Deciding Between an Upright or Chest Freezer

4.29.19

Deciding Between an Upright or Chest Freezer

For many families, the freezer compartment on their kitchen’s refrigerator simply does not meet their capacity needs for storing frozen foods, especially those who hunt and/or grow vegetables. This is where stand-alone freezers come in handy. The question that remains is: which style of freezer is best for you? Luckily, we carry both upright freezers and chest freezers here at Happys Appliances Outlet, and we have put together this guide to help you determine which freezer style is the best fit for your home!

Storage Space

Chest freezers are deeper than their upright alternative, which often times means more storage space for larger food items. The drawback to this is that aside from the wire baskets that our chest freezers possess, there are not many separate compartments like upright freezers have. Because of this, chests can be difficult to organize and a pain to try to sort through bending over. Smaller items can easily get buried underneath large items such as meat portions. In essence, chest freezers are better for storing mostly large items, and upright freezers are better for storing smaller food items.

Floor-Plan

Chest freezers are obviously wider than upright freezers and thus take up more floor space. If you decide to go with a chest, you will need to find a space for it that is out of the way and close to an electrical socket. If you choose to slide it underneath a counter, desk etc., you’ll need to be sure that there is enough headspace for the lid to open all the way. The main thing you need to worry about with upright freezers is having enough room for the door to swing all the way open. There also must be an inch of space between the freezer and the wall at all times. If you can get all of that situated, stand-alone freezers are super easy to install!

Frost

Chest freezers require a bit more maintenance than upright freezers, because they do not have an auto-defrost option. Periodically, you will have to thaw out the freezer, drain it, and then clean it out. With an upright freezer, all you have to do is select the auto-defrost option and then wipe it down afterward. For those with back, knee etc. problems, upright freezers are probably the easiest and least stressful option.

Lifespan

If longevity is what you’re looking for, you may want to roll with a chest freezer. Because of the way they’re built, chest freezers never overheat or leak fluids. While an upright freezer should last you about 10 to 15 years, a chest freezer is expected to last for 15 to 20 years. Either way, both freezer styles are reliable and durable, making stand-alone freezers a sound addition to your household’s collection of appliances.