On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:04:45 -0500, Connie TenClay
> wrote:

>I agree, that a chest freezer holds the cold better especially when the
>door is opened. I am just 5" tall so the bottom is hard to get at but I
>handle that by putting the items in a plastic grocery bags when I put
>the things in the freezer that way I can move larger quantities at one
>time and its easier to reach ( and doesn't cost anything). I normally
>sort stuff by the bag -chicken in one bag, gr beef in one and so on.
>The one I have now is over 32 years old and still working, knock on wood.
>Connie TC

You might want to check out the energy costs for your 32 year old
freezer.
We had a 20 cubic foot chest freezer of about the same age that was
also working just fine. It would hold -20ºF with no problem but I was
interested in what it was costing to operate. I bought one of those
energy meters that you plug in to a receptacle and then plug an
appliance into it. I used it on the old freezer for thirty days and
then multiplied the reading by 12 to get the yearly cost. What a
shocker that was!! Over $290.00 a year in energy. I immediately went
out and purchased a new, slightly larger (22 cubic feet) chest
freezer. Used the same energy meter on it for thirty days and
multiplied that reading by 12. Less than $60.00 a year!! It sure won't
take long to pay for the new freezer in saved energy costs.

Ross.