LCD TV with the panel removed, showing the grid of lit LED backlights

Generic photo: RobertKuhlmann · CC BY-SA 3.0

Keeping a freezer cold with dry ice during a long outage or while waiting for a repair (amounts, handling, CO2 safety)

A closed, full freezer holds food frozen for roughly a day or two without power (Frigidaire: at least 24 hours; Clemson HGIC: about 2 days full, about 1 day half full). Beyond that, dry ice bridges the gap. Sources give different amounts: Clemson says about 3 lb per cubic foot of freezer space; an older Frigidaire freezer manual says 7 to 8 lb added every 24 hours. Size by the freezer and outage length, re-check with a thermometer, and treat dry ice as a burn and carbon-dioxide hazard.

Cross-checked ~30 min easyBrands: All

Before you start

Dry ice is far colder than any freezer and burns skin on contact; never touch it bare-handed. Use insulated gloves or tongs and keep the room ventilated (it gives off carbon dioxide).
Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas. Keep the room ventilated, never put dry ice in a closed car cabin or a small closed room with people, and do not cover the freezer's vents (Clemson).
Do not put dry ice directly on food packages or on the freezer liner and controls; separate with cardboard.
Do not seal dry ice in an airtight container; pressure can build.

Diagnostic steps

Unlock all 4 steps with expected values

Full library + AI assistant + the OnCall Tech app for iPhone & Android. $34.90, one time.

Get lifetime access

OnCall Tech is a reference tool for trained technicians and can make mistakes. Always disconnect power and confirm with the manufacturer's documentation before you work.

More freezers guides

Guide · Freezer

Frost inside food packages and freezer-burned food: is the freezer failing?

Freezer burn is moisture leaving the food's surface and refreezing as frost inside the package. It is a quality problem, not a safety one, and it is driven by air in the package, long storage and temperature swings. A tech's job is to separate normal packaging and storage causes from a freezer that is actually running warm or cycling wide: measure the temperature, check the door seal and the defrost behavior, and then advise on storage.

5 steps ~30 mineasy

Guide · Freezer

Frost-free upright freezer: ice sheet on the freezer floor (defrost drain)

Defrost melt water is not reaching the drain pan, so it refreezes on the floor. The drain under the evaporator is clogged with debris or frozen shut, a drain heater/clip is missing or failed, or the liner is warped so water pools away from the hole.

7 steps ~90 minmoderate

Guide · Freezer

Chest or upright freezer cabinet sides feel hot

On most chest freezers and many uprights the condenser tubing is bonded inside the outer walls, so warm sides are normal and keep the cabinet from sweating. It only matters if the warmth is extreme with poor cooling, or the unit runs constantly; then check clearance, ambient temperature, the door seal and any external condenser.

6 steps ~30 mineasy