For some families, a freezer is an essential home appliance to have. This appliance has vastly been used for the storage of food and beverage products. The foods need a low temperature to be stored so that they can stay fresh for later use. There are different types of garage-ready freezers, but we will explore a specific kind used for hot garages.
Many freezer models come with a setup that supports room usage in the market, which does not get colder than 10 degrees. But some other freezers are designed specifically for hot garages. For your garage, you need this kind of freezers that will give you excellent service as expected.
So, how does a freezer work?
Did you ever ask yourself how did a freezer work? To understand your actual needs, you may need to understand some facts of the functionality of a garage ready freezer. This is not rocket science to be understood. Let’s jump into the topic!
Before knowing details on the best chest freezers for hot garage and how those freezers work to keep the foods fresh, let’s understand the technical parts of how a chest freezer does work.
Any freezer has five essential parts. These are,
- Compressor
- Condenser coils
- Expansion device
- Evaporator coils
- Refrigerant.
We all know that CFC gas is one of the most important elements of a refrigeration cycle. As a medium, it brings out the temperature from inside the freezer and releases it outside. The CFC gas is known as the refrigerant here.
In the first step, the refrigerant gets compressed. The compression process is done by a device named compressor. When compressed, the temperature and refrigerant pressure rises. With this high temperature, the refrigerant enters into the condenser coil.
The refrigerant travels through the condenser coils to release high temperatures. Gradually, the refrigerant becomes cool when it gets to the room environment. When the gas cools down, it starts to expand.
At the next stage, the expansion device helps the refrigerant to expand more. In the next step, the expanded gas enters inside the freezer to absorb the heat.
The evaporator coil is set inside a chest freezer. In this step, the refrigerant travels through the evaporator, absorbs the heat from inside, and gradually expands. As we know that if something evaporates, it absorb and transport heat. The refrigerant does the same thing as a garage-ready freezer.
The compressor takes the expanded gas and compresses it to start the new cycle. This process continues to keep the cycle running.
Let’s know how a freezer reacts to different temperatures!!
Your garage may have any of these three different types of conditions.
- It can be a hot place
- It can be a cold place, or
- The garage can have a temperature change from time to time, sometimes it’s hot, and sometimes it’s cold.
According to Wendy Treinen, one of the directors at GE Appliances, a freezer needs to work extra to keep the inside cold according to the needs. And, in cold temperature, the freezer fails to maintain efficiency as it thinks that the weather is at freezing point.” she says.
From the points above, we can understand two things. First, if your garage is hot, you must have a freezer that is energy efficient as it needs to work overtime. Second, if the garage is cold, the freezer may not work correctly, and foods kept inside may start thawing.
But which freezer is efficient for a changing temperature? Which one will give support in summer as well as in winter? We have talked about it in the ending part of this garage-ready freezer guide. However, we keep emphasizing on best chest freezer for a hot garage more.
We jump into the next part of the guide, which is on the basic characteristics of a hot garage freezer.
What makes a freezer a garage-ready freezer?
Here we will discuss about two technical factors which maintain the inside temperature in two different ways.
A freezer which you want for you garage must have energy efficiency. Since it needs to give extra effort to keep the temperature down, it must not use more electricity than the normal refrigerators, which make a freezer a garage-ready freezer. This one is applicable with a freezer that maintains inside temperature with the help of a thermostat directly.
Another type does not have a thermostat. Rather, it controls the temperature with a dial. This means, you can set the temperature at a certain point. To maintain a certain temperature, the compressor of the freezer activates at regular intervals to keep the temperature colder.
How to choose the best chest freezer for a hot garage?
Since you need a specific type of freezer for your garage, there are some particular features you must ensure that the garage-ready freezer you want to buy has in it. We have made a guide with top garage-ready freezer features that help you to decide between the best chest freezers for a hot garage. We talk mainly about five significant points here.
The most critical question you need to ask at first is,
Will this chest freezer function well in a hot garage?
Yes, because it includes everything that needed to be adjusted with a hot garage temperature.
It should be compatible with the garage temperature. Freezers are available with many temperature ranges. It may vary from brand to brand. However, to be compatible with your garage, you need to find out the temperature of your garage. So, first, know the garage temperature range, and then find out which range you should choose.
What is the capacity it offers?
Determining the capacity is one of the most important key decision-making factors. If you do not know the right ability, you will need it for your garage, and you can choose the wrong one. It may result in spending extra money on electric bills. Consequently, you may need to buy another freezer that may fit the need. So, please determine the capacity you need before making the purchase decision.
Third, does the freezer have a defrost drain?
Cleaning the inside of a freezer can sometimes be a complex problem if the draining facility is not suitable. If the freezer does not have a proper way to channel the ice out, then it can create a problematic situation when you need to clear the freezer. It can also waste your time. So, there is no alternative way other than getting the clearing job done quickly and easily. The chest freezer you are about to buy should have an excellent defrost drain system. You will be able to clean and defrost it if the freezer gets too much frosty.
Is the garage-ready freezer automatic or manual defrost?
The second last thing is, again, one of the most important things to be checked when you are purchasing a chest freezer for a hot garage. A garage-ready freezer comes with either an automatic defrost system or a manual defrost system. If the garage is hot, you do not need the automated defrost system in your freezer. Just make sure the system is manual. You can do it manually if you need to do it ever. If not, then you never need to think of it.
What is the guarantee period of this garage-ready freezer? How many years?
The guarantee period is one of the top features for expensive durability products that we plan to use for an extended period. The freezer you are choosing today may have a great review from its current customers or maybe from your friends and family. But who knows? It may come to you as a defective one, and you may need to exchange it for a new one. Before purchasing the freezer, do not check out the guarantee period.
