What should you take into consideration when buying a commercial refrigerator for your business?

Buying a commercial fridge

The best commercial refrigeration unit for your business will be influenced by a number of different factors:

Energy efficiency

How energy efficient is the fridge you are considering? If it adds a huge amount to your business utility bills and ultimately is too expensive to run, then it might be wise to explore alternative options.

Available space

Before you decide on your commercial refrigeration you should carefully consider the amount of space you have available. Consider how you will use your unit, which way the doors will open and close and how much space you’ll have to enter and leave.

Cost

Of course, cost is nearly always a factor when it comes to making commercial decisions. The costs of different types of refrigeration unit can vary greatly. You will need to balance the overall cost of the unit against the type of usage you expect. While it’s important not to overreach your budget, there are real dangers in cutting corners.

Amount and type of storage required

Perhaps the single most important factor to consider when buying a commercial refrigeration unit is what you will be storing in it, the amount of storage space you require, and how you will use that storage.

What are the features of a commercial fridge?

A commercial refrigerator has a range of features that makes it different to a domestic refrigerator. Firstly, it has more durable refrigeration. Every time a fridge door is opened and closed, cold air escapes. As a result, refrigerators will contain heavy-duty refrigeration components that make it better able to cope with the increased use.

The temperature control will be much more accurate because food safety is key, and waste needs to be minimised. They are generally more energy-efficient than domestic refrigerators, and their superior manufacturing means they are likely to last longer as long as they are properly maintained.

What are the applications of commercial fridges?

A commercial fridge can range from a small behind counter fridge for the front of a shop or cafe, through to large walk-in cold rooms for large catering operations and supermarkets. Serve-over counters can be used in butchers and delicatessens. Preparation counters combine refrigeration with space to prepare food and are suitable for busy kitchens.

What are the different types of commercial fridges?

There are a wide range of different refrigeration options available for commercial purposes. These include:

Cold rooms

Cold rooms are walk-in facilities that control their internal temperature through the use of refrigerants, as with a domestic refrigerator but on a larger scale.

Commercial cabinet refrigerators

Available in single or double-door options, cabinet refrigerators are a practical solution for many businesses. Widely used in pubs, cafes, restaurants and takeaways, they’re an efficient and practical choice

Commercial countertop refrigerators

Not every food or hospitality business has space for a large commercial refrigerator. In which case, a countertop refrigerator can be a sensible choice. Compact, countertop solutions allow you to keep counter areas clutter-free while ensuring your food and drink products are correctly stored.

Commercial meat fridges

The risks of contaminated meat are great. Whether you’re a butcher or run a restaurant, you can’t afford to take any chances with how meat products are stored. Commercial meat fridges ensure that your products are kept safe until needed.

Which refrigerator brand is the most reliable?

There are several high-quality brands of commercial refrigerators. The most suitable for your needs will depend on the type of business you’re running, and your particular requirements.

The experienced team at Enviro Chill can provide tailored advice about refrigeration options, available brands and how best to keep your bills and carbon footprint under control.

Call us on 0151 285 1818 or use our online contact form to find out more.

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Is second-hand equipment safe?

Safety is a primary concern for anyone who is running any kind of catering business. If you don’t store your products correctly, it can have serious health and safety consequences. It might even result in your business being closed down. When it comes to the safe storage of food, second-hand equipment that has been well maintained should safely store your products, but this can’t be guaranteed. Over time, commercial refrigeration equipment can become less efficient. This will ultimately impact on temperature control and the shelf life of whatever is kept inside it.

Another possible safety issue is the danger of fire. Refrigerators are one of the most common causes of both domestic and commercial fires. When you opt for second-hand equipment you have no way of knowing how well it has been maintained and what kind of condition it’s in. No one should install second-hand equipment into their premises without it undergoing a thorough safety inspection by an experienced technician. The costs of this will need to be budgeted for.

With second-hand equipment, there is a considerable chance that something will need to be replaced or repaired to make it safe for use. Parts may need to be secured and the cost of extra work accounted for. The older and cheaper the equipment, the more likely it is to need costly remedial work. If you fail to carry out any repairs or to have your equipment checked you could be running the risk of a fire.

