Commercial appliances are an essential investment to a business’s success, but they’re not made to last forever. Keeping up with regular maintenance and minor repairs can help extend the life of your commercial refrigerators, but it’s important to recognize when it’s time to order new equipment. If you’re not careful, you could end up wasting money and resources on old or inefficient refrigerators in extensive repair costs, higher utility bills, and spoiled inventory. Here are four signs that you may soon be shopping for new commercial refrigerators to keep your business running smoothly.
- Food Spoils Before Its Expiration Date
There’s nothing quite as frustrating as having to throw out food or other perishable items before they’ve even reached their expiration date. When perishables smell or spoil at faster rate than normal, it’s a clear indication that something’s going wrong with the refrigerator’s cooling and operating process.
When commercial refrigerators can’t cool food quickly or maintain a cool temperature, it’s also draining energy. Not only are you losing money on wasted food — you’ll be paying higher than necessary energy bills.
- Leaks and Condensation
If the unit’s seals are damaged or worn out, water leaks and puddles can develop. This leads to ice building up inside the refrigerator and creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. Mold and mildew buildup creates health inspection problems, as well as lost inventory.
Condensation forms in response to the commercial refrigerator not cooling properly. If you see condensation in, on, or around the unit’s door frame, it means that warm air is getting into the refrigerator while cool air is escaping. Condensation on the inside of the unit indicates an issue with the temperature setting, which could lead to spoiled food.
- The Refrigerator is Hot
Refrigerators produce a small amount of heat in their operation, but the back of the unit should always be warm to the touch — never hot. The most likely culprit is the condenser coils, located on the back or bottom of the commercial refrigerator. When they’re not kept clean and free of dust, they’ll run hot while pushing the motor to overcompensate.
- Reduced Efficiency with Increased Repair Costs
There’s no set rule for how long commercial equipment will last, but generally, once a refrigerator is 10 years old or more, it’s time to monitor both the repair costs and energy usage. When key components start wearing down, you may spend more on the ongoing cost of repairs than you would on a new unit.
Recognizing the four common signs that your commercial refrigerators are nearing the end of their life will save you time, money, and frustration. Imbera Foodservice carries a wide array of commercial refrigerators that will keep products fresh and save on energy costs. Contact us today to learn more.
