Commercial Refrigeration vs. Residential Units: What's The Difference?
HOW COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION IS DIFFERENT FROM A RESIDENTIAL REFRIGERATOR
How Commercial Refrigeration Is Different From A Residential Refrigerator It is not always obvious that there is a distinct difference between commercial refrigeration units and retail models designed for use in the home. In some instances both units appear almost identical and might even be produced by the same manufacturer.
How Commercial Refrigeration Is Different From A Residential Refrigerator
The reality is that commercial units are designed to fulfill a very different role than residential refrigerators. The operating conditions in a commercial kitchen or storefront are nowhere near the same as the relaxed conditions inside of a home. There are a few major differences between these commercial and residential refrigeration appliances.
Size
Something that is immediately noticeable is that commercial units are normally designed to hold a much larger amount of food than a home unit. Some commercial kitchens or stores require so much space that entire rooms are refrigerated. A commercial unit is not designed to fit neatly into a home kitchen and often has an unusual set of measurements that exist because of necessity and not because of design.
Size
The inside of a commercial unit is arranged differently as well. Commercial food preparation facilities must deal with larger packages of ingredients that are purchased in bulk. Prepared dishes are refrigerated in large trays or tubs. The shelving is not as adjustable or as convenient as what is provided with a residential refrigerator.
Cooling Ability
Although both a commercial refrigeration unit and a residential refrigerator will keep food and other products cool, the commercial unit is much more powerful. A refrigerator located in a food preparation area needs to keep contents at a low temperature consistently for a very long time. Home refrigerators do the same thing. The difference is that in a commercial environment the door of the refrigerator will be opened very frequently and consistently over the course of 12 or more hours.
Cooling Ability The compressor and components must be able to quickly return a large interior space to the proper temperature to prevent food from spoiling. Home refrigerators are not designed with this cooling power because they are not opened as frequently.
Maintenance
Some of the basic components and the concepts behind the equipment that is used to provide cooling for commercial and residential refrigeration units is the same. There are many other technical differences, however, and even different parts that must be used when servicing the unit.
Maintenance
Homes that have a commercial refrigerator might have difficulty finding someone to repair the unit because residential technicians do not usually deal with commercial units. Additionally, commercial technicians can be costly when making a single visit to a home.
Energy Consumption Commercial refrigeration units have some energy efficiency features but are generally much more costly to operate than a residential unit. This is because there are safety concerns when dealing with perishable goods. The units are designed to maintain a consistent temperature even if it requires the use of more energy.
Energy Consumption Home units are designed to actually conserve energy by shutting down and letting temperatures drift overnight when the doors will not be opened. There are even many commercial models that actually require more energy to run than what a normal home electrical outlet is able to provide.
Further Reading‌ Visit Cool Zone Services Inc. for more information on commercial refrigeration units & air conditioning service online at http://www.coolzoneservicesinc.com/