Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: Freezer for shed  (Read 4362 times)

GribinIsaf

  • Joined Aug 2015
  • Montgomeryshire
    • Gribin Isaf
Freezer for shed
« on: April 23, 2019, 09:39:07 pm »
We need to replace one of the chest freezers in the shed and it does not seem as easy as one would think.

It appears that chest freezers are less popular than was once the case and so there is less choice out there.

We want an energy rating of A with as many ++ as possible.  It also appears that some freezers are designed for a shed environment and others aren't although not sure if that is important.,

Would be interested if anyone has fairly recently bought a freezer that fits this spec.

many thanks

Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2019, 10:25:40 pm »
It's hard to know exactly why some models are rated for external use and some aren't. I think that some of it is due to the external surface temperatures of the freezer, in that if it's cold, airborne moisture is likely to condense on it in a shed, whereas it wouldn't in a house.



FWIW, we have two 'Vestfrost' outdoor rated chest freezers and are very happy with them. They're both painted and galvanised, so should hopefully last a long time. They also come with a decent guarantee.
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

oor wullie

  • Joined Jun 2012
  • Strathnairn
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2019, 08:06:31 am »
Beko has been the leader in making syre their freezers are rated for use outdoors (down to - 15 I think) but a few other companies now do it too.

Goatherd

  • Joined Dec 2014
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2019, 08:50:57 am »
  A in house freezer will not like working in most sheds or garages as its to cold for the compressor to work
   you would need a heater on to warm the shed for the freezer to freeze 
     Ask for a in garage freezer

Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2019, 08:59:51 am »
its to cold for the compressor to work


Do you know why that is?  I've been trying to work it out, and I can't!
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

mab

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • carmarthenshire
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2019, 09:57:36 am »
its to cold for the compressor to work


Do you know why that is?  I've been trying to work it out, and I can't!


I looked into this when i was buying a chest freezer 2 or 3 years ago. Never did get a definitive answer.


There are some cheaper fridge freezers that only have one compressor and thermostat doing both parts - if the ambient temp is low the fridge doesn't need to turn on so it doesn't - and the freezer defrosts. I think this has been a cause of a lot of the belief that frides and freezers won't work in a garage.


2nd some modern unit have electronic components/stats that might not cope with condensation that can form in a shed or garage.


Freezers are made to suit a climate class ( e.g. N normal 16 - 25c, sn subnormal 10 - 20c from memory) and are only guaranteed if operated within that range but will normally still operate outside it up to a point.


As i understand it the problem is that the refrigerant and lubricant going through the compressor are going to either freeze or get very viscous if they get cold enough. If the ambient temp is very low the temp of the refrigerant and lube coming through the evaporator will be very low too, possibly stopping them flowing through as normal.


I seem to recall when i bought mine (a+ , N,SN) i checked with the supplier / manufacturer that it would still work in the shed before i bought it.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2019, 10:53:29 am »
I went through all this when I wanted a freezer for an unheated outhouse in Cumbria, where we could get temps down to -20C or lower.

I found two which were rated to -10C.  One was the Currys’ own brand, which was not very high quality (a friend had one), and the other was the Miele.  I spoke to both manufacturers about the situation, and Miele were the most helpful. As far as I remember, they couldn’t warrant it below -10C, but didn’t seem to think it would come to any harm, and did seem to be sure it would work again once the temperature rose again.  We agreed that at -18C ambient and lower, nothing would defrost anyway!  Lol.

I still have the Miele, now in a North Cornish barn, and going strong. I must have had it seven years or so now, I would think.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

landroverroy

  • Joined Oct 2010
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2019, 11:05:03 am »
  A in house freezer will not like working in most sheds or garages as its to cold for the compressor to work
   you would need a heater on to warm the shed for the freezer to freeze 
     Ask for a in garage freezer


Isn't it fridges that won't work when the external temperature is below freezing because the heat exchanger can't raise the temperature to that of the 4oC or so inside a fridge? I remember some years ago when we had a winter with prolonged temperatures of -10oC and butchers were leaving the doors of their cold stores open because it was colder outside than inside the cold rooms.
Rules are made:
  for the guidance of wise men
  and the obedience of fools.

macgro7

  • Joined Feb 2016
  • Leicester
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2019, 11:16:38 am »
Why did Eskimos buy a fridge?

For heating!
Growing loads of fruits and vegetables! Raising dairy goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits on 1/2 acre in the middle of the city of Leicester, using permaculture methods.

Dav275

  • Joined Nov 2015
  • Dumfries & Galloway
  • www.woodwallart.co.uk
    • WoodWallArt
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2019, 02:30:27 pm »
I asked a fridge engineer about this awhile ago.  I believe the main (only?) difference is that "outdoor" freezers have a partially enclosed/insulated back panel, which limits heat loss from the compressor in extremely low temperatures.

We have a modern Whirlpool freezer and an ancient Zanussi freezer in our shed - both seem to work ok throughout Scottish  winters.

shep53

  • Joined Jan 2011
  • Dumfries & Galloway
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2019, 08:23:57 pm »
I also have an ancient Zanussi in an out side shed  and my friend has 3 old  chest freezers in a  wooden shed and she has more of a problem with them overheating , so leaves the doors open summer and winter

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2019, 11:57:29 pm »
I asked a fridge engineer about this awhile ago.  I believe the main (only?) difference is that "outdoor" freezers have a partially enclosed/insulated back panel, which limits heat loss from the compressor in extremely low temperatures.

We have a modern Whirlpool freezer and an ancient Zanussi freezer in our shed - both seem to work ok throughout Scottish  winters.

Oh, you’ve reminded me now.  There was one other brand rated to -10C, and it was Whirlpool.  But they were adamant it would be damaged by temperatures below that, so I didn’t dare risk it.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

cambee

  • Joined Feb 2017
  • High Peak
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2019, 06:12:06 am »
Been doing some research for my own purposes as we want to freeze some of our lamb to sell this year and Beko do freezers that have freezeguard apparently like this one http://www.ukchestfreezers.co.uk/products/beko-cfa1100apw

cloddopper

  • Joined Jun 2013
  • South Wales .Carmarthenshire. SA18
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2019, 02:34:51 pm »
Was lucky enough to be given a commercial point of sale ice cream  freezer some 15 years ago it's sited out in the garage which is fairly well insulated  , we have two seven watt CFL's wired in parallel to give 14 wats of heat that are switched on 24/7 from mid Nov and taken off  at the first of May . Having the sliding glass top is fantastic as you can se at a glance where many things are.

I have a set of six 2 inch thick slabs of hard white expanded polystyrene that are used to pack out empty spaces & to raise the bottom of the freezer up as we eat our way through the contents . It helps keep the freezer working at max efficiency and  helps keep running costs down .
Strong belief , triggers the mind to find the way ... Dyslexia just makes it that bit more amusing & interesting

GribinIsaf

  • Joined Aug 2015
  • Montgomeryshire
    • Gribin Isaf
Re: Freezer for shed
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2019, 09:24:24 pm »
Just to say, thanks for all the contributions to my query!

 

Forum sponsors

FibreHut Energy Helpline Thomson & Morgan Time for Paws Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival Ark Farm Livestock Movement Service

© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2024. All rights reserved.

Design by Furness Internet

Site developed by Champion IS