How to choose the right economy refrigerator

Getting the most for your dollar

Commercial refrigerators and coolers are a major investment for any foodservice business, and it is arguably the most important item for any operation. Minimizing the upfront costs in refrigeration when buying an equipment package is a lofty goal that is rarely achieved successfully.

To put it simply, if you skimp on refrigeration in the beginning it could cost you big – on operating and maintenance costs over time.

But there is a light at the more economic end of the tunnel. There are a few things to know when buying economy refrigeration. Firstly, not all economy brands are made equally. Keep in mind we are not talking about refrigeration giants like True and Artic Air, but the smaller guys who are best at selling good equipment at a lower price point. Secondly, according to the pros at ACityDiscount, there is a hierarchy to economy refrigeration:

There are parts of a refrigerator that determine its durability including insulation, interior materials and exterior materials. It is well known that with economy refrigeration these are the materials that get skimped on the most when it comes to the manufacturing of these units. Some international manufacturers will find the cheapest parts available to assemble a refrigeration unit that is in working condition. These may work great for a few months and then completely malfunction when your business may need it most.

The Exterior: Although most economy brands these days use a stainless-steel exterior shell, there are some details in the construction that make huge differences– the most important being the door.

When you think about it, the handle on the door is probably its most important feature aside from the cabinet construction and compressor. Many of the units on the scale of good, better, best have recessed door handles with plastic components or hinges that, eventually, will wear over time. Brands like Asber have caught on to this fact and made built-in handles, rolled into the steel, that are the length of the door. No worrying about any plastic door handle parts fraying or breaking off.

Interior: What the refrigerator interior is made of is often a clear indicator as to how long the unit will last. The industry standard is turning to all stainless steel, but there are some commercial refrigeration manufacturers that make units with a stainless-steel exterior, but an aluminum interior. An all stainless-steel interior makes the unit heavier duty, stain and chemical resistant— a no brainer for the part of the unit that is holding food product.

Door gaskets are another important interior feature in refrigeration. Having reinforced gaskets on the door like Asber creates a better seal and keeps cold air from leaking out, saving on energy consumption over time. Some brands like Avantco offer a magnetic door gasket option that also makes a better door seal.

A bonus for mid-level economy refrigeration is stainless-steel shelving over epoxy-coated shelving. Epoxy-coated shelving isn’t all bad and will get the job done, but a stainless-steel option is going to last longer because it won’t chip away and will be easier to clean.

Insulation: In the world of refrigeration, condensation is the enemy. Condensation happens when warm air with moisture in it cools, and since moisture is a good thermal conductor, its presence in your refrigerator’s insulation is very problematic. The thickness in most refrigeration insulation is dictated by what is needed to prevent condensation, not by what will yield the best payback for the customer.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the recommended insulation materials for refrigeration include cellular glass, closed-cell phenolic, flexible elastomeric, polyisocyurante, and polystyrene. These materials have one thing in common: they are closed-cell foam materials, which means they will not absorb water and cause condensation within the body of the refrigerator, which leads to irreversible damage.

Brands like Asber and Turbo Air use CFC-free (Chlorofluorocarbons) polyurethane insulation, commonly used in roofing, which is made of foam with millions of tiny, closed cells.

When it comes to choosing the best quality for your buck, the same concepts apply to prep stations. The main difference between the good stations and the better stations is the compressor and condenser ratio compared to the size of the prep station. Basically, the larger the compressor/condenser in the unit, the better it will be.

How to tell? If the condenser and compressor is too small for the size of the unit, you may see things like metal storage bins, and no separation between the upper portion of the unit and the bottom storage portion of the unit. Because the compressor/condenser may be too small for the unit, the prep cooler is made to be one single unit. The storage pans in the upper portion are metal so they can retain the coldness as air escapes from the unit due to constant opening and closing of the doors.

Better quality prep stations will have a separation between the bottom portion and the top portion of the unit, and a larger condenser/compressor to keep the air circulating to both compartments. These will usually use plastic storage pans at the top because there is air circulating directly to that part of the unit. This also makes for better energy use as the doors are constantly being opened and closed at the bottom, having little effect on the temperature of the food at the top.

When shopping for economy refrigeration, pay attention to these features to find the equipment that will last. The pros at ACityDiscount are always here to address any equipment issues our customers face over time and are happy to help anyone who is in the market for quality equipment. Call our sales team at 404-752-6715 or stop by our Norcross showroom at 6286 Dawson Blvd. NE in Norcross, GA 30093.