What parameters need to be taken into account in order to choose the right freezer?

Type - cabinet or chest

There are several types of freezers:

1. Cabinets - vertical devices that look like classic single-chamber refrigerators. Their advantage is their small footprint (not volume) in the room. There are many shelves here, so access to products is always convenient.

2. Lari - the same freezers, but made in the form of chests. These are often used in stores for storing food, but in domestic use they prefer cabinets.

There are no technical differences between these types, but there are structural differences. There are no convenient shelves in the chest (we don’t take into account the hanging nets) for storing food; here all the frozen food is placed on the bottom, which is extremely inconvenient, especially if you store different types of food there. That is, to find a frozen apricot at the bottom, you will have to dig through a mountain of other products. Therefore, a cabinet is the best choice for the home, but if you want to know how to choose a chest freezer, then the information below is also useful to you, because the devices do not differ in technical parameters and functionality.

Defrosting system

Sooner or later, all freezers become overgrown with ice or frost - this is the result of moisture getting inside the chambers when opening/closing the doors. If you do not defrost freezers, the efficiency of the compressor decreases, and there is less space in the freezers, so it is advisable to choose a model with automatic defrosting. There are 2 types of systems:

1. Manual. If you are going to choose a freezer at a low price, then in any case there will be a manual defrosting system. When the freezer becomes covered in ice, the owner will have to unplug it, wait for the ice to grow, remove the water, dry it and turn it on again. This is what the entire process looks like.
2. No Frost - automatic defrosting system. Here, cold air circulates through the chamber thanks to a fan. After a while, the frost melts and flows into the pan, which is located near the hot compressor. Due to the heating of the latter, the accumulated water evaporates. That is, human intervention in the process is completely excluded.

Freezers with No Frost are better, but more expensive. When choosing a cheap model, you will have to defrost it 1-2 times a year (depending on the intensity of use).

Extra options

The characteristics listed above play an important role when choosing a freezer; they are the most basic ones that the buyer pays attention to. If you have already decided on the type, you know what volume and power you need, then it’s time to move on to other parameters. They are more specific and will help you navigate among the variety of models.

From a cost-effectiveness point of view, the most suitable option is a class “A” freezer.

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Climate class

This parameter depends on the temperature in the room where the freezer is located. You may have seen positions such as N or T in the description of freezers; they indicate the climate class:

• N – normal (from +16°С to +32°С).
• SN – subnormal (from +10°С to +32°С).
• ST – subtropical (from +18°С to +38°С).
• T – tropical (from +18°С to +43°С).

On average, a temperate climate prevails on the territory of Russia, which corresponds to class N. Class SN is suitable for the North, and subtropical and tropical for the South.

The climate class is selected depending on the climate of the room where the freezer will be installed.

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Control system

The camera control system is divided into three main types:

• mechanical;
• electromechanical;
• sensory.

The mechanical control system is similar to a ventilation system in which the blades rotate and force cooled air through an opening. In this case, only the mechanism that provides the level of air supply into the chamber where the products are stored is regulated, and the cooling device itself operates with the same power.

Based on the type of control, freezers are divided into three categories.

The electromechanical system includes a thermostat that responds to a set temperature and turns the supply of cooled air on and off.

The touch control system is the most convenient of those presented, as it has a display that is connected to the internal mechanized system of the freezer and you only have to set the necessary settings on the external panel.

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Additional Information

You can change the level of cooled air supply in the mechanical and electromechanical control system by opening the freezer door. In a touch system, adjustments are made on the touch panel.

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Extra freezing

Quite a useful feature that allows you to quickly freeze food in the freezer. It is useful because vitamins and nutrients found, for example, in vegetables, meat, and berries are preserved. Before putting food inside the chamber, you can turn on this function and the compressor will begin to lower the air temperature in advance. The products will freeze quickly and will not transfer their heat to each other.

The extra freeze function allows you to quickly freeze food in the freezer.

Important! Despite the usefulness and advantages of extra-freezing, you should not use it too often due to rapid wear of the compressor and a decrease in service life.

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Automatic cold storage

If your electrical network is prone to frequent interruptions and sudden power outages, this feature is just for you. It allows you to maintain the temperature inside the freezer for up to 2 days, which in such cases can protect food from spoilage.

Defrosting

In another way it is also called No Frost or auto defrost. Freezers with this function do not require manual defrosting, such as equipment with a mechanical control system. They must first be disconnected from the power supply and defrosted 1-2 times a year in order for all the ice that has accumulated over such a long time to be removed from the walls. Chambers with an auto-defrost mode defrost on their own, but they are more expensive.

