What is the Difference Between
Domestic & Commercial Refrigeration?

One of the questions we get asked by hospitality professionals who are stepping out into their own business is whether they need to invest in commercial refrigeration straight away. After all, if you are opening a small café or bar, chances are you are only servicing a small number of people at a time, and perhaps don’t see the value in investing in a commercial refrigerator. But there are some significant differences between domestic and commercial units – and having the right kind of unit can end up saving you money on running costs.

Domestic Fridges

Domestic fridges are much quieter than commercial fridges and chill products efficiently without consuming a lot of power. However, they are not designed to cope with products being continuously taken out or replaced and this is the main reason a domestic refrigeration unit is not suitable for commercial businesses. One of the other drawbacks to domestic refrigeration units is that they tend to come only in a small range of standard sizes. And finally, domestic units generally come with freezers attached, whereas commercial units typically do not.

Commercial Fridges

Commercial fridges come in a huge range of shapes and sizes to suit whatever retail space you are looking at. From upright display models to smaller units designed to fit under a bar or kitchen benches and fridges which are designed for transportation of produce or liquids, you can select the shape and type of fridge specific to your requirements.

Commercial fridges and freezers have been designed specifically so that they can remain cold despite being continuously in use. They have larger compressors, condensers and fans which work to continuously distribute chilled air inside the unit and remove excess heat from the coil. All this power comes at the cost of a noisier unit than what you would experience with a domestic refrigeration unit – but means that your products will stay chilled regardless of how often the unit is opened in an hour.

Looking After Your Commercial Fridge or Freezer

It is even more important to regularly service a commercial unit thanks to the supercharged motherboard, compressors, fans and insulation. Because your unit is working hard virtually all the time, any stress (such as very hot days in summer) can have an impact if your fridge or freezer is not taken care of.

Need More Help?

If you are still unsure of whether you need a domestic or commercial cooling unit, please get in touch with our team of expert technicians. We will run through your specific business requirements and help you decide which type of fridge or freezer is right for your needs.