Deepfreeze in a furnace room

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Feb 4th, 2019 4:32 pm

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Jan 29th, 2019 8:10 pm

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 29th, 2019 8:10 pm

Deepfreeze in a furnace room

Moved and lost our triple car garage to a double. With that we also lost probably ten feet of length to, so having troubles finding room for things. Right now we have 2 freezers, a standup one and a small chest one. We use them both a lot, so getting rid of one isn't an option.

But we also need room in the garage. In our furnace room we have a lot of extra space, in fact a spot where at least the chest freezer would fit perfectly.

But saying that, having a freezer in a room that literally creates extra heat, would that just make the freezer work harder?

29 replies

Jan 29th, 2019 8:19 pm

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 20879 posts; 14369 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jan 29th, 2019 8:19 pm

WikkiWikki wrote: ↑ Moved and lost our triple car garage to a double. With that we also lost probably ten feet of length to, so having troubles finding room for things. Right now we have 2 freezers, a standup one and a small chest one. We use them both a lot, so getting rid of one isn't an option.

But we also need room in the garage. In our furnace room we have a lot of extra space, in fact a spot where at least the chest freezer would fit perfectly.

But saying that, having a freezer in a room that literally creates extra heat, would that just make the freezer work harder?

Yes but you could do a few things to cut down on that depending on your layout -

1. Add some venting in the furnace room to cool it off.
2. Pipe in some cooler air to the freezer's coils (maybe from another interior room?)
3. Put some insulation on the freezer. In another thread, someone wanted to put their freezer outside but was worried about the Summertime heat so I suggested attaching some styrofoam sheets to the outside of the freezer but to take into account for any hotspots on the freezer walls (where the coils are) and cut out openings for those hot spots. Should be pretty easy for the lid... it's just the sides of the freezer which may be an issue.

Jan 29th, 2019 8:28 pm

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 29th, 2019 8:28 pm

craftsman wrote: ↑ Yes but you could do a few things to cut down on that depending on your layout -

1. Add some venting in the furnace room to cool it off.
2. Pipe in some cooler air to the freezer's coils (maybe from another interior room?)
3. Put some insulation on the freezer. In another thread, someone wanted to put their freezer outside but was worried about the Summertime heat so I suggested attaching some styrofoam sheets to the outside of the freezer but to take into account for any hotspots on the freezer walls (where the coils are) and cut out openings for those hot spots. Should be pretty easy for the lid... it's just the sides of the freezer which may be an issue.

None of those are options Im capable of doing. I wouldn't even know where to begin with 1 and 2. Where am I venting furnace room heat to?

Jan 29th, 2019 8:48 pm

jm1: Deal Addict; Jan 5, 2003; 4880 posts; 4712 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 29th, 2019 8:48 pm

WikkiWikki wrote: ↑But saying that, having a freezer in a room that literally creates extra heat, would that just make the freezer work harder?

How warm does your furnace room really get? For many homes, the basement is colder than the rest of the house to begin with, and the heat that the furnace generates is mostly blown away through the ducts. I would say the overall temperature of my furnace room, when the furnace is operating (flame is burning, etc.) is probably only a degree higher than my ground floor. Factor in the times when the flame isn't on and the temperature goes a bit lower, and the months when the furnace isn't even turned on at all, then I would say the small increase in temperature in the furnace room wouldn't significantly affect the freezer over its lifetime.

+2

Jan 29th, 2019 8:54 pm

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 29th, 2019 8:54 pm

jm1 wrote: ↑ How warm does your furnace room really get? For many homes, the basement is colder than the rest of the house to begin with, and the heat that the furnace generates is mostly blown away through the ducts. I would say the overall temperature of my furnace room, when the furnace is operating (flame is burning, etc.) is probably only a degree higher than my ground floor. Factor in the times when the flame isn't on and the temperature goes a bit lower, and the months when the furnace isn't even turned on at all, then I would say the small increase in temperature in the furnace room wouldn't significantly affect the freezer over its lifetime.

That's true, just thought to ask to be sure. Extra floor space is needed from somewhere

Jan 29th, 2019 9:29 pm

zhewie: Member; Sep 25, 2003; 284 posts; 78 upvotes; Scarborough

Jan 29th, 2019 9:29 pm

I doubt it would make a difference especially with the mass of frozen items in your insulated freezer chest.

Just use the extra floor space in the furnace room and enjoy your frozen treats.

But if you are really keen, you can tape the joints of the ductwork as it comes off the furnace with foil tape to reduce air leaks.

+1

Jan 29th, 2019 9:32 pm

tebore: Deal Guru; Feb 9, 2006; 13045 posts; 7853 upvotes; Brampton

Jan 29th, 2019 9:32 pm

Seeing as how they have deep freezers in places like Texas or Florida and in some cases leave them outside out of direct sunlight

I don't think a slightly warmer furnace room will be a problem.

Jan 30th, 2019 12:45 am

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 20879 posts; 14369 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jan 30th, 2019 12:45 am

WikkiWikki wrote: ↑ None of those are options Im capable of doing. I wouldn't even know where to begin with 1 and 2. Where am I venting furnace room heat to?

Out of the room of course... could be to the next room over or to the floor above... You can call in an HVAC contractor to do the work if need be.

