In a restaurant, convenience store, or grocery store, having an inefficient walk-in cooler can be detrimental to the business. When a cooler fails, this could result in spoiled food, warm beverages for customers, and a stressful rush to find a replacement. Before getting stuck with a completely non-functioning cooler, there are a few signs to look for that indicate a cooler needs to be replaced. Looking for these signs allows an owner or manager to plan ahead, price shop, and have a new model installed without affecting the business.
One of the most important features of a walk-in cooler is the door. Without a proper door, cold air can seep out and warm air can come in, which affects the temperature of products stored inside. Over time and with years of wear and tear, the seals on these doors can begin to wear down, leading to wasted product, inefficient cooling, and expensive energy bills. One of the primary things to look for in a door that isn’t working as it should is condensation on the glass. A properly sealed door will not have any condensation, so seeing this is a sign that the unit needs to be replaced. Other part failures may result in excess humidity, which causes condensation. If this occurs, the defective part will need to be identified. An owner can then compare the costs of replacing the door or refrigerator part and a full replacement. In many cases, replacing an older unit with a more efficient one may save the most money over the long term.
In some cases, supplies may provide a store or restaurant with coolers. These may be very loud and can produce a lot of heat. The excess noise can be bothersome to customers and employees, while the excess heat can affect the ambient temperature of the business. If a cooler is producing excess heat and makes a lot of noise, this typically means that the compressor is always running. Not only does this drive up utility bills because it is not efficient, but the compressor may fail more quickly than a more modern unit. When this occurs, a restaurateur or business owner may want to consider buying a newer, more efficient commercial refrigeration replacement.
Older units come equipped with fluorescent lighting, which has several drawbacks. It isn’t bright, bulbs need to be replaced more often, and some bulbs even contain dangerous mercury. Many store and restaurant owners are converting to LED lighting built into the doors, but this can be very expensive and may not be worth the expense for an older unit. Instead of going through the hassle and expense of converting to LED lighting, many owners may want to consider replacing these dated units with modern coolers that come with standard LED lighting in the doors. This provides better lighting for the customer and more efficiency for the owner.
A high-quality walk-in cooler can easily last for several years. However, after years of use, outdated models will need to be replaced. If the unit isn’t efficient, doesn’t have modern LED lighting, or shows signs that costly parts are failing, replacing the unit is a wise option for any business owner.