Minimum temperature
The lowest temperature that the freezer can maintain in normal operation. First of all, the duration of food storage in the freezer depends on this parameter: it is believed that a temperature of -12 ° C is enough to preserve food for a month, -18 ° C – 3 months, -24 ° C – up to a year. At the same time, it must be taken into account that not only temperature affects the shelf life but also the type of product and its quality before freezing.
Power failure autonomy
The amount of time the freezer keeps food cold enough when the refrigeration system is turned off, for example, due to a breakdown or power outage. Technically, the power failure autonomy for each model is calculated differently; For example, for a freezer with an operating temperature of -18 ° C, this is the period during which the products in the chamber heat up from -18 ° C to -9 ° C. To sum up, the time is indicated during which the frozen products are guaranteed not to heat up to a temperature at which they could lose their properties.
Freeze capacity
One of the main indicators of freezer performance is the approximate amount of fresh food that the freezer can completely freeze from room temperature to the minimum operating temperature in 24 hours. For domestic use, a power of 10-15 kg/day is considered quite sufficient. More performant models may be required if you have to freeze a lot of food at a time or for industrial purposes.
Door alarm
It is a system that monitors the closing of the freezer door. If the door is not closed for a long time or is not closed tightly enough, an audible or light (depending on the model) signal is given. It helps to avoid a critical increase in temperature in the working chamber and preserves the quality of the products.
Noise level
The average noise level generated by the freezer during operation. The quietest models give out about 25 - 30 dB — this is the average noise background in a residential area at night (comparable to the ticking of a wall clock); the loudest — is about 60 dB (loud conversation). More detailed comparison tables can be found in special sources.
In any case, the lower the noise level, the more comfortable the use of the unit. However, it does not always make sense to look for the
quietest freezer: in some situations (for example, in a noisy workshop), the freezer's sound may be lost against the surrounding noise background. In addition, reduced noise often affects the price.