Five signs it’s time to invest in more energy-efficient refrigeration

As a business owner or manager, you’ll know that choosing the right time to upgrade your commercial refrigeration is crucial. Too soon, and you risk spending money unnecessarily by investing in a new commercial refrigerator when the old one is in good working order. Too late, and you run the risk of your refrigerator breaking down, which can cause business repercussions, such as loss of products and unhappy customers. Choosing the best time to upgrade is crucial, and here we explore the top five signs that it’s time for a change.

1 - Keep an eye on your energy bills

One of the easiest ways to spot that it’s time to upgrade your refrigerator is by checking your bill. If it’s rising, and there have been no changes to your use or your electricity price, then it’s giving you important information. It shows that your refrigerator is having to work harder and use more electricity to keep to the correct temperature, and this is a very clear indication that it’s time to upgrade.

2 – Listen

Always pay attention to the noise that your refrigerator is making. Even a new commercial refrigerator will make a noise, but as they get older they may start to make different noises. New noises can often point to problems. Rattling or banging can indicate issues and changes to the noise pattern can be useful in locating what’s wrong with your refrigerator. https://www.fridgesmart.co.uk/how-to-make-your-commercial-refrigeration-run-quieter.

3 – Feel

Always check how hot your commercial refrigerator is. Excessive heat is a good indication that everything is not okay. It usually means your refrigerator is having to work extra hard to maintain the core temperature. Make sure all the vents and openings are clear of obstructions, and there’s sufficient space around the refrigerator if it’s getting hot.

4 - Check your temperature

As part of your good food management processes, you’ll always check the temperature of your refrigerator. However, if you have doubts about the functionality of your refrigerator, then it may be wise to check the temperature more frequently. If it’s struggling to stay at a consistent temperature, this is a key indication it may be time to upgrade.

5 – Monitor breakdowns and repair costs

Keep a record of how frequently you need to have your commercial refrigerator repaired or serviced, simply to keep it running. These costs mount up, and when factored against the cost of upgrading to a new model, can prove crucial. If your refrigerator does break down, calculate the cost of this. If it breaks down during the day and you notice it immediately, could you relocate the food to another unit? If it broke down during the night and the food became spoiled, what would be the cost of that? Bear in mind that the knock-on effect of any disruptions to your business may be harder to calculate, and could be long-lasting.

The future is greener

Consider how much more energy efficient a modern commercial refrigerator is than an older unit. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the likelihood of your old refrigerator being non-compliant in the future, due to its poor environmental impact, may increase. By upgrading today, you can be confident that your business is environmentally friendly.

How can Fridgesmart help?

We appreciate it can be hard to work out the best time to upgrade your commercial refrigerator, but we’re here to help. Calculate the rising energy bill your inefficient refrigeration causes. Consider the cost of repairs, including parts, call-outs and any breakdowns over the past year. Think about the cost of any food loss or business disruption. Bring these costs together and come up with a total for the past year. Compare this cost to the cost of buying a new commercial refrigerator.

This will give you a clear indication of the cost of keeping your old refrigerator going, versus the cost of upgrading to a new one.

You can take a look at our range of commercial display fridges here and our experienced and knowledgeable team are always on hand with advice and guidance. Call us on 0115 9413640.