Are second-hand fridges any good?

With new commercial fridges, there is consistency in what you will receive. They are new, safety checked and should be highly-efficient. They will also be under warranty and should you encounter any problems the costs of parts and getting them fixed will be covered.

With second-hand equipment what you get is much more variable. You may land yourself a bargain that serves your needs, works well and doesn’t give you any maintenance issues. Alternatively, you could end up with something that doesn’t work effectively, or may even be a safety risk.

Should I buy second-hand commercial refrigeration equipment?

When safety, maintenance and reliability are taken into consideration it can make more sense to purchase new refrigeration equipment. Second-hand equipment doesn’t come with the same warranties and safety checks as new equipment. New equipment is also much more likely to meet your precise specifications, whereas with second-hand equipment the choice may be much more limited. With new equipment, bespoke solutions can be created.

Based in Liverpool, Enviro Chill are your local commercial refrigeration specialists across the North West. From cabinet refrigerators to countertop fridge units. we can provide a range of commercial refrigeration options, helping you find the right choice for your business. We can also keep it maintained and offer a 24-hour emergency breakdown service.

Call us on 0151 285 1818 or use our online contact form to find out more about our commercial fridge units.

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Commercial fridges have a larger compressor compared to residential ones. Now, at home, you try not to open the fridge multiple times to avoid putting extra load on the compressor. In commercial kitchens, on the other hand, the fridge is opened a number of times but a heavy compressor is able to withstand rough usage. So, it requires a bigger compressor to maintain a cool temperature. Commercial refrigeration has better cooling capacities for effective preservation and storing.

Investing in good commercial fridges is necessary for the success of your restaurant/catering/café business. How to select the best one depends on your business’s needs.

Here are 5 things to consider when you are buying a commercial refrigeration  unit:

1. Energy Efficient

Commercial refrigeration units have a high running cost because they have a lot of heavy lifting to do. So, while it is necessary to get commercial fridges you can afford, you should also pay attention to the fact whether the fridge you are getting is energy efficient or not. Always get those appliances that come with an energy star rating.

2. The Right Style

You would come across a plethora of styles to choose from while getting commercial fridges. For your needs, getting any fridge wouldn’t do. You have to get the one that meets your storage requirement. Say, you have a retail store. For that, you would not need a standard huge commercial refrigeration unit but a one with a glass display to store your products and put them on display as well.

Now, different commercial fridges come with varying levels of cooling and insulation. Take the example of solid door types that offer a better level of insulation as there is limited heat transfer from the outside to the inside. These are ideal for perishable good as the temperature remains balanced.

Meanwhile, glass door commercial fridges are not ideal when it comes to insulation or cooling as there is only a thin barrier between the inner and outer parts that leads to easy heat transfer. They are great for displaying food items.

3. A Reliable Brand

Before investing in a commercial refrigeration unit, see that you are putting your trust and money into a reliable brand. It is important because the quality of service you provide to your regular customers relies on how reliable your tools/appliances are. So, always look for a reliable brand to lower the risk of equipment failure.

4. The Cost

It is important to decide a clear budget when you are selecting a commercial refrigeration unit or a walk-in freezer. If you have a limited budget, weigh the pros and cons if you select a lesser-known brand. They might cost less than the famous branded ones but think through about the maintenance expense that they could incur in the future.

It might be expensive, but opting for a reputable and trusted commercial refrigeration supplier would prevent you from unnecessary expenses in the long run.

5. Space Plan

You must do careful space planning before choosing commercial fridges as they are large. The first step is to measure the available area at your premises. Do you have space for swinging doors? If not, then you could think about getting sliding doors.

Also, measure your entrance that leads to space where you plan to keep the commercial fridges or walk-in freezer.

If you are looking to invest in commercial refrigeration or walk-n freezer in Birkenhead, Chester, Liverpool, St. Helens, and Warrington Areas, look no further than Envirochill. They deal with everything related to installation, maintenance, and supply of commercial fridges and have an expansive range of refrigeration solutions including cold rooms, meat chillers, and walk-in freezers.

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