An important consideration is your power source—important if you live in an area that is prone to brownouts or power failures. Also make sure to check out the electrical wiring and available outlet, which should be grounded.

Some freezers come equipped with an ice-maker option, which means you’ll have to have an available connection to a water source.

Freezers are basically more energy efficient than refrigerators because they are used a lot less. But some freezers conserve energy more than others. Make sure you always set the temperature of your freezer according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, and make sure the door is securely closed after you access something from it.

Chest freezers have an advantage over uprights because cold doesn’t escape as quickly when you open the lid. The cooling coils of a chest freezer are also built into the walls, so no fan is required to circulate cold air, making them considerably quieter.