A Buyer's Guide To Commercial Refrigerators

If you're in the market for a commercial refrigerator for your business, you’ve probably found that there are a lot of brands and options available. Navigating all of these makes and models can feel overwhelming so we wrote this article to help you through the process of picking the best solution.

Shop The Top Commercial Refrigerator Brands

Similar to other types of appliances, the brand of your commercial refrigerator means a lot when it comes to quality and performance. We recommend you focus on the top 5 manufacturers because of their track record for establishing trust with their customers. Each manufacturer offers their own specific blend of quality and value which might make one brand a better fit for your specific size and performance requirements compared to other brands.

Selecting The Size

The importance of selecting the correct size for your commercial refrigerator goes without saying. Things you’ll want to consider include how much available space you have for your budget, how many doors you need for your kitchen or work area configuration and how much space each model provides. Measure the dimensions of your space and don’t forget to measure the space available in your entryway to your kitchen. Before it can be installed, it’s gotta fit through the doorway. After you have estimated the approximate exterior size you have available for your new appliance, you’ll next want to consider your storage needs inside the refrigerator. Consider how much stock you need to keep on hand for your business needs and also allow space for the growth of your business.

Understanding The Warranty

Even the most expensive commercial refrigerators are not immune to problems requiring maintenance and repair. We understand it’s critical to your business to keep your refrigerators up and running, so in the event of a mechanical failure you need to be sure you can get your appliance fixed as quickly as possible. That’s why we recommend going with a brand that includes a 3 year parts and labor warranty. You’ll also want to research the size of the service network that will be available to fix your refrigerator if it does go down. The larger the network, the faster your certified technician can respond and the less down time you have.

Condensing Units

What is a condensing unit? It’s the heart of your commercial refrigerator and it performs all of the "heavy lifting" when it comes to keeping your food and beverages cold. When selecting the type of condensing unit, you basically have 2 general options which are top-mount and bottom-mount. Bottom-mounted condensers typically perform better in hotter environments and are easier to access for servicing and cleaning. Top-mounted condensers are better at staying clean and they don’t allow warm air to blow into the refrigerator when the door has been opened. Which type of condenser you choose will depend on your business needs and location.

Summary

To review, when purchasing a new commercial refrigerator for your business we recommend you stick to the top brands because of their proven track record of quality and dependability. Go with a model that fits your business needs and offers a rock-solid warranty program that utilizes a larger number of certified technicians. If you stick to that, you really can’t go wrong. If you still would like assistance, our team of service professionals can help you pick the best commercial refrigerator for your business. We also offer Fort Worth Commercial Refrigeration Repair services.

John Jamison is the owner Alpha Mechanical, a commercial refrigeration and hvac services company located in Fort Worth, TX. Fort Worth Refrigeration Service & Repair