Why do freezers die while unplugged for a couple years?

softdown

This has happened to me three times now. Freezer worked fine until it say unplugged for a few months to a couple years. Then it still acts like it is working but it fails to cool the interior.

Guessing leaking freon? But one big freezer worked for decades until it sat for a few years.

Also guessing that if cooling has not commenced in 2-3 hours then the freezer is kaput. Another disappointment today. Wanted to put a lot of new food in it.

My brother can work on such items but says it isn't worth it. Indeed repairing modern appliances is often exactly that - not really worth it.

NANOcontrol

It could be possible that any system has very small leaks.  Running a compressor circulates an oil mist  that keeps these plugged up with regular running.  I use a chest freezer as a fridge.  I had a 5CF one that lost refrigerant after a couple of years of operating only 4 months a year. I bought a 7CF because I really needed something bigger. Hope I have better luck this time.  Been meaning to recharge the older one so I can have a true freezer.  Got all the equipment to do it but never the time. That's as good a guess as any.

softdown

How hard is it to recharge? I think I have the equipment - most of it anyway. If I see a deal on used tools, I just can't resist. This one takes 134.

In the meantime I have converted my upright commercial freezer that was being used as a mild fridge back into use as a freezer. Of no surprise it takes a lot of energy to bring it from ~45F to 0F with some contents in it.

Nobody like to hear grim news especially perhaps regarding predictions. A recent post disappeared. Suffice it to say that I want a lot of food in the freezers.

mike95490

To recharge, you have to have a vacuum pump, a replacement Dryer, compatible compressor oil and equipment to hard solder shrader valves into the plumbing for charging.    Not really DIY unless you want to buy enough gear to be a refrigeration tech.

Marc Kurth

softdown said:

Clipped:

Nobody like to hear grim news especially perhaps regarding predictions. A recent post disappeared. Suffice it to say that I want a lot of food in the freezers.

Pretty basic concept from my perspective: It is always prudent to have food and supplies on hand. Calamities and catastrophes happen, but some people prefer to wait until there are shortages - then complain about the lack of availability and/or high prices.  

softdown

Now running four freezers. Three here and one in Denver. Thinking I should have a new spare for the time that one dies. New ones should store pretty well I would hope.



I'm not getting chipped so I need several years worth of food saved up to see the madness unfold.