Choosing a cooler is essential in setting up a food-related business like a restaurant or bakery because of how integral it is to the optimal functioning of your business. As a business owner, you want a cooler to be a worthwhile investment; you want it to function at a high level, last a long time, and adhere to your unique needs.
Therefore, the first step is to think about precisely what you need to get out of your commercial cooler. Fundamental building blocks to help you focus your search include size, warranty, power, condenser location, brand and price.
Where to Place Your Commercial Cooler
To shield your cooler from the elements, such as rain or excessive heat, you should place it inside your property, so you won’t have to worry about water or temperature damage.
In contrast, placing the unit inside, especially if it’s a self-contained refrigeration system, will blow hot air into the room. This method would not be okay for a room with low ceilings or in a restaurant kitchen.
However, the cooler may also be noisy, and you may have to consider moving it outside. Therefore, it is better to have an outdoor package for when you may choose to move the cooler outside.
What to Consider if You Leave Your Cooler Outside
It would be best to shield the top of your cooler from snow and rain. Even at that, water is tricky. Even when a cooler is perfectly sealed, it can suffer from water damage from excessive moisture on the floor or otherwise.
Therefore, using an insulated floor to guard against water damage would be best. Using an industrial-grade membrane on the cooler’s roof is also a good idea to ensure maximum protection. Your cooler’s compressor should also be shielded and winterized.
An outdoor package is necessary for whatever cooler system you choose. Therefore, discuss the best strategy for protecting your cooler from the outdoors with your supplier.
Choosing What Products Go in the Cooler
Choosing the products in your commercial cooler is vital because it helps you know the exact cooler size you need and how to maximize the space in your cooler.
For example, you do not need a massive cooler if you own a bar with a small menu. Instead, you could use that space to maximize preparations, allowing the employee assigned to the cooler to be more effective while also maintaining the flow of food from the kitchen.
On the other hand, a large commercial bakery that sells pastries and other baked goods in large quantities would need a sizable cooler to store its products. Therefore, choosing the products that go into your commercial cooler is dependent on the kind of business you do.
What You Need to Consider Before Buying a Commercial Cooler
Warranty
Every commercial chiller has a different warranty. It is crucial to examine the warranty offered with any model carefully. Some commercial coolers may have a three-year warranty. In addition, you should confirm that the guarantee will cover both the parts and the labour necessary to fix your cooler. Select suppliers who offer warranties even for used coolers.
Condenser Location
The condenser creates and maintains the cool air in your cooler. It may be a top or bottom mount condenser; you can choose between those two for a reach-in cooler. Each offers its advantages: Top mount condensers do not accumulate as much dirt and do not blow hot air onto potentially opening cabinets.
On the other hand, bottom-mount coolers are often simpler to clean and maintain. As a result, it is crucial to choose the qualities that best suit your demands and the peculiarities of the location of the cooler.
Brand
Various brands manufacture commercial coolers, and each brand has its niche market. Therefore, finding a brand you know and trust is vital. In addition, choosing a brand with a good reputation and a history of satisfying its customers is also necessary.
How large should your cooler be?
One costly mistake you can make when purchasing a walk-in cooler is getting one larger than you require. Of course, believing that bigger is always better is usually easier. However, remember that a larger cooler will cost you more upfront and need more energy to operate, increasing your overall costs throughout ownership.
Although you may need ample storage space if you often purchase a large quantity or a variety of products, you should know that if you organize a medium cooler, you’d be surprised at how much you can fit inside. So when deciding what size to get, consider how much floor space you have. It’s no use getting a large cooler that won’t fit in the allocated space.
How to Maximize Your Cooler Space
Use coolers with self-contained or CoolBot refrigeration systems. With these, more goods can be stored in your coolers. Typically, the ideal way to arrange your cooler is to use shelves around the perimeter with room for movement in the middle.
In addition, remember never to place anything in front of the refrigeration system or fans, as this will obstruct airflow and reduce the cooling efficiency.
Choose Your Ideal Commercial Cooler
When choosing the ideal cooler for your business, consider the factors above. In addition, the amount of merchandise you want to store, where you can place your cooler, the warranty, condenser location and brand are metrics to help you determine what commercial cooler to get.
Additionally, consider the scalability of whatever cooler you choose. Finally, consider if it still serves its purpose in the next few years as your business grows. Ensuring you have the ideal cooling unit can help improve your restaurant’s overall kitchen efficiency.
A reliable commercial cooler is vital to improving your business’s bottom line. It can save money over time by reducing energy waste and food spoilage.
