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Upright freezer frost free or manual defrost?
BJ1400 Intermediate WV USA Member since 10/29/03 Posts: 2357	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/8/12 7:40 AM For years, we've always had a chest freezer. But I've decided it's just gotten too hard to dig around in that & will be purchasing an upright. I'm not sure which would be best: frost free or manual defrost??? Thanks. ------ Beverly Janome Coverpro 1000CPX; Brother Serger 1034D; Kenmore 19233; Alden (early 1970's) http://bjsewmuchmore.blogspot.com
Michelle T Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 4175	Login to reply to this post In reply to BJ1400 << Like this post Date: 4/8/12 9:44 AM I have a very old upright deep freeze (maybe 50 years old). It is not frost free. It is still going strong all these years later. I have to defrost it once a year. I usually do it in late spring, when we have eaten most the food that was frozen the previous summer. It is a fairly long job and a bit messy, at least when I do it. The freezer is in the garage, so I do not have to worry about ice or water getting on the floor. ------ Proud parent of a Dwight International School Honour Roll Student
SunnyAlta Intermediate Member since 7/11/10 Posts: 253	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/8/12 12:38 PM My 26 yr. old chest freezer is manual defrost. I don't empty it every yr. Freezer over the fridge is frost-free. Seems to dry items out more quickly. Prefer manual defrost.
skae   Advanced MN USA Member since 4/23/07 Posts: 2735	Login to reply to this post In reply to BJ1400 << Like this post Date: 4/8/12 1:17 PM Frost free I have one for 10 years now and love it. ------ Galatians 5:22-23 The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these
Vivienne   Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 6/29/04 Posts: 948	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/8/12 1:20 PM Frost free - i have had one for 10 years snd it is great. We did need to defrost and clean once, maybe after 8 years. ------ Cheap fabrics, like cheap shoes, are a false economy.
hazelnut   Beginner USA Member since 1/7/09 Posts: 2286	Login to reply to this post In reply to BJ1400 << Like this post Date: 4/8/12 2:38 PM I have both upright and chest freezers. They are ALL manual defrosts. One upright and the chest are newer, the other upright is much older. Comparing my manual-defrost freezers, the uprights will frost over much quicker than the deep chest. How quickly they frost over and need to be defrosted depends on how often I'm opening them and how I'm using it (to freeze cooked foods that might still be a little warm, etc). I chose manual-defrosts because I did long-term storage of garden produce and cooked foods and large purchases at one time. I didn't want to deal with the freezer burn from the fan on a frost-free, and the manual-defrosts are a little more cost efficient too, because they're not running that fan. I got the uprights for the same reason as you - I got tired of digging around the chest for smaller items (though I put them in small baskets now). I've always had chest freezers in the past, and I notice these uprights do frost up quicker, especially if opened often. Probably more exposure to air when they are open and they're shallower, but that's just a guess. I had to defrost the "most-opened" upright freezer twice a year. They are *much* easier and quicker to defrost than a large, deep chest though. If you're not concerned about long-term storage of items and use your frozen foods up quickly, rotating and replenishing often - and the freezer will be opened a lot - I probably wouldn't purchase a manual-defrost, but get a frost-free for the convenience. It depends on your needs. My 2 cents.
whirrclunk Beginner UNITED KINGDOM Member since 8/24/08 Posts: 207	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/8/12 3:14 PM The freezer part of my upright fridge-freezer is manual defrost, because it's far more energy efficient, or at least it was when I bought it 6 years ago. The freezer is on all the time, and the costs and emissions soon add up. I probably only open it once or twice a day, and it doesn't seem to frost up much at all.
hazelnut   Beginner USA Member since 1/7/09 Posts: 2286	Login to reply to this post In reply to whirrclunk << Like this post Date: 4/8/12 3:45 PM Quote: The freezer part of my upright fridge-freezer is manual defrost... The freezer is on all the time.. I probably only open it once or twice a day, and it doesn't seem to frost up much at all. Now that is interesting! First, I didn't know you could get a manual-defrost freezer section on a self-defrost refrigerator, at least I've never seen one in the states. It's hard enough to find stand alone manual-defrost freezers here (particularly the uprights) - I was dissed and dissuaded by many a salesperson when I shopped for one. I wonder if it has anything to do with the smaller size or perhaps the freezer coils or freezing system you have? What brand is it? That's so cool! Now that's the kind of fridge/freezer I'd like. We have an ancient manual defrost refrigerator in the garage (purchased mainly for the fresh veggies when I gardened) and that thing froze over and built up thick ice when you looked at it wrong. lol
SouthernStitch   Advanced LA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 8169	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/8/12 9:00 PM We were told at one point that with the hurricanes we get, a manual would be better, because it will keep the food frozen for a couple of days with no electricity. This did work very well for us during one hurricane. ------ Bernina 730E, 530, and 350PE Singer 221 FW, 403a When life gives you green velvet curtains, make a green velvet dress.
annsew65 Advanced WV USA Member since 4/9/02 Posts: 798	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/10/12 1:54 AM I'd say it depends on whether it is for long term storage or not. I've found that the manual defrost keeps foods fresher longer. I can even freeze breads/buns for short term freezing in the manual defrost freezer and not so much with self-defrost ones. I have a small chest manual defrost freezer and a side-by-side self defrost freezer/refrigerator. I don't think I'd get a self defrost freezer if you are wanting to keep foods for long term. ------ Sewing in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia Sewing Room Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/annsew65/MySewingRoom#

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