Commercial Freezers

Guide to Commercial Refrigerators, Coolers and Freezers

How to keep merchandise cold, display it favorably, and use energy wisely
By Sheila Callahan

For every type of business that uses commercial coolers, from food and beverage retailers to restaurants and florists, there are many commercial refrigerators, coolers and freezers to choose from: walk-ins with solid or glass doors, deli display cases, refrigerated direct-draw beer dispenser units, to name a few. To make a good choice, follow this advice when selecting your commercial refrigerators and coolers:

1. Compute how much space you'll need and measure how much space you have.
2. Buy the best you commercial coolers can afford. A lower quality commercial freezer or refrigerator, or units or those that are poorly installed, waste energy and don't perform properly.
3. Learn how to monitor your system and where to get it serviced to ensure peak efficiency

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a commercial freezer or cooler that fits just right Commercial refrigeration equipment and installations that fit the space available are key.

I recommend:  AmericanPanel.com provides rigorous construction methods for any type of installation, all backed by a 10-year warranty.

Monitor your commercial refrigeration system Many commercial refrigerators and commercial freezers offer monitoring systems that enable you to pinpoint potential refrigeration failures hours, even days in advance.

I recommend:  Foodwatch.com offers a product that insures your commercial freezers, refrigerators and coolers are in compliance with the FDA's guidelines on maintaining safe food temperatures.

Properly compute heat loads and match insulation and refrigeration equipment Look for fully cured insulation that eliminates internal voids. All metal facings, lock-locations and tongue-and-groove routs need to be carefully measured.

I recommend:  Walkinrefrigeration.com manufactures modular, custom-built commercial freezers, refrigerators and coolers. Saniserv.com has also been in the business since 1929.

Buy commercial refrigeration equipment directly from the manufacturer Eliminate the middleman to get the best deal on your commercial cooler, refrigerator or freezer.

I recommend:  Bushrefrigeration.com builds and sells every imaginable commercial cooler, with a specialty in outdoor industrial freezers, accessed from inside or outside your facility.

Compare prices and see what equipment best suits your needs Commercial refrigeration specialist Web sites make comparison shopping easy.

I recommend:  Galasource.com sells a wide variety of commercial refrigerators. Acitydiscount.com, a member of the online Better Business Bureau Reliability program offers both new and used commercial refrigerators, freezers and coolers. Mission Restaurant Supply also has a wide selection.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Get a service contract on your commercial coolers.
• Clean your units carefully. Many industrial freezers and coolers have sharp edges.
• Avoid sliding-door units; they're harder to clean and tend to fall off track.
• Consider hiring one HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) company to service all your commercial freezer, refrigerator and cooler repair needs.
• Some commercial refrigeration companies offer lease/buy programs, allowing you to finance the purchase of a commercial freezer, refrigerator and/or cooler.