Why You Can’t Put A Freezer On Carpet

Freezers are immensely useful appliances in any household, but it can be a struggle to find a good place for one. For those who live in old homes or apartments, where carpet is everywhere except outside, one would like to know, is it okay to put a freezer or freezer cabinet on the carpeting?

It is not recommended to put a freezer on carpeting because the soft carpet often smothers the important components of a freezer that get very hot and will burn the carpeting. Carpeting is also liable to have mould growing underneath it if any water leaks from the freezer if, or when, it breaks. 

To find out more about why a carpet is the last place you want to put a freezer, and to know what surfaces would be better alternatives in place of carpet, read on.

Why You Don’t Want To Put A Freezer On Carpet

There are two major reasons why you don’t want to put your freezer on carpeting: the carpet will be singed, and it can be soaked and risk mold. There are a few things a floor needs to do to be a suitable place for a freezer to stand on.

  1. There needs to be a gap between the floor and the freezer. The freezer should not fit snugly on top of the flooring.
  2. The carpeting will prevent the freezer from functioning properly and actually freezing the food in it. 
  3. Carpeting can produce mold

A gap between the floor and freezer is very important because the electric components of the freezer are located on the bottom. Sometimes the connectors can become loose and start a fire with insulation materials.

If carpet is where the freezer is resting this problem is much more likely because the carpet is soft, it conforms to the freezer and smothers the components. The parts then overheat or the carpet absorbs the heat from both the freezer coils and compressor 

Because the carpeting cozies up to the freezer and its components on the bottom, it prevents proper airflow from circulating.

For a freezer, this is important because it maintains the proper cold temperatures by taking cold air from the freezer wall where air comes in, moves in downward, and then the air is recirculated through the bottom vents.

On carpeting, that circulation of air is interrupted, the cold air is no longer supplied, and the food begins to spoil.

Finally, if the freezer’s compressor breaks down, excess water won’t be evaporated, it will leak, and the water will soak into the carpet and ruin it with mould if not taken care of. 

Best Alternative Surfaces For A Freezer

The best alternative surfaces to put your freezer on the need to be sturdy and solid so that they don’t conform to the freezer and muffle the electrical underneath.

They also need to be water-damage resistant in case anything goes wrong. These are the main characteristics to look for when finding a suitable space, and thankfully there are at least three options for you.

Wooden Flooring

Wood floors are good to put freezers on, but they’re not the greatest option.

Wood flooring is definitely nice and hard and will keep a nice gap between the floor and the freezer so that the components on the bottom of the freezer can work without being pushed against anything like soft carpeting.

However, if a freezer ever breaks down and water begins to leak for who knows how long until it’s discovered, the wood floors will eventually warp.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl floors are good surfaces to put a freezer on because they are hard, like the hardwood, easy to clean if anything spills from the freezer, and resistant to water damage if the freezer leaks. 

Tiled Flooring

Tile floors are easily the best surface for a freezer to be put on because it won’t warp if the compressor in the freezer is broken and starts leaking water on the floor, it’s strong enough to withstand the weight of the freezer, and it won’t dent or bend and keep the freezer from working properly. 

Conclusion

Whichever floor you choose to put your freezer on, just make sure it is flush with the wall – not up against it.

Just like carpeting on the floor, being pushed up against the wall will obstruct the airflow for the fan of the freezer that it needs to function and avoid overheating. 

Your choice of flooring will certainly affect where the freezer ends up being unless you intend to replace the flooring.

If you use the freezer frequently and the pantry or even the kitchen has carpeting (poor soul), and you really want it in one of these locations for convenience, consider at least replacing the patch the freezer will be standing on.