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Is a Full Freezer More Energy Efficient Than an Empty Freezer?
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:35 pm
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:35 pm
And if so, how much?
I've always wondered.
I've always wondered.
19
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:36 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
What kind of freezer?
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:36 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
I feel like it would depend on your definition of full, but the answer is yes.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:37 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
quote:I would think so due to the frozen items helping to cool it
Is a Full Freezer More Energy Efficient Than an Empty Freezer?
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:37 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
No
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:37 pm to Jcorye1
quote:
What kind of freezer?
does it matter?
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:38 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
I always freeze gallons of water before a hurricane to preserve what I have in there for a bit; like an ice box. But, yeah, I'm not sure if that keeps it colder more efficiently after or it takes more energy to keep it frozen. 
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:38 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Full would be more efficient
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:40 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
quote:
does it matter?
I'd assume it would. Industrial freezers and home freezers seem to be different, but I'm not an engineer either.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:42 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
More efficient
With frozen stuff in the freezer the freezer itself doesn't have as much dead space to keep cold.
An empty fridge/freezer is expensive.
With frozen stuff in the freezer the freezer itself doesn't have as much dead space to keep cold.
An empty fridge/freezer is expensive.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:45 pm to BallCoachinFool
I'd say no. In fact, bacteria breaking down slowly within the materials of the freezer would release heat. As long as the freezer is never opened, empty freezer would be more efficient.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:46 pm to C
quote:
As long as the freezer is never opened, empty freezer would be more efficient.
No way.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:48 pm to LNCHBOX
How do you think the energy is lost? Its easier to cool down an empty freezer than one completely full.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:48 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Full freezer is more efficient, the frozen items retain their temperature and help cool the air and newer items that are out in it.
And whoever made the statement about bacteria breaking down and releasing heat, that's about as wrong as wrong can get.
And whoever made the statement about bacteria breaking down and releasing heat, that's about as wrong as wrong can get.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:49 pm to C
quote:
Its easier to cool down an empty freezer than one completely full
That's not what I took the OP to be asking. I assumed we were talking about one cooled down already.
ETA: I feel like this sums it up:
quote:
Why Filling Your Freezer Helps With Energy Efficiency
Each time you open your freezer, cold air escapes and warm air flows in. The majority of the energy your freezer uses goes towards cooling down the air that comes in when you open the freezer door. When your freezer is full, there is less room for warmer air to take up, and the items that are in there help to cool down any air that does sneak in. So keeping it full means less energy used.
This post was edited on 4/17/14 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:50 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Full freezer is more efficient.
Predict 40+ pages
Predict 40+ pages
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:52 pm to C
quote:
bacteria breaking down slowly within the materials of the freezer would release heat.
i think you mean it would create heat?
and i say a full freezer is more efficient
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:52 pm to ZacAttack
quote:
And whoever made the statement about bacteria breaking down and releasing heat, that's about as wrong as wrong can get.
half joking, but yes as your food degrades, chemical reactions occur releasing heat. It would happen very slowly/hardly noticeable. Unless you have an air leak, there is no reason for a freezer to be more or less efficient based on the material inside. It's a closed system. The energy transfer takes places between the walls.
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:53 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
This sounds like an excellent Science Fair project. Fwiw
Posted on 4/17/14 at 12:53 pm to Hugo Stiglitz
Very slightly more efficient, yes. Simply because the temperature inside is more stable so the number of cooling cycles decrease (though it has to run longer to cool all the mass back down when the cycle starts). But the heat loss is the same regardless of what is in there so the savings is tiny. The other advantage of being full is it will last longer in an outage. We were without power for a day and a half this winter in a storm and didn't lose anything from either freezer.
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