Worried about freezer

[RSKY]

I have a Kenmore upright freezer that we purchased in 1976 or 1977. So it is at least forty one years old. We defrosted both it and the two year old small chest type Monday. I put one of the remote outdoor temperature sensors in the chest type and it showed 0 degrees F. I googled it and the ideal temp for a freezer is -10F to 0F. Then I put the sensor in the 40-year old upright. At it's lowest setting it will only reach 14F. And it is full of frozen vegetables, fruit, and meat. None of which I want to loose.

I moved the old upright out into the garage sometime after I retired in 2011 and painted the door (Wal-Mart $.99 cans of spray paint) and hosed it off on the back and bottom. It didn't seem to run as much after that but that was several years ago. It does have a 1" crack in the liner on one side and a 1" diameter hole under the door that is sealed with duct tape.

Should I be looking for a new upright freezer?

RSKY

 

[frugalangler]

At 40 years old, I'd be replacing it. It's likely to turn into a PITA, you might be able to service the refrigerant, but compare the value of a chest of lost food to the cost of a new one, and you're likely gonna be money ahead to replace, plus it will run less $ to operate by far.

 

[coldsteelva]

If you have your freezer in an unconditioned garage, the extreme cold is what is causing freezers to fail. The compressors aren't really designed to function below 55-degrees or so. Best bet would be to unplug it, open it to atmosphere. Once the temps rise, you can get another 40 years out of it.

 

[KennyG]

Given the improvements in efficiency, junk the old freezer even if it does work OK. Especially if you can get by with a new second chest type. Old uprights are horrible electricity hogs.

 

[mddorange]

If you have your freezer in an unconditioned garage, the extreme cold is what is causing freezers to fail. The compressors aren't really designed to function below 55-degrees or so. Best bet would be to unplug it, open it to atmosphere. Once the temps rise, you can get another 40 years out of it.

This is the correct answer but for a different reason.

Any good serviceman will tell you that as the temperature around a refrigerator or upright freezer gets colder, the higher the temperature inside will be. The chest type will continue to maintain the cold temperature because it was made to be used outside. You can purchase refrigerators and upright freezers that will work in the cold, but they cost a lot more.

 

[RSKY]

The freezer is sitting in the utility room which stays 65+F. It is not in an unheated garage.

 

[grsthegreat]

ive placed in use recording meters on old and on new freezers. you'd be amazed how much electricity and old refrigerator or freezer suck down. i had one older refrig that was using $14/month in electricity, where the new one was using less than $2. Also the old one was manual defrost the new was auto defrost. doesn't make sense to keep the old ones especially when there the cheapest kitchen appliance you can buy. a 22Cf upright runs about $250 at home depot.

 

[mddorange]

The freezer is sitting in the utility room which stays 65+F. It is not in an unheated garage.

In that case, it is time to replace it.

 

[Ford850]

Check with your electric company to see if they have a turn-in program for old appliances. First Energy does that. They haul the old one away and give you $50.

 

[RSKY]

ive placed in use recording meters on old and on new freezers. you'd be amazed how much electricity and old refrigerator or freezer suck down. i had one older refrig that was using $14/month in electricity, where the new one was using less than $2. Also the old one was manual defrost the new was auto defrost. doesn't make sense to keep the old ones especially when there the cheapest kitchen appliance you can buy. a 22Cf upright runs about $250 at home depot.

This old one is a 20-21 cu. ft. I got all exited about your post until I checked the Home Depot website. They have a 3 cu. ft., yes, that is three cubic foot, for $235. Anything the size I need is way over $500.

RSKY

 

[TnAndy]

For under 20 bucks, you can get a Kil-a-Watt meter and see exactly how much power your freezer is using. Good for checking other things in the household too.

Amazon.com: kill-a-watt meter

Then go to the Energy Star website and compare the amount of power your current dog uses compared to a new ES rated model of the same size. Most of the 20 cf models seem to run in the 480kw/hr per year range. THEN you can make an informed decision on replacement. We replaced our mid 90's model side-by-side fridge few years back (1200 KwHr/yr) with a larger, nicer, french door, ES model that uses under 400kwhrs/yr. Amazing the difference foam insulation makes over the old fiberglass insulated models.....plus LED lights, more efficient compressors, etc.

ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Freezers | EPA ENERGY STAR

We have 7 freezers here + an older 17cf upright I keep for a spare in case one goes, or we turn on when freezing a lot of fresh meat (like a whole cow) at one time....let's us spread the meat out to freeze quick. 6 of the 7 are smaller chest freezers....7-9cf range. We raise most of our own food...all the pork, beef, chicken, catfish + a lot of veggies and fruits. We'll go into fall with all full, then condense down the stuff and gradually turn one and another off. I like having our food spread out over several smaller ones (easier to find stuff) and less likely to suffer a lot if one goes out (and still have that old upright for a spare).

All our have temperature monitor/alarms on them. 14 degrees IS way high for a freezer....our average is a 3-5 degrees below zero.


Part of 'freezer row':

Key to having freezers is inventory control. Wife does an EXCELLENT job of it with a list on each, updated when stuff enters or leaves.

Thermometer/alarm:

 

[dadster4]

Take a look at the scratch and dent section of Best Buy, Lowe's or wherever. I picked up a $600 upright for $250 because of a slight crease in one side and no handle, delivery included. When it was delivered, the driver noticed the missing handle and said he would order one...got it in a week!

 

[grsthegreat]

Our lowes has a floor model 18 cf upright freezer for 319.00. I got my last 20 cf upright a few years ago for about 250 new. I see the prices have went up a bit

 

[RSKY]

Sears has a 20.9 c.f. not frost free Kenmore on sale for $467 online only. It is the same thing as the Frigidaire we looked at in Lowes today. It was $673 there. HomeDepot has it for $733. Best Buy for over $800. Guess I will be giving Sears some business.

 

[ustmd]

Okay, I'll be the blunt one....stick a crowbar in your wallet and buy a new one. The upright has worked for 40 years, it deserves a retirement. There are lots of young, eager uprights looking for a job.:laughing:

 

[RSKY]

WELL.....K...M...A...

Ordered the Kenmore online for $200+ less than the same thing at Lowes and HomeDepot. They will deliver it next Monday. Then I walked by the remote temperature thingy and the temp had dropped to -7F. It has dropped 21 degrees since this morning.

When we defrosted/cleaned Monday we had everything in coolers and put it right back in. It stayed at 14 for two days. Then suddenly dropped 21 degrees in about six to eight hours. There is definitely something wrong.

Glad the new one is coming.

Also TnAndy I ordered the Kil-A-Watt meter just to check it out. We junked my mothers huge chest type last summer and I wish I had owned one of those meters then. It was over fifty years old and frozen solid the last foot or so. We had to stand on a step ladder to reach the bottom. I remember when dad bought it he got the biggest they had. I bet it was costing her a dollar a day to run.

RSKY

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I got a really old freezer, was wifes grandmother, maybe from 50's. It just keeps on working
I need one of those alarm thermometers.

 

[jaxs]

This is the correct answer but for a different reason.

Any good serviceman will tell you that as the temperature around a refrigerator or upright freezer gets colder, the higher the temperature inside will be. The chest type will continue to maintain the cold temperature because it was made to be used outside. You can purchase refrigerators and upright freezers that will work in the cold, but they cost a lot more.

I have a project that would benefit beyond imagination from this. Will you explain the science behind this?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

We bought a 2nd fridge several yrs ago, put it in the garage. Lost everything in the freezer because it shut down when the garage got cold. Had a repair guy come, first thing he told me it wont work in cold temps. Moved it to basement, no problems.

If you want one in a cold area, they make them, just make sure before you buy.

 

[jaxs]

We bought a 2nd fridge several yrs ago, put it in the garage. Lost everything in the freezer because it shut down when the garage got cold. Had a repair guy come, first thing he told me it wont work in cold temps. Moved it to basement, no problems.

If you want one in a cold area, they make them, just make sure before you buy.

Reasons most older units and a few newer one's work and most newer one's don't has to do with type condenser(coil with cooling fan/coil welded to jacket/pipe web on exterior rear wall) how/where metering,return and comp to cond tubes are mounted. Warmer ambient temperature equal's higher pressure,cooler ambient equal's lower pressure. More refergerant remains liquid as pressure drop's. Pressures drop much faster and lower with fan over coil. Low pressure result's in liquid returning to compressor from evaporator. Same as a hydrolocked tractor engine,liquid can't be compressed so motor stall's. Combination of passive air over pipe web along with carful line mounting can control liquid reaching compressor. For the benefit of tinkers,retrofitting any condenser configuration with an oversize receiver alow's operation across a wider ambient temperature range. Your cab tractor and family car face the same challenge because of variable compressor speed as engine rpms increase/decrease. That's why that 2 liter size receiver will be found on tractor-car-truck air conditioners. I realize that might be boring to some but everyone can carry something away from it,don't spray cold water on a condenser while compressor is running. It can damage the compressor.