The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

Brought to you by:

You are here: Home / FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology / FAQ: Where should I place a Stand-Alone Freezer?

FAQ: Where should I place a Stand-Alone Freezer?

freezerI don’t have room to put a freezer there… can I leave it outside on my back porch, in an unheated garage, the basement, laundry room??? What happens if it isn’t in the house & temperatures soar or dip below zero, will I have any issues?

Convenience First:

One of the first considerations is not only where will one fit but how convenient will it be to grab something out of it, load it up after that grocery store visit, or to clean it out? Do you really want to walk out on the back porch first thing in the morning where the neighbors can see you, or have to shovel snow off the lid? If you place it in the garage are you loosing a parking spot?

Location Matters (sometimes):

Believe it or not but chest freezers are designed to be used out doors, even uncovered. Ever wonder why they are white? Yep, to help reflect sunlight & heat. The raised & protected motor, to help protect it from dirt & rain. Is that the best scenario – well more than likely not.

Outdoor considerations:

If you live in a coastal area, especially near the ocean you will want the unit to be inside due to the salt in the air. Problems with thefts or wild animals – consider someplace inside or the garage. Live in a really hot climate with the sun beating down on the unit – yep, you probably want it inside or at least protected from the sun so it can keep up. Dusty or dust storms an issue, no big deal except for needing to clean the motor & filter area. Live in a more moderate climate – the only downside is during the summer months you will be spending more than you would if it was inside while you will spend less during the winter.

The Garage:

Just like above the only downside is dependent on temperature. With that you also need to be cognizant of how you use your garage – if you do a lot of woodworking or other dusty activities you will need to clean the motor & filter area regularly. the only other issue, is do you lose a parking spot or barely leave enough room – if so that might not be the best place for it.

Below zero?

Unlike a refrigerator where you don’t want the food to freeze… you are good to go though in some cases you might need to be careful about the gasket freezing to the unit.

The Basement:

An unfinished or even finished basement is a great location as it is generally cooler & the exhaust heat doesn’t impact the cooling load of the house. With that be sure that you don’t have any moisture issues, especially flooding as you might not find out that your unit has died until everything has gone bad.

The Laundry Room:

Lint & detergent do not make for a happy freezer though if you follow our maintenance checklists (see below) you should have no issues. The only other possible concern is if the freezer is next to the dryer, you might see some additional run time.

Other Inside Location:

This is generally the most convenient location though you need to cognizant of the noise made when it turns on. This is also the location where the annual electric usage is more likely to be accurate. The only other downside during the summer is the waste heat generated from cooling down the freezer, though as most HVAC units are so oversized you probably wouldn’t even notice it. Good news during the winter time is that waste heat will help keep your house a little warmer.

Other Considerations:

The only other real consideration is to make sure you leave enough room around the unit for proper airflow to the units motor. You should also clean the coils & units generally twice a year – we generally recommend January & July in our monthly maintenance checklists.

Related posts:

BS4D: Pascals & Pressure
FAQ Insulation Values & Comparisons - Metric and Imperial
FAQ: Why are my windows always so drafty during the winter?
FAQ: How often should I replace my smoke detector?
BS4D: But my house needs to breathe…
FAQ: Humidifiers - To humidify or not…
BS4D: The case of the Sweating Toilet
Gas vs Diesel vs Electric Vehicles
  Tweet    
  
   

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology January 22, 2015 By SLS

Comments

  1. Sandy says

    February 5, 2015 at 16:44

    Very informative post – outside okay? Who knew!!

  2. Sarah says

    August 24, 2020 at 14:49

    Is it okay to put my chest freezer in the same room as my wood burning stove? They would be about 6-7 away from each other?

    • SLS Construction says

      August 24, 2020 at 17:56

      Just curious what type of stove / got a picture of it / space? Just use for ambiance or to actually heat your place? You are talking feet & not inches – if inches than no.
      Masonry ones I see no issues as those don’t kick out that much heat – it won’t be right in front right?
      Stand alone metal ones on a platform with exposed chimney used for some real heating? It is still doable but it will definitely work harder & you might consider placing a radiant shield in between if you don’t have another place to put it.

Featured Posts
The 4th of July, the BarBie, Smoked Lemonade & BBQ Etiquette?

The 4th of July, the BarBie, Smoked Lemonade & BBQ Etiquette?

July 4th, 1776 — We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among ...

Read More

Hurricane Season – 5 Steps to being prepared

Hurricane Season - 5 Steps to being prepared

Today is the start of Hurricane Season that has been predicted to be busier than usual. Based on the ocean temperatures and the changing weather conditions, they might just be ...

Read More

25 ways to keep your cool during a heat wave & beyond

25 ways to keep your cool during a heat wave & beyond

Welcome to the dog days of summer with what appears to be a bumper crop of “Excessive Heat Warnings” this year. In just this last week, I got to enjoy ...

Read More

July Mid-Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

July Mid-Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

July starts out with a bang with the 4th of July, unfortunately, the heat never seems to let up. Across the US of A, this is generally the hottest month ...

Read More

Hitting the Road: RV’s, Gas Mileage, & Assorted Tips

Hitting the Road: RV’s, Gas Mileage, & Assorted Tips

As the Star Trek transporter still has not been invented, many vacationing families & others start looking to RV’s due to their many benefits. Can one say no TSA checks, ...

Read More

FAQ: Do I need to change my HVAC filter monthly?

FAQ: Do I need to change my HVAC filter monthly?

If you follow our Monthly Maintenance Program, the first item we have listed is "Change out your HVAC filter." This has brought up a few questions, namely: Do I need ...

Read More

FAQ: Ceiling fan direction - summer & winter

One of the biggest questions out there is which direction should my fan be running and how can I tell. You look at the switch and realize it isn't any ...

Read More

Subscribe

Get new posts by email:

Random Glossary term

  • OVE

    I don’t have room to put a freezer there… can I leave it outside on my back porch, in an unheated garage, the basement, laundry room??? What happens if it isn’t in the house & temperatures soar or dip below zero, will I have any issues? Convenience First: One of the first considerations is not only where will one fit […]

The HTRC - Copyright © 2006–2022 by TheHTRC.com & SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC http://SLS-Construction.com