How Long Does A Chest Freezer Typically Last?

While vertical refrigerators and freezers are essential appliances that are used daily, a chest freezer can be a brilliant addition for anyone that needs extra storage space. According to Spencer's TV & Appliance, chest freezers are ideal for use in a basement or garage and they have some significant benefits that their vertical counterparts do not. They are often more energy efficient, have the capacity to fit more food in the storage bins, or in the case of a power outage during a storm, food can last longer than food in a traditional fridge-freezer — as much as three days before spoiling, per Fixr.

Unfortunately, like most other electric appliances in the home, chest freezers do not last forever. If you have had yours for a number of years, how do you determine when it is time for an upgrade? We find out how long the average lifespan is for a chest freezer.

According to Spencer's TV & Appliance, chest freezers typically last longer than traditional ones, ranging anywhere from 15 to 20 years. In comparison, a regular refrigerator-freezer will only last around 10 to 15 years. However, maintaining your chest freezer can greatly impact its longevity. Reel Simple has a few tips to keep your appliance in tip-top shape. 

They advise owners to remove everything from the freezer and give the interior a deep cleaning with dish soap and water every six months. Additionally, they say to remove dust from the condenser coils with a vacuum cleaner at least one time every year, so it functions properly. Lastly, be sure that the temperature is set at 0 Fahrenheit and check that there's no air getting out through cracks in the sides of the doors. Doing these three things ensures you get the maximum lifespan out of the appliance.

Sadly, even if you maintain your chest freezer correctly, it will eventually show signs of wear and tear. Sears Home Services explains that there are five telltale signs that your freezer is at the end of its lifespan, including weird noises coming from it, frost accumulation everywhere, water leaks, running incorrectly, and most worryingly, it's not cold enough to freeze your goods properly. While some of these issues can be fixed, some freezers have just reached their breaking point.

If you constantly need to call the repairman to fix your chest freezer, it might be time to consider purchasing a new one. According to Forbes Home, the average cost to repair a broken freezer is $350, depending on what's causing the malfunction, and how expensive the parts for your particular freezer are. Quite possibly, the most important tip to remember is knowing when it's time to buy a new one!