An ultra-low temperature freezer is a piece of essential equipment for medical laboratories. The peculiarity of such freezers is that they can maintain temperatures up to minus 86 degrees C. Such freezing temperatures are required for delicate and temperature-sensitive items, such as Coronavirus vaccines, to preserve their potency.

Even though such a freezer is a critical piece of equipment, not all laboratory owners know all the units’ aspects.

Here are some of the aspects which you might have not yet known:

#1 Requires Ten Minutes For Temperature Recovery After You Close the Door

You might not know that the ultra-low temperature freezer in your laboratory does not revert to the prior level’s temperature immediately after you close the door. It takes some time for the recovery. Every time you open the freezer door, it can take up to ten minutes to recover its temperature. In the process, a flammable refrigerant gas pulls down the temperature. And tight insulation and door gaskets can help to prevent any warm-up during the recooling process. So, avoid leaving your freezer door open to move quickly for attending any work.

#2 Large Freezers Consume More Electricity

It is contrary to most people’s expectations; small freezers consume more electricity than large ones. As such, it is meaningful for you to invest in a larger freezer to save electricity costs.

#3 Displayed Digital Temperature May Not Always Show the Internal Temperature

It may sound strange, but it is true. The temperature the freezer displays on its digital display might not always be true. There can be a variation between the displayed temperature and the actual temperature that can arise due to the temperature sensors’ positions inside the freezer. Manufacturers place sensors at the top, middle, and bottom of the inner compartments of freezers. Therefore, do not forget to review the manufacturer’s test data for your freezer to know about the temperature lag and at sensors’ positions.

#4 Placing Warm Samples Directly Inside Your Freezers Can Cause Freezer Breakdown

You might see no harm in placing warm samples directly into your freezers, but it might lead to a mechanical failure of your freezer. It can happen as ultra-low temperature freezers are meant to store frozen samples. For storing warm samples in such a freezer, it is necessary to freeze the samples using dry ice before putting them inside the freezer.

However, if there is a need in your laboratory to freeze warm samples quickly, go for a blast freezer.

#5 You Can Prevent Frost Build-Up

Frost build-up is common to all such freezers. The freezers gather frost when humidity comes in contact with the low-temperature surfaces. But, you can overcome the problem with claw latches in the freezer door. And gaskets and insulation on the inner and outer doors can maintain the necessary temperatures.

#6 There Can be No Noise

Good quality freezers are not noisy, so that you can place such a unit next to a desk or busy space in your laboratory. If your laboratory freezer emits noise, it can be an irritant to people around.

#7 No Storage on Freezer’s Top

As freezers need ventilation to release warm air from the interior, there has to be a minimum of eight inches of space on the top and a clearance of 5 inches on either side and the back.

How to Choose the Right Freezer?

Akin to many laboratory owners who do not know about such a freezer’s peculiarities, many of them also do not know how to choose the right freezer. And for them, the following are the tips:

Reliability

Firstly, check out the reliability of the freezer because you need to store sensitive items. A reliable freezer will assure you that there will be proper control of the internal temperature.

Choose a freezer with the minimum temperature spread, which means that the various cabinet locations are not warmer or colder than the average temperature. Freezers with the minimum temperature variation ensure temperature stability.

Ease-of-Use

It is essential to assess the ease-of-use in your prospective freezer. Look for features that enable you to monitor and control the unit. For example, a freezer with remote monitoring capabilities can help you keep track of your freezer state of affairs remotely to avert the risk of malfunctions during off-hours. Also, evaluate how easy it can be while using in your laboratory.

Sustainability

Sustainability and security should be an essential consideration while selecting a freezer. It would be best to choose a good quality freezer that will not put your items at risk. Look for manufacturers that value energy efficiency but also incorporate features that maximize sustainability without risking sample quality.

Conclusion

For a laboratory owner, it is crucial to understand every detail of a freezer. Right from the investment stage to regularly operating the unit, an owner of a laboratory should know many things associated with the unit. Knowledge of all hidden details is the key to properly handling your freezer and maintaining the potency of the valuable items inside the unit. Besides, do not forget to train your staff on the best practices of freezer handling.