First the dishwasher. Now the freezer.

[WinniWoman]

So now the 5 year old Hot Point garage chest freezer has died! It seems 5 years is the new 15 years!

I barely got the food into our tiny kitchen freezer and no way can I even open the drawer right now because stuff will fall out. Lucky my neighbor took our 13 lb turkey to keep in her garage freezer.

So trying to look at the bright side I saw this as my chance to get a stand up frost free freezer, something I always had in our former home in our garage. I absolutely hate chest freezers as you have to pull everything out to find something. Only thing is we would have to keep it in our basement- meaning long steep, stairs- which is why we bought the 5 cubic chest freezer in the first place for the garage instead, which is just 2 steps next to our kitchen.

A stand up cannot fit in our small one car garage with my car kept inside. Hence the chest freezer we ended up with.

Long story short- most stores- including Lowes and Home Depot barely have 2 or 3 freezers to look at. Everything is on line. Couldn't even get someone at Lowes to look on line for us. Different experience from when we went there to buy the new dishwasher. (which so far is working great btw). I called Home Depot instead of making the trip and same thing.

So we went back home. I don't have too much of an issue with on line ordering. I bought all my appliances on line when we renovated our former kitchen in NY. At the time was able to see Consumer Reports and ordered their recommended appliances.

So I roam the sites and find a stand up freezer I like. Seems very few have good reviews these days, but GE seems to be good in refrigeration. I decide to purchase it from a local appliance store, but as I am getting ready to order hubby tells me we have to consider the amp usage because the amps are 15 in the basement and probably not copper wires for 20 amps either. I call the store and sure enough the freezer would use 20 amps. We would probably need an electrician not only because of the wiring for a new breaker, but also the issue is the whole house generator is all used up currently. (The garage has 20 amp outlets and on the generator. In the basement where a stand up would be, that is not on the generator currently).

Ok. This is becoming too much of a hassle for me- I need to get this food out of the kitchen freezer pronto. Plus I had a trip to BJ's to stock up for fall planned that is now delayed. Disgusted I order a 7 cubic chest freezer for the garage (we've got a few inches to spare in there) and be done with it. I ended up having to call the store back to order because when I tried on line it kept giving me a much higher price in the cart - by a few hundred dollars! And that wasn't with delivery fee or a service agreement added into it. (It had done that when I was trying to order the stand up as well. Very strange).

So essentially ordered and paid for on my phone through a text with store representative. The new way these days! It's coming tomorrow. No delivery fee. $40 to recycle old freezer. Yeah they tried to sell me a service agreement, but my experience seems mostly that things break right after the service agreement expires so that's a no.

So there goes my frost free stand up freezer that had glass shelves and a temp alarm and not having to dig through layers of frozen food and repack the freezer every time I need to get something out. But glad we won't have to lug food up and down those steps, especially when we do big freezer shopping like from BJ's.

But the positive is we saved $700. (stand up would have been over $1000 and chest is a bit over $400. The chest that broke was merely $150) The new freezer will be upstairs and easy to stock when we get home with groceries and will be a bit larger which we could use. We found the other chest freezer was too small for our liking but we now live in a hobbit house so.....

But it's a chest freezer and it has to be defrosted.

 

[PigsDad]

Not sure what model you were looking at, but here is a GE upright frost-free model with temperature alarm, and the specs say it is compatible with a 15 amp circuit. All for less than $900. $99 delivery, $25 installation including hauling away old appliance.

GE® 17.3 Cu. Ft. Frost-Free Garage Ready Upright Freezer|^|FUF17SMRWW

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

www.geappliances.com

Kurt

 

[Talent312]

Besides, it's easier to hide bodies in a chest freezer.
<ducking>

 

[moonstone]

Besides, it's easier to hide bodies in a chest freezer.
<ducking>

~Diane

 

[moonstone]

We have 2 chest freezers, a newer (45 yrs?) 15 cu.ft. one for meat, poultry, fish and casseroles and an even older smaller (10 cu.ft.?) one that was my grandparents for all the breads, frozen vegies, fruit and home baking. So far, touch wood, both are functioning just fine, as is my parents 1953 Frigidaire fridge that is for beer & pop. Both of our sons first new upright freezers only lasted about 5 years, one replaced his with a chest freezer about 4 years ago. Any new appliance doesnt seem to have the lifespan that the older ones did.

Neither of our freezers are frost free but only need defrosting about every 2-3 years, except it has now been 5 since they were done. The last time we were putting things back in after defrosting, I got a bunch of reusable cloth type shopping bags in different colours for the various types of things. All the beef was in red ones, chicken was in yellow ones, vegies in green.... I found it way easier to find what I wanted and smaller packages didnt fall to the bottom which I can hardly reach anymore. With just the 2 of here now I keep saying we should be able to downsize to one but then there is a sale on chicken or something!


