breads, and anything else you might think of freezing.

Before you stock up, you'll want to decide whether a chest freezer or an upright model would best meet your needs—and your available floor space. Next, consider size, capacity, and energy use. To help you, we've subdivided our freezer ratings by size (small, medium, large) and type (chest, upright).

You want to make sure the door seals tight. If it doesn't you will need to add a new one or risk having your food thaw out on you. The seal is fairly easy to replace, but you need to know if it will need replaced before you start to negotiate the price.