Note! In a freezer with the No Frost function, food must be sealed, as moisture may evaporate from it during automatic defrosting.

A freezer equipped with a But frost system does not need defrosting.

Indicator light

The indicator on the freezer helps determine the current state of the cooling system. This is very convenient because you can understand how your equipment works and take action if something is wrong.

If the indicator lights up red, it means the temperature inside the chamber is higher than set, also if the door is open for a long time or there are too many fresh products in the compartments giving off their heat.

The yellow indicator lights up when the “Frozen” mode is turned on. Goes off when the Storage mode is used or when the camera is turned off.

The green indicator light indicates that everything is in order and is constantly on if the freezer is in working condition.

Security lock

This setting ensures that freezer settings are locked from unplanned changes. If you have children, they can press the touchpad to change the settings. But you can solve this issue with the blocking function.

Horizontal freezers are more convenient for stores.

Price

The above types of freezers and their main parameters can be very helpful when choosing, but among other things, the price is also important. Nowadays there are a huge variety of models, but when choosing, you want to know what you should pay attention to. This list can include:

• type;
• volume;
• dimensions;
• functionality and useful options;
• Energy consumption;
• manufacturer.

These parameters should be taken into account when choosing the most suitable option for you.

Freezers costing between 15-20 thousand rubles are suitable for one person or a small family. This category often includes freezers with mechanical or electromechanical control systems, but there are also sensor ones.

Freezers of a higher class vary in cost from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. They are quite roomy, have a variety of functionality, power and additional parameters.

From 40 thousand and above there is the most luxurious and powerful equipment. It is usually purchased by people with good financial resources, and is also in demand among entrepreneurs.

Energy consumption and efficiency class

The specifications (rarely in advertising brochures) always indicate the amount of energy consumed by the freezer per year. It depends on the efficiency class and the volume of the freezer. Cheap models with a fairly high class and small chamber volume consume 220–250 kWh/year, more expensive devices with large chambers consume 340–350 kWh/year. There is no standard value here, but when choosing freezers with approximately equal parameters, it is better to give preference to the one with lower annual consumption.

There are energy consumption classes assigned to each freezer:

1. A+++ is the highest class, requiring minimal energy consumption. Such models use the latest thermal insulation technologies (to prevent loss of cold in the chambers), modern compressors and control systems. There are only a few freezers of this class on the market, but they are very expensive.
2. A++ is also a very high class assigned to many models. The popular Liebherr GP 1476 with a 106 liter chamber and class A++ consumes only 152 kWh/year.
3. A+ is still high class. Most modern and even inexpensive freezers belong to the A+ category. The Liebherr G 1223 model with a volume of 102 liters consumes 190 kWh/year, which is an acceptable figure.
4. A - by modern standards, this is already a low energy consumption class, which is assigned to cheap freezers. For example, Biryusa 14 with a chamber volume of 110 liters and class A consumes 223 kWh/year. Large models such as ATLANT M 7184–003 (240 liters) consume 340 kWh/year.
5. B is a low energy class assigned to extremely inefficient freezers. Mostly these are outdated and cheap devices, although not always. For example, a Saratov 154 freezer with a volume of 94 liters consumes 328 kWh/year. That is, almost 2 times more than a model with class A++.
6. C, D, E, F, G - not considered. There are practically no models with such low categories on the market, and if there are, these are unsold stock and are not recommended for purchase.

This suggests logical advice on how to choose a freezer for your home: consider the most energy-efficient models with class A++. The higher price will be justified in 2-3 years by lower energy costs. As of mid-2021, freezers with category A+++ are very expensive, and the choice is very limited. The Liebherr GNP 4355 model with a chamber volume of 270 liters and class A+++ (160 kWh/year) will cost 65–66 thousand rubles, which is 2 times more expensive than a device with class A++ and similar parameters.

Compressor

All freezers are equipped with compressors - conventional or inverter. The latter are better due to higher operating efficiency and a minimum number of stops. They work much quieter, consume less electricity, and most importantly, have a longer service life by minimizing the number of starts/stops (frequent stops and starts are harmful to any motor).

Inverter compressors also have disadvantages - price and instability to voltage surges. However, voltage stabilizers have been installed in modern apartments for a long time, and surges are extremely rare even in old houses.

Control

There are several control methods:

1. Mechanical (or electromechanical) - The user sets the approximate cooling level using a mechanical rotary switch or buttons.
2. Electronic - the user can set the exact temperature value, which will be automatically maintained by the system. The digital screen of the freezer displays the current value.

When choosing a freezer, it is better to give preference to a model with electronic control, but there is nothing wrong with mechanics. Precise temperature control is not needed for your home, so a device with mechanical adjustment is quite suitable.

