Why Do I Need A Frigidaire Upright Freezer in Snow Country?

One answer: Schwans

But that’s another review….

To me, shopping for new appliances for a house is not a definition of fun. Living up where we do, our choices are limited of where to go for them, and then even the stores have limited selections and often not even models on the sales floor. Sometimes purchasing an appliance is a leap of faith.

Such was the case with the Frigidaire Upright Freezer I purchased for our new home. Since it was going into a basement, there wasn’t much concern over whether or not it would fit where it was going to go, so I basically told the salesman I wanted an upright freezer a little smaller than the model on the floor, and this was what I got.

I chose an 11 cubic foot model because I was concerned with energy costs on a larger model. Although the cost of electricity here doesn’t even approach what I was paying on Long Island, there has been enough talk of shortages that I am watching places to cut. For the most part, the food in the Frigidaire Upright Freezer will be for myself and my three children - my husband is only home on weekends and my parents will be next door in their own house.

There were two drawbacks to this size model - FFU1152D - that I didn’t realize hen I purchased it. One was that there was no external handle on the front of the door, but instead a pocket handle on the side of the door. The other was that there was no interior light. Not a big deal now, but it was for a few days before we had lighting in our basement. If either of those features are important to you, this is not the model for you.

Once we decided on placement of the Frigidaire Upright Freezer we were fortunate enough not to have to worry about leveling. Our basement floor is perfectly even. The unit must be level to function correctly and there are leveling feet on the bottom to adjust as needed.

Turning the Frigidaire Upright Freezer on and off is easy as there is a switch and Power On indicator at the bottom front of the freezer. This model features a Temp Alarm which will sound if there is a malfunction or other issue which causes the interior temperature to rise above a level safe for food storage. There is an On/Off Switch for this function so we’re not condemned to hearing the alarm once you realize something might be wrong.

Adjusting the temperature is easy. Although there is no digital temperature readout, the factory preset is adequate enough to keep all of our food frozen. There are three shelves in the Frigidaire Upright Freezer which are fixed and not adjustable. I don’t have a problem with this but some people might. The door also contains storage. For us there is more than ample room. We don’t use the door for much beyond that bottle of Rumpleminze which must be kept ice cold at all times!

I haven’t seen a great build-up of frost yet. For clearing frost out in between defrosting, there is a plastic scraper. Otherwise, defrosting is manual and there is a drain plug in the bottom of the interior as well as a drain hose behind the grill.

A worry with us up here in the boondocks is power failure. The Frigidaire Upright Freezer will keep food frozen for at least 24 hours if the freezer is kept closed.

The warranty on the Frigidaire Upright Freezer is pretty good. For the first year it is a full warranty. For the 2nd through 5th years any of the sealed parts are covered. Through the 10th year the compressor is covered. During the first three years if any food spoilage occurs due to a defect in the freezer, I will be reimbursed the actual cost of the food. That’s peace of mind!

Cleaning the Frigidaire Upright Freezer is easy. The outside wipes down with a damp cloth or a mild cleaning agent. It is recommended that the interior be cleaned with a baking soda solution following defrosting.

I’m happy with the Frigidaire Upright Freezer. At 11 cubic feet there is ample storage space for my family without having it seem dominating or overbearing in my basement. It’s utilitarian and functional - not something that would be considered stylish. However, it serves our needs at a terrific price and is backed by a great warranty.



© 2005 Patti Aliventi