Also, do not forget to check for which parts they are offering the guarantee. The compressor is the most expensive one. So, you need to look for a guarantee for a compressor for a longer period. However, the guarantee for other parts is equally important.
These are the most important five points that should be checked before purchasing a garage-ready feature. We have made a list of 5 best freezers for hot garage which you may find suitable for your hot garage. Lets jump into the garage freezer reviews.
5 Best Chest Freezers for Hot Garage to Buy in 2021
A chest freezer is a great solution for your frozen item storage needs. These garage-ready chest freezers come in modern design, with temperature control settings, and interior lighting. Also, they come with a storage basket for easy access.
Options for the best garage freezers are limited and shopping for them can be confusing too. You need a freezer that can perform well and handle below-freezing temperatures. However, before buying a garage freezer, you must decide how much space you have for your freezer. In this article, we will review the five best chest freezers for hot garages.
1. Koolatron KTCF195 Compact Top-Opening Chest Freezer for Garage
Top Features:
- The capacity of 198L/ 7 Cubic Feet.
- Keeps the contents cool under 0-24°C.
- External thermostat to adjust freezer temperature.
- Included power indicator light.
- Removable wire basket for easy organization.
The Koolatron KTCF195 is the ultimate storage freezer to store all your frozen contents so you can avoid food waste and save money! With this spacious freezer, you can accommodate 198L worth of items. The flip-up lid provides easy access to the machine and it fits so well against the wall that you can save space in your home.
This clean white freezer requires very low maintenance. A removable wire basket is there to organize the items. Its easy organization lets you access commonly used and small items very easily.
The efficient and reliable compressor technology of this freezer comes with a CFC-free cooling system. It keeps the items cool under the temperature 32°F to -11.2°F (0°C and -24°C). Easy to clean interior, temperature control, power indicator light, and high build quality adds to the benefits of this product.
2. Garage Ready Chest Freezer for Your Garage and Basement by Arctic King
Top Features:
- The total capacity of 5 cft.
- Uses an estimated 218 kWh a year.
- Recessed handle and removable storage basket.
- The overall weight of 59.5 lb.
- Easy-access defrost drain.
The Arctic King 5 ft. freezer is a large capacity freezer that can fit anywhere. Its compact and sleek design allows you to store it in the kitchen, garage, basement, or back room. Be it a personal or professional environment, this stylish and modern freezer can blend anywhere. It is one of the best garage-ready freezers.
You can easily organize the interior of the freezer with its removable storage basket. With it, you can access frequently used items more easily. You can keep the larger items under the storage basket. It comes with easy access defrost drain so you can easily clean it. A recessed handle gives the freezer a streamlined look. This well-built freezer comes with a 1-year warranty.
3. Danby DCF072A3WDB-6 – Garage Ready Chest Freezer with Basket and Front-Mount Thermostat
Top Features:
- A sturdy vinyl-coated basket
- 5-year warranty
- Performs efficiently under temperature 0F to 110F
- Environment-friendly and energy-efficient
- Easy-to-access thermostat for temperature adjustment.
Looking for the perfect chest freezer for your kitchen? Well, look no further. Grab the Danby DCF072A3WDB-6 now! It is ideal for your garage, basement, and kitchen. This spacious freezer gives you 7.2 cu. ft. capacity. There are no bulky components of this freezer so you can store this unit anywhere.
This freezer is more suitable for the garage as it can perform under the temperatures -17°C to 43°C (0°F to 110°F). To help you organize your stuff easily, it provides a wire storage basket that you can adjust yourself. The foam-insulated cabinet and round lid can bring a huge difference in your electricity bills. Your bills will be noticeably less.
4. Frigidaire FFFC20M4TW Garage-Ready Freezer with 19.8 cu. ft. Capacity
Top Features:
- Total capacity of 19.8 cu. ft.
- Two adjustable baskets to organize goods.
- Color-coordinated handle.
- Intuitive turn knob for temperature control.
- 1-year warranty.
Frigidaire FFFC20M4TW is a great chest freezer to have. It features an adjustable temperature control system so you can select the temperature of your choice. With the 19.8 cu. ft. capacity, this freezer provides generous space to store your goods. To illuminate the items in the freezer, it is equipped with LED light. So, you can see better even in a poorly lit area.
The locking lid comes with a pop-out key that keeps your contents safe. The pop-out key ejects right after locking the door so you don’t leave the key in the door. Comparing to other refrigerator-freezers, the Fridigaire freezer is less likely to freezer burn your frozen foods. This freezer keeps a constant temperature.
5. GE FCM11PHWW Chest Freezer for Garage and Basement
Top Features:
- Performs in the temperature from 0 to 110 deg. F.
- Lock with key to keep foods secure.
- Power-on light and interior lighting.
- Adjustable temperature control.
- 1-year warranty.
If you are looking for an affordable chest freezer with an average capacity, then go for the GE FCM11PHWW. Although 10.6 cu. ft. might seem small, this chest freezer provides more usable space per capacity. It features a manual defrost system so you will have to defrost it once a year. This freezer is one of the lowest annual energy using freezer.
This freezer can run at a temperature from 0 to 110 deg. F. It comes with all the basics you can expect from a chest freezer including a safety lock, power-on indicator light, interior light. Also, it has external dial temperature control, sliding storage baskets, leveling legs, three lift-out.
Bottom Line
Looking for the best garage-ready chest freezers can be a hassle. However, you don’t want to compromise the quality of your garage freezer. While looking for a chest freezer, you must consider some factors like capacity, temperature control, storage baskets, safety lock, exterior power light, and garage ready design, etc. The best chest freezers for a hot garage must fit into your space, work efficiently, fulfill your needs, and have fewer issues.