Recommendations?

Manual defrost, mid sized, floor, survives mild power outages.

TIA

I have a stand up model, it’s easier to get to stuff.

I've been using a chest type in the garage since 08 or 09 that I bought used for $50 off craigslist. That includes about a year with it running continuously while I screwed around finding and finally getting in the right mood to replace the thermostat.
It has survived power outages several hours in texas summer without a problem. Up to 2 days long one winter as if it didn't happen.

I bought a stand up from a friend that was 5yrs old .

I had a chest freezer, not a fan, difficult to keep organized. inevitably stuff at the bottom gets forgotten

Yep, upright.

Was thinking so … wife thought a floor unit would do better w sketchy power. Storm season is real here. (Fall/winter)

Open minded though - that’s the thread!

Costco.com has a Danby chest freezer with a five year warranty. I ordered one about a year ago based on reviews and warranty. They delivered it and even put it in place in the garage and it's been fine since.

While digging for stuff in a chest freezer can be an issue, you can use dividers and baskets to organize stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
wife thought a floor unit would do better

Where else was she planning on setting one?

Upright is more convenient, as you're not always digging for what you want.
However, when you open the door, the cold air drops out.

Chest allows for more storage and holds the cold air better when opened.
However, you'll be digging to get to your selection.

Chest is also better during power outages.

Consider establishing some method to regularly check that it is properly working. The phrase "out of sight out of mind" exists for a reason.

Another consideration would be to fill any unused space(s) with water jugs. Should the power go out you now have ice on hand to slow the thawing process.

In my experience, chest types will be better at keeping things after an outage, but uprights are easier to find things in.

Best of luck in your quest.

I've had a garage freezer for around 30 or so years at this point.

Always frost free, always the biggest they sell, always upright as I don't want to ever go through the hassle again of trying to find stuff.

We just replaced our 28 year old chest freezer (it finally died) with a 15 cu ft Frigidaire chest. I doubt if anything we buy today will come close to the 28 year service life. I'm guessing 5-10.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
Was thinking so … wife thought a floor unit would do better w sketchy power. Storm season is real here. (Fall/winter)

Open minded though - that’s the thread!

Fill the empty shelves or door racks with frozen water bottles. This increases the actual frozen mass during times w/o power. I’ve done this my whole life. I grew up in Fla and hurricanes and associated power outs are a real thing. I keep my freezer organized with meats in plastic baskets and a B, C or P (beef chicken pork) on the basket. I can get in and out in under 30 seconds to remove something. This keeps the stuff frozen longer. Water bottles can be removed for foods and added when there’s space.

We just bought a GE through Costco's website this summer. Upright model. Just make sure it says it is rated for garages. I did not know that was a thing until we started looking. We've had it about a month now and it been great. The companies also usually say how long it will remain cold if the power goes out so you can compare that too.

If you go for the upright, make sure you are able to put extra shelves in it and that those shelves have a front on them.

Many larger uprights will come with three, maybe four shelves. Lots of room, but you can't stack much as it'll just slide right off the front. With extra shelves you don't need to stack as high, and the fronts will keep things from sliding off.

I have an old (26 years now) Kenmore chest that has been a trooper and still going strong through multiple outages and an upright (can't remember the brand and I'm too lazy to walk out to the garage). Both have their pluses and minuses. For your average person, though, not interested in real long term prepper type storage, an upright will probably serve you better IMO. Things do tend to get lost and forgotten at the bottom of a chest freezer.

Went with a chest freezer earlier this year. Had concerns with it being in the garage during the Texas summers. Got a wifi temp sensor just in case. Couple weeks ago power went out for 2 1/2 hours on a 100+ day. When the power came on the sensor showed it gain temp from -4 to 1 degree. The conventional refrigerator/freezer in the house gained about 14 degrees. The house got up to 80 degrees inside.

Didn't loose anything thank goodness.

-TVz

I have 2 upright freezers in the garage. Get locking doors! I found out the hard way after a bear got in and absconded with 2 pounds of butter. Could have been a lot worse.

o5

I have an upright. I went over to the dollar store and bought a batch of cheap plastic baskets -- roughly a one-foot cube each. Those are great for keeping the frozen goods from sliding off the shelves.

quote:

Originally posted by scot818:
We just bought a GE through Costco's website this summer. Upright model. Just make sure it says it is rated for garages. I did not know that was a thing until we started looking. We've had it about a month now and it been great. The companies also usually say how long it will remain cold if the power goes out so you can compare that too.

Bought the same freezer (garage ready) several months ago and liked it so much that I bought another. Frost free and rated for 0-110* garage temps. Advertised to keep food frozen for 48 hrs w/o power. Got mine through Home Despot.

I have an International Harvester model 70 chest freezer built in 1951. The thing will not die.

I have a Maytag 15.-something CF.

It lasted 5 and a half years and died, recently.

I lost a pretty good amount of $$$ in meat including a good amount of seafood.
.