As another poster suggested, you should also tape the ducts so that extra heated air doesn't escape into the furnace room and increase the temperature.

Jan 30th, 2019 7:02 am

Owbist: Deal Addict; Nov 9, 2003; 1491 posts; 290 upvotes; Grimsby

Jan 30th, 2019 7:02 am

For years we kept our freezer in the same room as the furnace.

Consider how hot your garage can get on a summer's day yet you had your freezers out there and they no doubt kept working.

+1

Jan 30th, 2019 9:04 am

Zamboni: Deal Fanatic; Oct 19, 2008; 7303 posts; 2888 upvotes; Whitby

Jan 30th, 2019 9:04 am

zhewie wrote: ↑ But if you are really keen, you can tape the joints of the ductwork as it comes off the furnace with foil tape to reduce air leaks.

That's good advice even if not putting a freezer in the furnace room. Its amazing how bad some duct joints are.

Jan 30th, 2019 9:26 am

Drakestar: Deal Addict; Dec 14, 2011; 1922 posts; 1071 upvotes; London

Jan 30th, 2019 9:26 am

We've had a freezer in our furnace room for over 20 years. Never a problem.

Just stick thermometer in the room and see how hot it really gets. The heat would only possibly build in there when the furnace is running and as soon as it stops, the heat will dissipate through cracks etc.

You could simply even install a grate over a hole you cut in the wall or door and close off the duct in that room (if there is one). I would not worry about it at all.

Jan 30th, 2019 10:12 am

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 30th, 2019 10:12 am

craftsman wrote: ↑ Out of the room of course... could be to the next room over or to the floor above... You can call in an HVAC contractor to do the work if need be.

As another poster suggested, you should also tape the ducts so that extra heated air doesn't escape into the furnace room and increase the temperature.

Sounds expensive, and totally unnecessary to. Run new Exhaust ducts into a completely finished house??

Last edited by WikkiWikki on Jan 30th, 2019 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

Jan 30th, 2019 10:47 am

CNeufeld: Deal Guru; Mar 23, 2008; 13006 posts; 9971 upvotes; Edmonton

Jan 30th, 2019 10:47 am

Our furnace room is one of the cooler rooms in our house. It's in the basement, and there's no actual heat ducts in it. So yeah, the furnace itself generates heat, but it's getting pumped out of the room.

We also have a freezer in the furnace room. Seems to be fine. But we've only lived here a couple of years, and that was the setup when we moved in (freezer was included in the deal).

C

+1

Jan 30th, 2019 11:01 am

lennyandcarl: Deal Addict; Jan 18, 2013; 2992 posts; 1631 upvotes; B.C.

Jan 30th, 2019 11:01 am

I'm amazed you didn't have issues with the freezers in a garage in Saskatchewan! Either in the summer heat or winter cold!

Jan 30th, 2019 11:04 am

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 30th, 2019 11:04 am

lennyandcarl wrote: ↑ I'm amazed you didn't have issues with the freezers in a garage in Saskatchewan! Either in the summer heat or winter cold!

Winter was a heated garage. But true like many said, it was in a hot garage all the time and no problems. Just thought to ask before I moved it

Jan 30th, 2019 11:54 am

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4844 posts; 4386 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 30th, 2019 11:54 am

Moving from a heated 3 car garage to a 2 car garage with 2 standalone freezers? Stick it where it fits. I don't think any small difference in electricity costs is going to change things much for you.

Jan 30th, 2019 12:07 pm

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 30th, 2019 12:07 pm

torontotim wrote: ↑ Moving from a heated 3 car garage to a 2 car garage with 2 standalone freezers? Stick it where it fits. I don't think any small difference in electricity costs is going to change things much for you.

Im not worried about the electricity use, Im worried about it working to hard and the compressor dieing early and the food going bad.

Jan 30th, 2019 1:13 pm

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 30th, 2019 1:13 pm

TomLafinsky wrote: ↑ Read your owner's manual. Fridges/freezers are supposed to be kept at room temperature. Put into a non-heated garage in winter (where winter is cold) can not only void the warranty but makes your compressor work very hard.

Did I say non-heated? I said garage. I guess in theory it could be either. Buts its heated. And "room" temperature is different fort everyone. Expescially this site, where the cheapskates keep it at 17 degrees in the winter and say its fine

Garage is currently at 8 degrees. As for warranty, both of these are over 10 years, warranty is long gone

Jan 30th, 2019 1:23 pm

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 20879 posts; 14369 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Jan 30th, 2019 1:23 pm

WikkiWikki wrote: ↑ Sounds expensive, and totally unnecessary to. Run new Exhaust ducts into a completely finished house??

No, no, no... Please re-read what I said earlier... 'Pipe in some cooler air to the freezer's coils (maybe from another interior room?)' who said anything about running an exhaust duct (or ducts).

Jan 30th, 2019 1:37 pm

WikkiWikki [OP]: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2016; 22791 posts; 3312 upvotes; Out west

Jan 30th, 2019 1:37 pm

craftsman wrote: ↑ No, no, no... Please re-read what I said earlier... 'Pipe in some cooler air to the freezer's coils (maybe from another interior room?)' who said anything about running an exhaust duct (or ducts).

Piping in how, with the only exposed ceiling is in the ceiling. Pipe in from the rec room

Over complicated

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