Commercial Refrigeration Perth

A commercial refrigerator is a fridge built for business use. It has a heavier-duty compressor, a tougher cabinet and faster temperature recovery after the door opens, so it can cope with a busy kitchen or shop floor. Upright fridges, underbench units, display cabinets and cool rooms all count. In Australia, commercial refrigerated cabinets must meet minimum energy efficiency standards under the GEMS Refrigerated Cabinets Determination.

Commercial refrigeration moves heat out of the cabinet rather than adding cold. Refrigerant absorbs heat inside the evaporator, the compressor pumps it to the condenser, and the condenser releases that heat into the air outside. An expansion valve then drops the refrigerant’s pressure so the cycle can start again. In Perth’s heat the condenser has to dump heat into hot air, which is why clean coils and good airflow matter so much.

The Food Standards Code requires potentially hazardous food to be kept at 5°C or colder. Most kitchens set fridges between 2°C and 4°C to leave a safety buffer, and check them with a probe thermometer. Frozen food must stay frozen, and most freezers are set at −18°C or colder. Read more on what temperature a commercial freezer should be.

The most common causes are a thermostat set too low, a faulty thermostat or temperature sensor, or a controller that keeps the compressor running. Food stacked against the evaporator fan can also freeze, because it sits in the coldest airflow. Try moving stock away from the fan and checking the setpoint first. If it keeps freezing, book a commercial fridge repair in Perth before the fault damages stock or the compressor.

Only if it’s designed for it. Some units are dual-temperature or convertible, with a controller that covers both fridge and freezer ranges. If you need both in one footprint, a dual-temperature commercial fridge freezer in Perth’s smaller kitchens is usually the better choice. Most dedicated freezers have components sized for low temperatures, so running one as a fridge can cause short cycling, poor humidity control and extra wear. Check the manufacturer’s specifications, or ask us whether your commercial freezer in Perth can be safely converted.

It depends on the type, size, age and condition of the unit. A glass door display or open multideck uses far more power than a solid-door underbench fridge. Each registered model lists its daily energy use in kWh. Multiply that figure by your tariff and by 365 to estimate the yearly cost. For example, a unit rated at 5 kWh a day on a $0.30 per kWh tariff costs about $548 a year to run.

Modern units are far more efficient than older ones. Since 5 October 2024, the GEMS Refrigerated Cabinets Determination 2024 has set minimum efficiency levels for refrigerated cabinets sold in Australia. Real-world efficiency still depends on regular commercial refrigeration maintenance in Perth’s heat. Dirty condenser coils, worn door seals and low refrigerant all make a unit work harder and cost more to run.

1. Switch off and isolate the power.
2. Find the condenser. It is usually behind the front grille, at the back or on top of the unit.
3. Remove the grille and brush the coil gently in the direction of the fins with a soft coil brush.
4. Vacuum the loosened dust. In greasy kitchens, use a non-corrosive coil cleaner.
5. Never use a pressure washer, and don’t bend the fins.
6. Refit the grille, restore power and check the unit is holding temperature.

In busy kitchens, coils should be checked monthly and cleaned every one to three months. Remote and rooftop condensers should be cleaned by a technician as part of your commercial refrigeration service in Perth.

Most commercial refrigerators last around 10 to 15 years with regular servicing. A commercial refrigerator in Perth’s heat, with a condenser that is rarely cleaned, often fails sooner. If a unit is over 10 years old and the compressor fails, replacement is usually better value than repair. We’ll give you a straight recommendation either way.

If you’re looking for a commercial refrigerator for sale in Perth, hospitality equipment suppliers and specialist dealers stock most brands. Before you buy, check the model’s energy registration, that it’s sized for your load, and that it has enough ventilation for Perth’s heat. Make sure local service and parts are available too. The same checks apply whether you’re comparing a commercial fridge for sale in Perth or a combination fridge freezer. Commercial refrigeration installation in Perth should always be done by an ARC-licensed technician, because it involves handling refrigerant. Once it’s in, Refrigwest can keep your commercial refrigeration equipment in Perth running with fast, licensed repairs.