Commercial Refrigerator Longevity – How Long Do They Last?

Refrigeration systems are critical to the success of supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants. Food retailers rely on industrial refrigerators to preserve their chilled goods and keep customers safe because so much of their inventory must be kept at cold temperatures. Managers should evaluate the advantages of upgrading their refrigerator units when they start to exhibit indications of age or serious malfunction.

Commercial refrigerators should last ten years on average, depending on how much wear and tear they receive. Some high-quality models can endure fifteen to twenty years with proper maintenance. Regular inspections and repairs, on the other hand, can cut a refrigerator’s lifespan in half and impair its overall efficiency throughout that period. Here’s how to tell if your cold storage needs to be updated.

Perhaps you have a commercial refrigerator that has served you well in the past but is now showing its age. Other businesses use commercial refrigerators that have sporadic maintenance concerns, raising their ownership costs over time. Do you want to keep repairing it or replace it with a new industrial refrigerator? Although commercial refrigerators with one to three sections have an average life expectancy of around ten years, various factors such as maintenance, use, original quality, and environment cause variation from this average.

There are currently some very high-quality versions on the market that can last as long as 20 years if properly maintained during its operation.

Many people, unfortunately, do not take the time to properly inspect their refrigeration equipment on a regular basis. Most individuals do not devote time and efforts into maintaining their refrigerators, but doing so might assist detect faults while they are still small.

Negligence can cut a commercial refrigerator’s life expectancy in half and reduce the unit’s overall efficiency. For example, if the evaporator and coil of the commercial refrigerator are not cleaned once a month, the lifespan of the machine might be reduced by up to 50%.

The unit’s condenser will have to work harder than usual if the coil is dirty, reducing the compressor’s lifespan.

How to Tell if Your Refrigerator Is Nearing the End of Its Service Life

There are certain telltale indications to watch for that may indicate that it is time to replace your refrigerator with a new model.

1. Quickly rotting food

The first sign to look for is food that spoils quickly. When a customer or patron walks into your store, they are most likely looking for fresh food to consume. Processed foods, on the other hand, have an expiration date that you should be aware of; meats and plant-based foods, on the other hand, do not last as long.

If your industrial refrigerator isn’t cooling as it should, it could be experiencing an issue that has to be addressed right away. Food that smells bad or unusual scents coming from your refrigerator are also indicators that something is wrong with it.

2. Ice and condensation

Look for leaks, moisture, and ice buildup, among other things. If ice is forming in your refrigerator unexpectedly, the device is most likely not cooling properly. Seals will eventually become weary and old, causing water to leak over time.

Water flow can generate additional major problems, such as condensation, which can lead to bacterial growth if left unchecked. Food rot and, in some situations, food poisoning can be caused by water movement.

3. Increasing energy bills

Furthermore, if your energy expenditures rise, it could be due to a problem with your sealing system. Such flaws can allow cold air to escape, resulting in an increase in your energy bill at the end of the month.

For example, when cold air escapes from your industrial refrigerator, the compressor is put under additional strain. As a result, the internal temperature of your refrigerator will rapidly change.

A properly functioning refrigerator will have no trouble maintaining a constant interior temperature, which will keep energy costs low.

4. Repair costs are rising

If your repair expenses are becoming too high, we recommend that you keep track of your refrigerator’s maintenance costs as well as its energy consumption levels to be safe.

If the repair estimate you receive from the refrigerator provider is more than half the cost of your broken or malfunctioning commercial refrigerator, it could be better to just buy a new one.

If you’d like to learn more about Celestial Air’s commercial refrigeration capabilities, please follow these links to our related articles: