Lowe’s operates more than 1500 home improvement stores across the United States and Canada, and has reported the sales of freezers are on the rise.  The increase in energy costs as well as grocery prices are making people rethink how they stock up on supplies.  In general, people are trying to save money by purchasing items in bulk and taking less trips to the grocery store – in order to do that and keep items from spoiling, more freezer space is needed.

Here are some tips for shopping for an extra freezer:

Storage Capacity: The general rule of thumb is to start with the number of people in your home multiplied by 1.5 cubic feet, and then evaluate the amount of food you buy and add 1 cubic foot for every 35 pounds.  This is too complicated for me personally, so I prefer the tip that the average family of four will require a chest freezer between 8.9 and 15 cubic feet, or an upright between 16 and 20 cubic feet.

Upright or Chest Style: The easiest factor for choosing whether you should get an upright or chest style freezer is how much space you have to store the freezer.  Chest style freezers are 48 to 65 inches in width, which means you need a lot of floor space, while the upright version fits in a much smaller area.  Also, upright freezers are easier to organize and find items without digging through to the bottom of a chest-style freezer.

Energy Efficiency Needs: If your purpose of getting an extra freezer is to help reduce your costs, you probably are going to want to be looking at freezers that offer energy efficiency.  Look for an Energy Star rated freezer, especially if you go with an upright model.  Apparently, chest style freezers are generally more energy efficient because less cold air escapes from the hatch-style lid than through the upright doors.  An Energy Star rated freezer saves between 7 and 10% a year on electricity costs as opposed to a freezer without the rating.

What’s it Gonna Cost:  The cost of your extra freezer of course depends on a number of factors – from the type you select, the brand name, and the size.  For the average family, you should expect to pay somewhere between $150 and $700.



 Related Content: