Whether you are looking to open and establish a new restaurant or food kitchen you will require adequate refrigeration solutions. Commercial refrigerators are important assets deemed critical to the management and operations of any restaurant or storefront which sells food and beverages.
Any F&B business owner will know the importance of refrigeration to keep food products safely stored increasing the life-span of perishable goods. Proper food storage can be the difference between food wasted and food preserved. This makes commercial refrigerators a key tool for success in the food industry as the quality of products and services heavily depends on them.
It is therefore important when buying a commercial refrigerator to understand your business cooling requirements and select the right unit for your business and its kitchen space.
This useful guide will highlight 7 key things to consider when buying commercial refrigerators.
Evaluating Storage Requirements
During the purchase process, the first thing you will need to consider is your storage requirements as this will dictate both the size and type of your commercial refrigerator. How many products do you need to be refrigerated? This will vary from business to business however if you are unsure you should ask for a site survey from the refrigeration installation experts to help.
Commercial refrigerators are not cheap and you want to ensure you choose the right one for your business as at the end of the day you are making an investment into your business in the long-term. Another factor to consider is the running costs of the refrigerator.
Size Matters
The size and shape of the refrigerator will depend on your storage requirements. You will need to inspect the available space available in your restaurant or kitchen to ensure the new unit fits and is in line with health and safety policies.
Purchasing a unit which is too large for your requirements may cost you in the long-term when it comes to your energy bills. Another important to note to consider is that larger refrigerators often require more maintenance so it is important you evaluate your storage requirements accurately.
Cooling Temp
Once you have confirmed the type and volume of products you require to be refrigerated you should ensure the commercial refrigerator is capable of reaching the desired temperatures required for the products. This leads us on to the next point of identifying the right type of commercial refrigeration unit as there are different refrigeration solutions available for different temperatures.
Type of Refrigeration
Selecting the right type of commercial refrigeration for your business is important. There are many different styles and types of units to choose from Coldrooms to Counter and Display Fridges to Freezer Cabinets and Prep Counter Fridges.
Due to the vast choice of refrigerations solutions, it can be difficult to know which type you exactly need (and can afford) so its best to initially look at units which work best for the type of business you run.
Retail businesses often use units which both store and display products with glass doors. This allows products to be displayed without compromising quality or freshness. Commercial kitchens, on the other hand, make use of solid door refrigerators and Walk-in cold rooms.
From our experience, it is best to choose the type which is suitable for your business type and requirements. If you are unsure as to what type or style of refrigeration unit you require, get in touch with the refrigeration experts today for a free site survey.
Select a Reliable Brand
When it comes to purchasing a commercial refrigerator you are making an investment in your business and with that being said you should seek a reputable and reliable refrigeration brand. The majority of big brands will offer warranty packages and even maintenance plans upon purchase. This is the difference between going for a well known (expensive) brand compared to the cheaper alternatives which offer no cover or maintenance support.
It is important to invest in commercial refrigeration brands that are reliable because the quality of the service you provide ultimately depends on the reliability of refrigeration you have installed. From our experience, we advise the following refrigeration brands: Whirlpool, Samsung, Hotpoint, Williams, Blizzard, Polar, Infrico, Hoshizaki, Irinox and Inomak.
Maintenance
As mentioned above, commercial refrigeration units work extremely hard to constantly cool products stored and are designed to offer precision performance, enhanced efficiency and durability. Overtime your commercial unit will require cleaning and maintenance checks to ensure it continues to work at maximum efficiency.
If certain parts are faulty it can impact your energy costs as your unit will work twice as hard and may lead to complete unit failure and costly breakdowns. It is important when purchasing your commercial refrigerator you ask about maintenance plans as its vital to care for your investment to ensure its life span is not cut short due to lack of maintenance.
Energy Efficiency
Commercial refrigeration units are constantly on and it is no secret that commercial refrigerators have high running costs as they constantly work hard to keep temperatures low. Therefore it is important to invest in units which are energy-efficient and affordable. A unit that is efficient will ensure your products are kept fresh and of high quality especially when cooling food quickly to preserve appearance and taste.
When purchasing a commercial refrigerator look for units which have a high energy efficiency rating as this will help keep your operational costs low.
At ADK we specialise in the design, installation, maintenance and repair of commercial refrigeration systems working directly with many popular refrigeration brands in the UK. If you require any assistance in choosing the right commercial refrigerator for your business get in touch with us today.
For more information about our HVAC services, please get in touch with us today or call 0208 831 8900 and we’ll be more than happy to help you with anything you need. Alternatively, you can contact us to request an engineer and a free site survey.