Useful features

Various parameters determine the choice of a suitable model. Capacity, ability to maintain temperature when the power is turned off, energy consumption class, noise parameters - these values ​​​​need to be known in order to make the final choice. It is important to analyze the useful functions of the technology.

The main functions are as follows:

1. climate class (the highest T means that the equipment can operate in an ambient temperature range of up to + 43 °C, in such conditions the temperature inside the device is maintained down to - 24 ºC);
2. energy efficiency class;
3. display with electronic temperature control;
4. electronic mechanism for monitoring ambient temperature;
5. fast freezing mode;
6. transparent boxes, wire containers for sorting products;
7. lighting;
8. economy mode;
9. door open warning system;
10. No Frost function.

Freezing power and cold retention

Power determines how many products (in kilograms) the device can freeze per day down to -18 degrees. The higher the power, the better. The standard model Liebherr GP 1376 is class A++ and has a capacity of 11 kg/day - this is an average value that depends on the chamber volume, compressor, and efficiency class.

The second important criterion for choosing the best freezer for your home is autonomy. The same Liebherr GP 1376 retains cold for 30 hours without mains power. After 30 hours, the temperature in the chamber begins to gradually increase. This parameter is important for buyers who have power outages. More advanced and expensive models like the Liebherr GT 4932 (chest freezer) with a large chamber retain cold for 74 hours. This guarantees the safety of frozen food even if there is no food for three days. True, such refrigerators are more suitable for commercial use rather than household use.

Other functions and features

Speaking about how to choose the right freezer for your home, it is important to know about the additional functions that the model can be equipped with:

1. Indication of temperature increase . This technology is rarely found in freezers (more often in refrigerators), but its presence is welcome. The function, when the temperature in the chamber rises above normal, informs the owner about this using a sound indication. Essentially, this is an open door indicator - if the user does not close the door tightly, the temperature in the chamber will rise sharply and the freezer will report this.
2. Super Freeze function . When activated, the compressor operates at full power, and the temperature in the chamber drops sharply to -24 degrees, which allows you to quickly freeze a large amount of food.
3. Phone control. There are only a few freezers on the Russian market with a smartphone “tethering” function. For example, the Samsung RZ-32 M7110SA model allows you to adjust the temperature through a special application on your smartphone.

4. Child protection - the presence of a special door lock so that a child cannot accidentally open it and thereby defrost the freezer.

Peculiarities:

1. Re-hanging doors . It is important that the model provides the ability to hang the door for ease of opening.
2. Noise level . Buyers rarely pay attention to this indicator, although it is important. The characteristics always indicate this value in dB. A value of up to 38 dB can be considered normal. Models with a noise level of 40–42 dB already hum unpleasantly, which creates slight discomfort in the room.
3. Climate class - this parameter is important to consider if the freezer is selected for installation in a garage, for example, where the air temperature in winter drops to +10 degrees or lower. Most freezers receive class N - this means that they operate normally at air temperatures from +16 to +32 C. Class SN requires the device to operate from +10 to +32 C. Models with the SN class can be installed in cold rooms.

The overall quality of materials and workmanship is also an important factor in choosing the best freezer or chest freezer. You need to touch the device, look for backlashes, bending walls and cracks. A high-quality product has a monolithic assembly.

Types of freezers by load type

There are two types of freezers: vertical and horizontal.

Upright freezer

A vertical freezer, or freezer cabinet, can be freestanding or built-in. This type of device is most suitable for a city apartment. Externally, a freezer is very similar to a regular refrigerator, its height can vary from 50 to 205 cm, width from 60 to 160 cm and depth from 48 to 80 cm. Some home freezers can be quite narrow, but this is rather an exception, than the rule. Typically, a vertical freezer is divided into compartments, each of which has a special drawer for storing food. Older models can only be equipped with shelves, however, this design has not earned popularity among housewives. Built-in freezers are no different from conventional freezers in terms of internal equipment. Their main feature is the ability to be installed inside furniture, which allows you to create a specific design for the kitchen space.

Freezer horizontal

A horizontal chamber, or chest freezer, is most often used for country houses because it takes up much more space. Most often, the height of such a freezer is 45 to 156 cm, but the width of the models can differ significantly, since the volume of the device varies from 100 to 500 liters. You can choose a horizontal freezer only if you have free space.

Subjective rating of freezers

On the Russian market, the choice of freezers is huge, so it’s difficult for buyers to decide. This review selects the best models that have received positive reviews.

1st place - ATLANT M 7184–003

One of the most popular, reliable and in demand is the ATLANT M 7184–003 freezer, costing 15,000 rubles. It received energy consumption class A (340 kWh/year), the chamber volume is 240 liters, and the power is 20 kg/day. In case of a power outage, the device remains cold for 14 hours and has a “Super Freeze” function. The possibility of reversing the door is included.

The disadvantage is the noise level of up to 42 dB and the low energy consumption class, but in its price category it is the best freezer that works without problems and does its job perfectly. In addition, the manufacturer gives it a 3-year warranty, but the device works much longer than the warranty period.

2nd place - Biryusa 200NK

A small chest freezer that is convenient to place even in the house. Its price is 10–11 thousand rubles, which is quite consistent with the characteristics.

The chest has a manual defrosting system, consumes 511 kWh/year, and its volume is 200 liters. The device is reliable and of high quality, durable - it works for a long time without breakdowns, does not make noise and can be used in any weather - hot and cold. If you need an inexpensive and practical chest, then you won’t find a better model.

3rd place - Gorenje F 6181 AW

An expensive freezer for 25,000 rubles on average with energy consumption class A+ (consumes 297 kWh/year), a manual defrosting system and a chamber volume of 309 liters. A special feature of the model is its extremely effective thermal insulation - the model retains cold for 28 hours without mains power, and also has a light warning system for increasing the temperature in the chamber.

The disadvantage is the noise level up to 42 dB, although in reviews buyers note silent operation. The device is also reliable and durable, of high quality - all this explains its high price.

4th place - Liebherr GP 1476

Compact freezer for home with a capacity of 106 liters. It received class A++ (152 kWh/year), a manual defrosting system, a “Super Freeze” function and a temperature display. In the absence of power, the freezer remains cold for 30 hours, and its capacity is 11 kg/day. A big plus is the quiet operation - only 38 dB.

It's no surprise that the Liebherr GP 1476 is receiving positive reviews. Buyers highlight: quiet operation, energy saving, reliability and efficiency of food freezing. The price of the model is 23,000 rubles. Considering the parameters, this is a fairly high price - there is a markup on the brand.

5th place - BEKO RFNK 290E23

A reliable and productive device will cost 23,000 rubles. Unlike other freezers in the rating, the model does not require defrosting, as it is equipped with a No Frost system. It received energy consumption class A+ (310 kWh/year), a chamber with a volume of 290 liters and high power - up to 16 kg/day. Cold storage (up to 18 hours without power), light indication of temperature increase, Super Freeze function - all this is included.

Considering the functionality, quality and capabilities, BEKO RFNK 290E23 has a low price. The only drawback is the glass top shelf (at -18 degrees the glass can crack) and the fragile plastic of the pull-out shelves. A cool, reliable model that gets good reviews.

Important Features

Freezers have their own characteristics. Class, volume, power are the main categories that make it clear what needs each of them fits. Let's look at each separately.

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Freezing class

Let's start with the freezer's ability to preserve food. It is determined by a generally accepted designation that you have probably come across - these are asterisks (*). Their number indicates the maximum shelf life of the products.

1. * corresponds to a temperature of -6 degrees, products are stored for a week;
2. ** means a temperature of -12 degrees and allows you to store food for a month;
3. *** tells us about a temperature of -18 degrees, the shelf life of the contents will be up to 3 months;
4. **** assumes the lowest temperatures and the duration of freezing can reach up to 1 year.

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Volume

Let's move on to the sizes of freezers and their capacity. When choosing equipment, you need to consider the number of products that you need to place in the compartment. As a rule, the volume of freezers presented in stores ranges from 100 to 500 liters. There are also the concepts of “useful volume” and “total volume”. The latter refers to the actual volume of the freezer, and useful characterizes the space that will be used for storing food. The standard volume for an average family of 2-4 people is 150-200 liters.

The standard freezer volume is 150-200 liters.

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Power

An equally important parameter of freezers is power. Their quality and shelf life depend on how much energy is generated to freeze your products. This indicator is calculated using two quantities – kilograms and hours. That is, how many kilograms can be stored in this chamber in 24 hours. This figure ranges from 5 kilograms to 25 kilograms per day. For a family of 2-4 people, a capacity of 5-10 kg/day is sufficient.

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Energy consumption

During operation, the freezer consumes a nn-th amount of electricity, so it is also important for us to know how much this or that equipment consumes. While walking around hardware stores, you may notice stickers - “A” - “E”, they are needed to indicate electricity consumption. Class “A” is considered the most economical, and the adjacent “+” indicates an increase in this indicator. That is, the more “+” next to the marking, the more economical it is, for example, “A++”.

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