What is a safe temperature for foods in a refrigerator?
Freezers and refrigerators can be fairly pricy
appliances. If they break down, all of your food will spoil, but not
everyone can afford to simply buy another one on a whim just because it is
no longer working. They are expensive, and without financing you are forced
to choose between two options: Letting all of your food spoil and saving up
for months, or buying a used freezer and hoping that it works correctly.
Here are the best ways to make sure that the used freezer you are looking to
buy is going to work for you.
Things to Check
The first thing to do is to ask the individual or
company that you are buying the freezer from to place a thermometer inside
before your arrival, so that you can check to make sure it is running
correctly. By the time you get there, the thermometer should not be higher
than approximately 4 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, it should be at 0 degrees.
Next, stick around for a while and listen to see if
the freezer is making any loud noises. Any loud noises are a sign that the
freezer may not be working correctly, even if the thermometer has an
accurate temperature reading. Sounds are also enough of a considerable
annoyance that even if everything is working fine, you may not want the
system.
Afterward, make sure you check everywhere for
things like dirt, grime and buildup. Signs of rust, dirty coils, or anything
that may be caused by an irregularly working machine should make you think
twice before you choose to buy it. Even something as simple as coil dirt may
be a sign that the freezer has not been on for a while, and may not be in
full working order once you have plugged it in. Also check how long (if at
all) the freezer has been off, as these machines do not hold for very long
due to the presence of refrigerant inside.
One final thing to test before you decide whether
you want to get the freezer is how well the door of the freezer closes.
Place some type of fabric or tissue inside of the door and close the
freezer. The fabric that you place inside should not fall out or be pulled
out very easily. Many people like to use dollar bills as well.
Getting Everything in Writing
Freezers and refrigerators are useless when broken.
If you are going to purchase a freezer from someone, make sure they can
guarantee it for at least a month – enough time for you to make sure that it
works correctly and will meet your needs. Continue to monitor the freezer
once you have purchased it to make sure it is in working order, paying close
attention to how the door closes and how well your food stays fresh inside
it. If everything checks out, chances are that you have purchased a good
freezer that should last you quite a while.
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