Purchasing the proper supplies for commercial freezers when you purchase the freezers ensures that you can safely use them as soon as they are cool. In most areas, health department laws and codes mandate some of the supplies you need for the commercial freezers.

Keep the following suggestions in mind when you order supplies for the commercial freezers in your business:

1. Keep an eye on the temperature of the commercial freezers in your business.

2. Store food according to local regulations by using appropriate food storage shelving.

3. Buy replacement parts and supplies needed to keep your commercial freezer functioning optimally.

Action Steps
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Monitor the temperature of your commercial freezers

Commercial food freezers, including commercial display freezers and commercial walk in freezers, must be kept within a temperature range that is acceptable for the foods kept in them. Commercial grade thermometers and temperature monitors that include alarms help to ensure that the temperature always stays within that range.

I recommend: ACityDiscount.com has a varied selection supplies for commercial restaurant freezers, including dial and liquid thermometers. This company has expedited shipping available on most of the items it sells. Advanced Service and Parts has freezer temperature monitors and alarms for sale. It offers free shipping on some items.

Purchase shelving to store the food in the commercial freezers

Any food that is stored in a commercial food freezer must be kept on shelves or risers. When you purchase new commercial restaurant freezers, you have to find appropriate shelving on which to place the food. You must check your local health department regulations to find out the specifications necessary in your area. In most areas, the food must be six inches off the floor and at least six inches below the ceiling.

I recommend: WalkinPros.com sells epoxy coated commercial refrigerator freezer shelving units that meet federal regulations for food storage. AnytimeProducts.com sells a varied selection of food storage shelving at wholesale prices. Discounted freight charges are available.

Consider purchasing common replacement parts for commercial coolers

There are many different user serviceable parts that help to ensure that the temperature in a commercial freezer stays consistent. Vinyl insulation strips and sealant, for example, help to keep the cold air in the freezer, even when people are going in and out to get stock. The same goes for reach in freezers and commercial display freezers when people have to reach into them to get product.

I recommend: Walk-ins Coolers/Freezers Manufacturing sells vinyl insulation strips, replacement doors, hinges, handles and sealant for most commercial freezers. PartSelect.com sells freezer parts and cooler parts. You can search by model, manufacturer or part number. It offers a detailed help section including forum and repair instructions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider ordering no freeze floor and wall cleaner to use in your commercial freezer.

For every type of business that uses commercial coolers, from food and beverage retailers to restaurants and florists, there are many commercial refrigerators, coolers and freezers to choose from: walk-ins with solid or glass doors, deli display cases, refrigerated direct-draw beer dispenser units, to name a few. To make a good choice, follow this advice when selecting your commercial refrigerators and coolers:

1. Compute how much space you'll need and measure how much space you have.
2. Buy the best you commercial coolers can afford. A lower quality commercial freezer or refrigerator, or units or those that are poorly installed, waste energy and don't perform properly.
3. Learn how to monitor your system and where to get it serviced to ensure peak efficiency

Action Steps
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Find a commercial freezer or cooler that fits just right

Commercial refrigeration equipment and installations that fit the space available are key.

I recommend: AmericanPanel.com provides rigorous construction methods for any type of installation, all backed by a 10-year warranty.

Monitor your commercial refrigeration system

Many commercial refrigerators and commercial freezers offer monitoring systems that enable you to pinpoint potential refrigeration failures hours, even days in advance.

I recommend: Foodwatch.com offers a product that insures your commercial freezers, refrigerators and coolers are in compliance with the FDA's guidelines on maintaining safe food temperatures.

Properly compute heat loads and match insulation and refrigeration equipment

Look for fully cured insulation that eliminates internal voids. All metal facings, lock-locations and tongue-and-groove routs need to be carefully measured.

I recommend: Walkinrefrigeration.com manufactures modular, custom-built commercial freezers, refrigerators and coolers. Saniserv.com has also been in the business since 1929.

Buy commercial refrigeration equipment directly from the manufacturer

Eliminate the middleman to get the best deal on your commercial cooler, refrigerator or freezer.

I recommend: Bushrefrigeration.com builds and sells every imaginable commercial cooler, with a specialty in outdoor industrial freezers, accessed from inside or outside your facility.

Compare prices and see what equipment best suits your needs

Commercial refrigeration specialist Web sites make comparison shopping easy.

I recommend: Galasource.com sells a wide variety of commercial refrigerators. Acitydiscount.com, a member of the online Better Business Bureau Reliability program offers both new and used commercial refrigerators, freezers and coolers. Mission Restaurant Supply also has a wide selection.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get a service contract on your commercial coolers.
• •  Clean your units carefully. Many industrial freezers and coolers have sharp edges.
• •  Avoid sliding-door units; they're harder to clean and tend to fall off track.
• •  Consider hiring one HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) company to service all your commercial freezer, refrigerator and cooler repair needs.
• •  Some commercial refrigeration companies offer lease/buy programs, allowing you to finance the purchase of a commercial freezer, refrigerator and/or cooler.

