Temperature swing specification in a chest freezer.

It depends on the control that your freezer utilizes.

If your temp control dial has the numbers 0-9 or 1-9, then you have whats commonly known as a coil temp sensor.


Unlike an air temp contol that measure the air temp inside the freezer and comes on and off with a 3-5° swing, the coil temp sensor runs a little bit different.

With a coil temp control or sensor, the temp control has a capillary tube and bulb that is inserted into the coil either at on of the ends down a guidetube or just into the center of the radiator type fins. This temp control measures the temperature of the coil, and not the temperature of the air inside the freezer. When the unit runs, the coils typically gets 20° colder than the air temp. And when the control satisfies (shuts off), it will not call for cooling again until the sensing bulb has reached the cut-in point which is typically well above design box temp.


So, to quickly answer your question, yes it is possible to have a 25° temp swing and not have anything really wrong with the unit. That is how its been designed to operate and that is how it will operate. Your only option (although not recommended) is to replace the coil temp sensor with and air temp control. That will give you more consistent temps.


Also, when taking temp of a freezer with a coil temp sensor, be sure to temp the product in the freezer and not the air temperature.