~Diane

 

[jp10558]

Well, Chest freezers are a lot more energy efficient so there's that. Otherwise, I've not had one die, though I've only had one small one for like 15+ years. My grandmother had one for ~40 years till she decided that she wanted the space and threw it out. We all still mourn that loss. But we didn't have anywhere to put such a large freezer 23 years ago.

 

[WinniWoman]

Not sure what model you were looking at, but here is a GE upright frost-free model with temperature alarm, and the specs say it is compatible with a 15 amp circuit. All for less than $900. $99 delivery, $25 installation including hauling away old appliance.

GE® 17.3 Cu. Ft. Frost-Free Garage Ready Upright Freezer|^|FUF17SMRWW

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

www.geappliances.com

Kurt

Oh wow. How do you know it uses 15amp? We were looking at smaller ones like this, but the specs seem to not mention amps. And the specs that were shown were the same as the 20 amp one.

We were thinking frost free models must all use 20 amps.?

Another thing my husband was concerned about was tripping the circuit because he uses electric heaters in the basement in winter.

Anyway, too late now.

 

[DrQ]

Just be glad it's not this thing when you're in it:

Human washing machine rinses your whole body inside giant pod & even plays films

A BIZARRE human washing machine that cleans you without needing to lift a finger has been revealed. The giant pod even has a projector so you can watch calming movies as you’re effortlessly w…

www.the-sun.com

 

[PigsDad]

Oh wow. How do you know it uses 15amp? We were looking at smaller ones like this, but the specs seem to not mention amps. And the specs that were shown were the same as the 20 amp one.

We were thinking frost free models must all use 20 amps.?

From the installation manual:

Kurt

 

[PigsDad]

We have 2 chest freezers, a newer (45 yrs?) 15 cu.ft. one for meat, poultry, fish and casseroles and an even older smaller (10 cu.ft.?) one that was my grandparents for all the breads, frozen vegies, fruit and home baking. So far, touch wood, both are functioning just fine, as is my parents 1953 Frigidaire fridge that is for beer & pop. Both of our sons first new upright freezers only lasted about 5 years, one replaced his with a chest freezer about 4 years ago. Any new appliance doesnt seem to have the lifespan that the older ones did.

My parents bought an International Harvester (yeah, the company that made tractors, combines, etc.) chest freezer in the 50's right after they were married. That thing sat out in an unheated farmhouse porch in northern MN (-40F was not uncommon, as well as 90F+ summer heat). In the 70's, they thought it would be prudent to get a second freezer and put it in the more climate controlled basement (we would butcher whole beef cattle at the time, so we utilized the extra space). Well the old IH freezer outlasted the "new" 70's freezer that died sometime in the 90's. In fact, when my parents moved off the farm in 2016, it was still chugging away and still in use as their only freezer. They sold the farmstead to a young couple and left the freezer -- I wouldn't doubt it is still working perfectly well.

I found a pic of what I think was the same model (I recognize the handle):

Kurt

 

[WinniWoman]

From the installation manual:

View attachment 117153

Kurt

Thanks. Oh well - I didn’t see the manual on the online shopping page. You’d think they would put it in the specs. Too much work to search it out.

I’m also skeptical when it says 15 OR 20 amps. One store Rep told me that about the bigger one I wanted to buy, but the second Rep I spoke to told me it should be 20 amps. I mean, in which situations for either? But I’m no electrician. I just wanted a freezer and to plug it in to work with no issues. lol!

And again, in the basement it would not be on the whole house generator and that makes no sense if there’d be a power outage.

 

[WinniWoman]

My parents bought an International Harvester (yeah, the company that made tractors, combines, etc.) chest freezer in the 50's right after they were married. That thing sat out in an unheated farmhouse porch in northern MN (-40F was not uncommon, as well as 90F+ summer heat). In the 70's, they thought it would be prudent to get a second freezer and put it in the more climate controlled basement (we would butcher whole beef cattle at the time, so we utilized the extra space). Well the old IH freezer outlasted the "new" 70's freezer that died sometime in the 90's. In fact, when my parents moved off the farm in 2016, it was still chugging away and still in use as their only freezer. They sold the farmstead to a young couple and left the freezer -- I wouldn't doubt it is still working perfectly well.

I found a pic of what I think was the same model (I recognize the handle):
View attachment 117154

Kurt

Amazing!

 

[moonstone]

My parents bought an International Harvester (yeah, the company that made tractors, combines, etc.) chest freezer in the 50's right after they were married. That thing sat out in an unheated farmhouse porch in northern MN (-40F was not uncommon, as well as 90F+ summer heat). In the 70's, they thought it would be prudent to get a second freezer and put it in the more climate controlled basement (we would butcher whole beef cattle at the time, so we utilized the extra space). Well the old IH freezer outlasted the "new" 70's freezer that died sometime in the 90's. In fact, when my parents moved off the farm in 2016, it was still chugging away and still in use as their only freezer. They sold the farmstead to a young couple and left the freezer -- I wouldn't doubt it is still working perfectly well.

