“Serving Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Hammond, and Surrounding Areas”
"The Only Name You Need to Know
24-Hour Emergency Service
Blog Post
Commercial Refrigeration: To Repair or to Replace
- By Admin
- •
- 21 Nov, 2017
Your commercial refrigeration system is one of the most costly pieces of equipment in your commercial kitchen. Because of this, it may seem like a hard decision when something goes wrong and you have to decide whether to replace it or to repair it. Here are few things to consider that will help you make this decision.
Age
One very important factor in deciding to repair or replace your refrigerator is its age. Anything over 10 years old needs to be upgraded. Once a refrigerator has reached that age, it no longer works as efficiently as it used to, and buying a new one will save you time and money.
If you're having issues with your refrigeration system and it's over 10 years old, it's time to replace it. Anything younger than that and you should consider repair.
Cost
If your refrigerator is starting to break down, look at the cost of replacing it. There's no harm in calling for a quote; just make sure you have your model number and serial number ready for faster service.
Once you find out how much it will cost to repair your equipment, look up the price of a replacement. If the cost is over half of the replacement price, go ahead and replace it. If not, find out what needs to be done to repair it.
Temperature
When a refrigerator is on its last leg, it's close to impossible to keep the temperature where it should be, which is 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit. Several components affect the temperature of your refrigerator. Once you've ruled those out, if it's still not staying where you want it, it's time to replace it.
Calling a technician to come out and diagnose your refrigerator will tell you whether or not it can be repaired. Just don't wait too long because eventually it will give out completely and you'll be throwing everything away, losing all of the food you keep in the refrigerator and potentially hundreds of dollars in replacement food.
Energy
Is your refrigerator an energy hog? Are you spending way more money on electric bills every month than your neighbor? If this is the case, it is probably time to replace your refrigerator.
Repairs can be done, depending on the issue, but a new energy-efficient system will save you money down the road. Just look at all of the longterm costs before you make this decision.
Maintenance
How regularly has your refrigerator received routine maintenance? If the answer is very regularly, then a repair should be enough. If your answer is never, then it's time for a replacement.
You should do preventative maintenance monthly and semi-annually. Every month you should check for defrosting in the evaporator coil. Every six months you should be tightening electrical connections, checking motors and blades, cleaning the drain pan, checking the control system, checking the defrosting controls and insulation, cleaning the condenser coils and tightening all of the caps and screws. If this work gets overwhelming, you can call and set up a regular maintenance schedule with the professionals.
When making the decision of whether to replace or to repair, consider the age of your machine, the cost of repair vs replacement, the temperature consistency of your system, the amount of energy used and the frequency of your preventative maintenance. Once you have figured all of these factors into the equation, the decision is an easy one.
For regular maintenance or emergency 24-hour service, 365 days a year, call Chandler's Parts and Service. We will help you with all of your refrigeration needs so that you can focus on other things.