Buying a commercial freezer for your business is a major decision that should be thoroughly researched. In order to choose the commercial freezer that best fits your needs, you need to consider the size and type of product you will keep in the freezer.

There are numerous types, styles and sizes of commercial freezers available. Keep these commercial freezers basics in mind when narrowing down your choices:

1. Purchase a commercial walk in freezer to accommodate large cases or multiple cases of product.

2. Buy reach in freezers if space is a consideration and you have only small to medium sized items to store in them.

3. Show off your product with commercial display freezers.

4. Consider specialty commercial freezers for certain products.

Action Steps
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Think about purchasing commercial walk in freezers

A commercial walk in freezer is ideal for many restaurants and stores that need to house large cases or multiple cases of product. Some of these commercial restaurant freezers are inside of the building and others attach to the building. While the majority of commercial walk in freezers are custom made, there are pre-assembled models for sale if you need the freezer as quickly as possible.

I recommend: Gala Source has 7x7 or 10x10 commercial walk in freezers for sale. You can find remote cooled, wall cooled and floor cooled models at this store. Barr sells pre assembled commercial walk in coolers. Blueprints of all the freezers are available online. This company offers fast shipping options.

Decide if reach in commercial freezers fit your needs

If space is a consideration or you only have small items to store in the freezer, a reach in commercial freezer may be a good choice. The size of these freezers varies greatly. You can find some models that will fit under the counter and other models that take up an entire wall.

I recommend: You can find commercial coolers and freezers at ivgStores. This company offers free shipping and discounted prices on many freezers. Central Restaurant Products sells chest type and traditional reach in type commercial freezers. This company offers lease to own options.

Consider glass door commercial freezers

Glass door, or merchandiser restaurant freezers, are ideal for businesses that sell premade frozen items. These commercial display freezers are available in floor models or counter top models.

I recommend: Big Tray sells glass door commercial display freezers featuring single, double and triple doors. MyChefStore.com sells swing door and counter top commercial freezers at discounted prices.

Invest in specialty commercial freezers

Specialty commercial freezers, such as food specific freezers and work top display freezers, are necessary in some specialty stores. Food specific commercial freezers, such as ice cream freezers, keep the product at predetermined temperatures considered ideal for that product.

I recommend: Consolidated Foodservice sells numerous commercial freezers, including ice cream freezers. The price and freight cost are displayed prior to adding the item to your shopping cart online. Live chat is available should you need help during regular business hours. Food Service Warehouse offers a varied selection of commercial freezers, including work top freezers. This company offers free freight on certain items, detailed information on all items and lease to own options.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you buy a new commercial freezer, measure the doors, access points and placement location to ensure the unit can be installed without having to remove obstacles.

A business that relies on temperature control needs freezers to handle the job. Generally speaking, business owners, managers and leaders look for just the right size and style of commercial freezer for a facility. Too much freezer space leads to wasted space and high electrical bills, while too little space causes headaches in daily operations. Knowing a few basic terms for different types of commercial freezers can help businesses plan ahead for purchase and use.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Walk-in coolers and freezers

A walk-in cooler or freezer is just what it sounds like: These large installations are at ground level and are room-sized to allow for human, or even machine, access. Walk-in freezers, though costly, are indispensable to supermarkets and large food vendors who sell food that is shipped from faraway places.

I recommend: Get more details on walk-in coolers and freezers from U.S. Cooler.

Freezer-monitoring systems

Many companies that rely on freezing temperatures for merchandise use freezer-monitoring systems. A freezer-monitoring system is any combination of hardware, devices and maintenance that ensures temperature control.

I recommend: See more on freezer monitoring (the tips included can apply to food service and other businesses) at Lab Manager.

Reach-in freezers

Reach-in freezers are upright refrigerated containers. Many of them are floor-standing, and some roll around on casters. Reach-in freezers can provide affordable solutions for businesses that do not have a huge frozen inventory.

I recommend: Find out more about reach-in freezers at American Counsel for an Energy Efficient Economy.

Seals

Any company that relies on freezers will want to include checking the seals as part of regular maintenance. Seals are the rubber strips that ensure temperature control in most traditional freezer units. If they are damaged, the temperature control process is compromised.

I recommend: See a basic definition and some warnings about seals at MomsBudget.

Gaskets

Gaskets are strips of flexible material that help to provide a seal in freezers and coolers. Gaskets can be replaced when worn to help ensure that a unit is working well.

I recommend: Get a definition of a gasket at Atlas Supply. See info on measuring for replacement gaskets at Cooler-Gaskets.

Side-by-side model

A side-by-side freezer/cooler unit is one in which a single unit is divided down the middle to provide freezing on one side and refrigeration on the other.

I recommend: See details on the side-by-side model at CoolerStores.