making a chest freezer more energy efficient

starlite_2 · 13 October 2005 at 2:24PM

I know you are advised to fill an empty fridge with bottles of water as it makes it more energy efficient, but does the same apply to a chest freezer, or would it just use more electricity to keep everything frozen?
Just wondering as we have a huge one, which is rarely more than half full, and having something in the bottom would also be handy so we don't have to dig too deep to find things.

lipidicman · 13 October 2005 at 3:04PM

The idea is that a frozen bottle of water doesn't escape when you open the door. With a chest freezer the air is cold and sinks and so is generally contained. However as to which situation would consume less energy, I think you would need to do some detailed experiments!

myrnahaz · 13 October 2005 at 4:08PM

I thought it was the other way round - that you had to pack a freezer with bread or newspaper and things to fill it up and keep the temperature from rising when you open the lid, and that you had to leave gaps in a fridge to let the cold air circulate. Have I been doing it the wrong way round?

starlite_2 · 13 October 2005 at 4:12PM

Well...our energy efficiency newsletter suggested the bottles in the fridge thing..
but had no mention of freezers which is why I asked the question..

and ...lol..I am not prepared to set up a detailed experiment monitoring our bills in relation to whether we have the freezer full or not..teeheheeee

black-saturn · 13 October 2005 at 4:23PM

I always fill up space in my freezer with bottles of water and ice cream tubs of water and my electric bill is only £13 a month. Don't know if that gives you any ideas?