Turning a freezer off

[Elpenor]

I’m thinking of not using my freezer for a few months to save electricity.

After I’ve defrosted it, and obviously unplugged it, should I leave it with the door shut or open. Not sure what I’m meant to do!

 

[savoloysam]

Bleach it then leave it ajar.

 

[DaveCinzano]

I’m thinking of not using my freezer for a few months to save electricity.

After I’ve defrosted it, and obviously unplugged it, should I leave it with the door shut or open. Not sure what I’m meant to do!

Give it a good clean and dry, and leave it with the door ajar to avoid mould and mildew.

 

[MickiQ]

What they said

 

[WouldBe]

What they said.

 

[rubbershoes]

Give it a good clean and dry, and leave it with the door ajar to avoid mould and mildew.

I don't get it

 

[DaveCinzano]

I don't get it

Not everything I say is a pun

 

[Epona]

It might not actually be costing as much to run as you think, here's an energy cost calculator which may help

Electricity usage of a Freezer - Energy Use Calculator

How many watts does a freezer use, calculate energy usage of a standalone freezer.

energyusecalculator.com

 

[JimW]

When is a freezer door not a freezer door? When it's a jar.

 

[High Voltage]

We're coming into summer, I'd've thought that's when you'd need your freezer

Switch it off during winter would make sense

Check you've not got any heating things on in summer or if you can turn them down, say for water heating if you have an immersion heater

Or insulating pipes/tank

 

[StoneRoad]

Check that the freezer is running efficiently - including a defrost - before deciding to dispense with the facility.
I use mine to even out bulk buying sprees, which helps cover running costs.
[It seems to cost more to shop "little and often" and therefore I buy bigger packs of certain things which get split up / frozen]

If you go down that route, after cleaning etc leave the door open to stop mildew / mold and general staleness inside.

 

[Elpenor]

I have defrosted already and given it a clean with kitchen cleaner stuff. My thinking was I am more likely to use it in winter as I tend to batch cook then. Whereas in summer I don’t. So will give it a go and see if I miss it.

I can’t leave the door fully open as it would then block my access into the kitchen but can easily leave it ajar.

 

[existentialist]

I find that putting a (possibly folded) tea towel over the door is enough to keep it just open, so that there is some air circulation.

 

[Elpenor]

I find that putting a (possibly folded) tea towel over the door is enough to keep it just open, so that there is some air circulation.

Good shout, that will work

 

[DaveCinzano]

Or you can deposit a small child in there with instructions to stop it from completely closing.

 

[existentialist]

Or you can deposit a small child in there with instructions to stop it from completely closing.

They tend to be less reliable than teatowels. Especially if the door does close

 

[Elpenor]

Or you can deposit a small child in there with instructions to stop it from completely closing.

I am surprised you don’t have a gif from a terrible 1990s horror film to support your suggestion

 

[cupid_stunt]

Elpenor do you know how much power it's using?

A very old one will be using loads, a modern one very little.

I was shocked that my 30 year fridge-freezer was using over 2.5Kw a day, I replaced it and the new one uses just over 0.5Kw a day, that will pay for itself is well under a year.

 

[DaveCinzano]

They tend to be less reliable than teatowels. Especially if the door does close

There is if course the viewpoint that there's very little that is more reliable than a well-motivated child in the dark with limited oxygen

 

[Chz]

We're coming into summer, I'd've thought that's when you'd need your freezer

Switch it off during winter would make sense

Check you've not got any heating things on in summer or if you can turn them down, say for water heating if you have an immersion heater

Or insulating pipes/tank

Yes, but in winter it's dumping its waste heat into the house, so you're not wasting the electricity quite as much as you are in summer when you then have to get rid of the waste heat instead of just basking in it.
In winter it's effectively a small electric radiator that has the added benefit of keeping some things cold. (as is anything electrical, really)

 

[Elpenor]

Elpenor do you know how much power it's using?

A very old one will be using loads, a modern one very little.

I was shocked that my 30 year fridge-freezer was using over 2.5Kw a day, I replaced it and the new one uses just over 0.5Kw a day, that will pay for itself is well under a year.

I don’t know that, sorry. Can’t find anything in the online manual.

It is - I guess - at least 15 years old. Third hand from a mate as it was left in his house when he bought it. Replacing it is probably worth doing at some point but not financially possible for at least a year.

 

[WouldBe]

They tend to be less reliable than teatowels. Especially if the door does close

Schroedinger's kid.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Schroedinger's kid.

Chilly Billy

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Or you can deposit a small child in there with instructions to stop it from completely closing.

I resisted the temptation to suggest leaving it outside as a kids adventure playground, but you obviously have no morals.

 

[DaveCinzano]

I resisted the temptation to suggest leaving it outside as a kids adventure playground, but you obviously have no morals.

Can, not should... Can

 

[DaveCinzano]

I am surprised you don’t have a gif from a terrible 1990s horror film to support your suggestion

TBF my first thought was Boxing Helena

 

[DaveCinzano]

I am surprised you don’t have a gif from a terrible 1990s horror film to support your suggestion

Also, let's hear it for old skool websites

Women in Refrigerators

You can't walk around Gotham City without tripping over a dead superheroine. This is dedicated to the women with capes who died for comics!

lby3.com