A padlock might be a good idea.

Ah yes the cold air falls out thing.

I ignored husbands screams of protest and swapped our chest freezer for an upright.

The joy! The ease of finding things, the lovely shelves!

The no difference in power bill.

Of course I do open it, take out the item and shut it again.

Before it was open it, lean in, feet dangling off the floor as I rummaged around the mess at bottom searching for the damn item which of course is always right at the bottom.

As for where to put it, I have one bedroom which is the computer room.

The freezer lives in the corner. very unobtrusive, and no worries going outside in the rain or whatever to see if the thieves have cut through the padlock.

(Actually never have and never would leave an appliance outside).

If you do put a lock on it, the condenser pipes will be attached to inside of the outer casing. if you hit one when drilling holes, the gas leaks out. And since it is inaccessible. Cant be repaired, so new freezer needed.

scuwp:

 

mattwnz:

 

I would check with your insurer on that, if the freezer has been designed for indoor use, but you are using it outdoors. You may need some advice for electricity, as I would think you would at least need the circuit on an RCD. Chest freezers are also a PITA, as many aren't frost free, so you regularly have to empty and defrost them, and being outside, I imagine this will be worse.

 

 

 

 

Yes, but chest freezers are way more efficient, particularly when opened regularly because the cold air doesn't "fall out" when opened.   Our one is going on 4 years and only just now thinking it perhaps is due a de-ice.  Not bad I thought.   

 

Most modern vertical ones will have enclosed drawers to retain the cold air why the door is opened and closed. My old chest one used to get bad ice buildups after about a year, and that was inside the garage. But the newer ones may not be as bad. My old one didn't even have a drain at the bottom like the new ones, so a real pain to defrost.

scuwp: Make sure airflow underneath or build a good floor. Rust would be my only concern.

yep, give it a couple coats of suitable paint. 

You will note petrol stations have freezers outside for ice and most have an 'grate' thats been cut to protect the motor cavity from general rubbish and leaves blowing into it.  You will need to remember to give it a sweep/vacume every so often.  If such airvent is going to be in a troblesome place you can look to putting on a 'hood' (rememberng it will need air in the hotter months).