I found a pic of what I think was the same model (I recognize the handle):
View attachment 117154

Kurt

Yes, that is very similar to a chest freezer my parents bought in the early 60's from Chambers, a club that sold meat via home delivery and you got a deal on the freezer. They used it for years then offered it to us as our 2nd freezer when we moved to a larger house with a basement walkout (easy to get a freezer in) and had 3 kids to feed. We didnt keep it for long as we realized if any of the kids happened to fall into the freezer and the lid closed, they would be trapped as that handle needed to be lifted to open the latch to open the lid. It was right around then that we got my grandparents freezer that like ours just had a lift lid with no catch. We gave my parents old freezer to a local worm picker who was going to turn the temperature down and use it to keep his dew worms in.

~Diane

 

[PigsDad]

We didnt keep it for long as we realized if any of the kids happened to fall into the freezer and the lid closed, they would be trapped as that handle needed to be lifted to open the latch to open the lid.

Yes, those old freezers were definitely potential death traps! I remember an old refrigerator we had on the farm when growing up with the same type of latch. Thank goodness those types of latches are now illegal.

Kurt

 

[moonstone]

And again, in the basement it would not be on the whole house generator and that makes no sense if there’d be a power outage.

Our house was without electricity for over 72hrs after a big ice storm last March while we were in FL. Both of our freezers were about 1/2 to 3/4 full of food, with some 1 and a few 5 gallon jugs of water that I keep in there in case the power goes out among the food. I also keep a small ziplock bag of ice cubes in each freezer so I know if the interior temp has been compromised. The large jugs of water stay frozen for much longer than say a roast or package of pork chops. As soon as it looked like the power was going to be out for an extended period our DD drove to our house and wrapped the freezers in all the sleeping bags and comforters she could find. When she went back after the power was restored she opened the freezers and the ice cubes in each had not started to melt at all, so all the food was ok. Meanwhile our neighbours with no generator, and an upright freezer, said they threw out about $500. worth of meat. When they were telling us about that when we got home I asked why they didnt start grilling (we all have natural gas grills not affected by power) all the thawed and thawing meat so it could be eaten or refrozen after it was cooked. They said they never thought of that!

~Diane

 

[DrQ]

Oh wow. How do you know it uses 15amp? We were looking at smaller ones like this, but the specs seem to not mention amps. And the specs that were shown were the same as the 20 amp one.

We were thinking frost free models must all use 20 amps.?

If it requires 20 amps it will have a NEMA 5-20P plug:

Notice one of the blades is horizontal instead of both being vertical.

A 20 amps socket will look like this:

It can accept both 15 amp and 20 amps plugs. But a 15 amp socket will not accept a NEMA 5-20P plug.

 

[easyrider]

If it requires 20 amps it will have a NEMA 5-20P plug:

Notice one of the blades is horizontal instead of both being vertical.

A 20 amps socket will look like this:

It can accept both 15 amp and 20 amps plugs. But a 15 amp socket will not accept a NEMA 5-20P plug.

I've rarely seen a NEMA 20 outlet in a house. Sometimes in a garage. A 20A circuit can have both 15A or 20A receptacles. Things may have changed but when there is only one receptacle on the 20A circuit, it has to end in a 20A receptacle. I've never seen a kitchen appliance cord that wouldn't fit a 15A receptacle not that I've looking hard, lol.

Bill

 

[DrQ]

A 20A circuit can have both 15A or 20A receptacles

Correct, but an APPLIANCE requiring 20 amps (actually 16 amps full time) will have a NEMA 20 PLUG. I've seen window A/C units that require 20 amps circuits. Most kitchen 120 VAC appliances are built within a 15 amp limit.

The OP was wanting to know how to tell if her new purchase would require 20 amps.

I showed a 20 amp socket to show that it could accept BOTH plugs.

 

[easyrider]

Correct, but an APPLIANCE requiring 20 amps (actually 16 amps full time) will have a NEMA 20 PLUG. I've seen window A/C units that require 20 amps circuits. Most kitchen 120 VAC appliances are built within a 15 amp limit.

The OP was wanting to know how to tell if her new purchase would require 20 amps.

I showed a 20 amp socket to show that it could accept BOTH plugs.

We always used the 20 amp outlet receptacle because it has the clamp on to wire feature and is easier to install. I think these also hold a cord better too.

Bill

 

[missyrcrews]

I have a chest freezer...big one...that is from Montgomery Ward in my basement. Still works great! I think it's probably older than me....