Many businesses benefit from commercial refrigeration and all it has to offer. There are a few different types of refrigeration to choose from, so it can rapidly become confusing trying to choose. We’re here to help.
When you are trying to find the right fit for your company, take a look at your space and consider where a refrigeration system could fit. Think about the needs of your business and then consider the different types of systems to choose from. Here are the most common types and what their main uses are:
Retail Refrigerators
A retail refrigerator is also known as a reach-in refrigerator. It is the closest in appearance to your standard refrigerator that you would find in your own home. Where they differ is in the amount of space they provide and in how powerful they are. A retail refrigerator is a tall upright design with multiple shelves inside for storage.
A reach-in refrigerator is a perfect addition to your back of the house and fits a smaller or medium-sized business. You can put it onto casters which means that you can move it around easily. This type of refrigerator is perfect for anyone who needs to store a lot in one place. You can even get dual versions that allow you to keep items at two different temperatures in different areas of the refrigerator.
Display Refrigerators
A display refrigerator is a type that you might see in a supermarket. The main purpose of this type of commercial refrigerator is for front-of-house visibility. The display refrigerator comes with large glass doors and built-in lighting for customers to easily see the items on display. This is great for large businesses like supermarkets.
This type of refrigerator is also good for smaller businesses like bakeries that also sell drinks, sandwiches or other items that need to stay cool, yet accessible. Depending on the size of your business, you can purchase one smaller refrigerator or a larger system that includes a whole wall of refrigerators.
Walk-in Refrigerators
A walk-in refrigerator is one of the largest types of refrigerators on the market. The size can vary wildly from the size of a smaller closet to a larger room. These systems are large enough that you could walk right inside of them. There are typically shelves lining the walls to store large amounts of product on. These are perfect for catering companies, pubs and restaurants. Butchers also use this type of refrigeration to keep the meat in before it is butchered. There are many different varieties of walk-in refrigerators. It’s important to look at what your business needs are in order to decide what size and variety you need.
One of the main concerns with this type of refrigerator is security. All varieties come with safety features to make sure that no one is locked inside the cooler. When you are shopping for a walk-in refrigerator, talk to the company. Ask them what safety measures are in place with each model. They can help alleviate any fears that you might have.
Under-counter Refrigerators
An under-counter refrigerator is a type of refrigerator that sits under the preparation counter and includes cold storage drawers. This helps to keep things refrigerated while also keeping them close to where the food is being prepared. Often, restaurants use this to keep meat and fish close to the cooks. They are also used in sandwich shops to keep the ingredients close at hand while also keeping them safely cool. Some smaller shops and restaurants also prefer this type of refrigeration to save on space. There are many different sizes of under-counter refrigerators and often they can be set to different temperatures in order to meet different food preparation needs.
Bar Refrigerators
Bar refrigerators are the kind that you will see in most bars and restaurants. You will typically find ones that are waist height. They are made this way to keep bartenders from needing to bend down constantly to retrieve drinks for customers. There are some versions that are full-length for those who need more storage as well. If this is the type of refrigerator that you are looking for, you should assess if you are looking for one that starts low or if one that is waist height is better suited for you.
Now that you are familiar with the types of refrigeration systems, there are a few things to think about in finding the right system for your business needs. Think about your day-to-day operations and ask yourself the following questions.
How Much Refrigerated Storage Do You Need?
Think about how much storage you might need for running your business. If you are running a large busy restaurant or pub, you will need much more refrigerated storage than if you had a smaller cafe or sandwich shop. You want to ensure that you get one that is big enough for your needs but not too big. Purchasing a refrigerator that is bigger than what you will use could cost you a lot both upfront and in unnecessary energy costs.
Where Will Your Refrigerator Be Positioned?
Depending on if you need a refrigerator system in the front-of-house or back-of-house will help you to determine what kind of system you need. Front-of-house refrigerators will need to be suitable for customers to see and access. Back-of-house refrigerators tend to be more industrial.
Do You Need More Than One Type?
Many businesses require more than one type of refrigerator. You may need one up front for the customers to have access to cold drinks while also having one in the back that allows for storage of the food preparation. Think about your business needs and map out what you need in each area of the business. That way you can ensure that you have everything you need to run your business successfully.
What Are the Energy Ratings?
When you are looking for a refrigeration system, it’s important to think about the energy ratings of the systems that you are considering. It can become quite expensive to run an inefficient refrigeration system. You will need to ensure that you get one that has good energy ratings so that you will save money in the long run.
How Much Maintenance Will Your System Need?
All refrigeration systems need some maintenance. You will need to perform regular maintenance and servicing to ensure that your system continues to function properly for a long time to come. Maintenance can include regular cleaning and defrosting. Some of the maintenance can be done yourself but other regular maintenance needs to be done by professionals. This is something that you will need to keep in mind as you are choosing both a refrigeration system, as well as when you are choosing a refrigeration company.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you will need to find yourself a refrigeration company which you can speak with. Find one that has great customer ratings and provides both sales of refrigeration systems and maintenance. No one will know your system better than those who sold it to you, so having them do the maintenance and repairs on it will help you anticipate issues before they arise. Once you find a good company to use, you can talk to them about your business and what types of refrigeration you might need.
It’s important to get them to weigh in on what you might need to consider. They will understand what kind of things that you maybe haven’t thought about yet and will be able to point you in the right direction. Use their expertise in refrigeration systems to ensure that you are well set up for whatever your business needs.
Contact us today to learn more about our refrigeration options.