Freezer in low ambient temperatures
Discussion
I'm looking for a new freezer, want an upright one (rather than a chest style) for space efficiency. It'll probably go in my kitchen to start with, but long term intention is to relocate it to the utility room when I've finished fitting that room out.
But the utility room is basically separate to the rest of the house, and unheated. It does have my GCH boiler in there, washer, dryer, and a fridge, and I do live in the SW, so we don't get the coldest winter weather. When I'm at home it's unlikely to get below +10 degrees in there, but if I'm away it could drop to low single figure temps. Doubt it'd get below zero though (not sure if my boiler has frost protection built into it). I've noticed once or twice that the fridge out there has cut out due to low ambient temps, which I can fully understand a fridge not working below 5 degrees ambient. But would a freezer be quite so sensitive?
Most freezers quote a climate class, and the most common one for the UK seems to be SN (Sub Normal, I think that stands for), which is +10 to +32 degrees ambient. Beko freezers are specced to work down to -15 degrees, but I've seen another one that I fancy (cheaper, 'cleverer', more useful size, more energy efficient, longer guanrantee). It's a 'Hisense' brand, no idea how good they are, but at the end of the day it's only a freezer!
So what are the chances of a SN rated freezer keeping working down to nearly zero? There doesn't appear to be a 'climate class' rating that's colder than SN, so maybe if there was one, most freezers would get a lower rating? Is it worth taking a chance? I would just buy the Beko, but the location I ideally want it to go doesn't quite have enough vertical space (due to the electrical consumer unit being on the wall above it).
But the utility room is basically separate to the rest of the house, and unheated. It does have my GCH boiler in there, washer, dryer, and a fridge, and I do live in the SW, so we don't get the coldest winter weather. When I'm at home it's unlikely to get below +10 degrees in there, but if I'm away it could drop to low single figure temps. Doubt it'd get below zero though (not sure if my boiler has frost protection built into it). I've noticed once or twice that the fridge out there has cut out due to low ambient temps, which I can fully understand a fridge not working below 5 degrees ambient. But would a freezer be quite so sensitive?
Most freezers quote a climate class, and the most common one for the UK seems to be SN (Sub Normal, I think that stands for), which is +10 to +32 degrees ambient. Beko freezers are specced to work down to -15 degrees, but I've seen another one that I fancy (cheaper, 'cleverer', more useful size, more energy efficient, longer guanrantee). It's a 'Hisense' brand, no idea how good they are, but at the end of the day it's only a freezer!
So what are the chances of a SN rated freezer keeping working down to nearly zero? There doesn't appear to be a 'climate class' rating that's colder than SN, so maybe if there was one, most freezers would get a lower rating? Is it worth taking a chance? I would just buy the Beko, but the location I ideally want it to go doesn't quite have enough vertical space (due to the electrical consumer unit being on the wall above it).
dontlookdown said:
I have just bought low temp rated Beko for the garage for exactly this reason. Chest freezer and no space constraints, was only 30 quid more than the regular temp one so why take the chance?
But my Mum had a regular rated freezer in her garage for 20 yrs and it was fine. It didn't get down to zero in there though.
As I mentioned the Beko is slightly too tall to fit where I'd ideally like it to. It also consumes significantly more power (according to the specs) and doesn't keep food frozen for as long in a power outage, both of which imply it's not as well insulated. It also doesn't have a temperature display or open door alarm, neither of which are essential, but mildly useful to have. And only a 1 year warranty compare to 2. It's also £70 more expensive (all else being equal, I wouldn't mind paying that for the low temp performance). But the other one I'm looking at is better for me in every other aspect. But my Mum had a regular rated freezer in her garage for 20 yrs and it was fine. It didn't get down to zero in there though.
basherX said:
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will be along shortly but just sharing my experience.
After we'd had a new kitchen put in I moved the old (SN rated) fridge freezer into one of our sheds. We were planning on using it as overflow storage or if we wanted to stock up prior to a family gathering etc. This was fine over the first summer but as the next winter set in I noticed that the food was (at least partially) defrosting. Out of interest I stuck a min/max thermometer in the shed and, sure enough, as soon as the ambient temperature dropped below 10 degrees the freezer cut off. There's enough thermal efficiency for that not to be a problem on many days but if the daily temperature isn't above 10 degrees it will completely defrost. There have been times when, according to Mrs B, we've needed it and I've been in the ludicrous position of heating the shed to keep the freezer going.
A proper garage freezer will be on its way when I find time to remove the old one.
That's interesting, and what concerns me - if the thing monitors/detects ambient temperature, and shuts down as soon as it goes below 10 degrees, that'll be a big issue. If it actually carries on working comfortably down to about 5 degrees then it should be ok.After we'd had a new kitchen put in I moved the old (SN rated) fridge freezer into one of our sheds. We were planning on using it as overflow storage or if we wanted to stock up prior to a family gathering etc. This was fine over the first summer but as the next winter set in I noticed that the food was (at least partially) defrosting. Out of interest I stuck a min/max thermometer in the shed and, sure enough, as soon as the ambient temperature dropped below 10 degrees the freezer cut off. There's enough thermal efficiency for that not to be a problem on many days but if the daily temperature isn't above 10 degrees it will completely defrost. There have been times when, according to Mrs B, we've needed it and I've been in the ludicrous position of heating the shed to keep the freezer going.
A proper garage freezer will be on its way when I find time to remove the old one.
Bottom line is that I know the Beko will be safe at those ambient temps, but most other makes it's below their guaranteed performance rating.
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