Johan Simbade
Making the Cut with Refrigerators and Freezers That Reach-In
As one of the biggest energy consumers in residential homes, commercial refrigerators and freezers have long been among the first appliances to receive targeted energy efficiency updates. With the goal of promoting manufacturers to produce and improve more efficient refrigerators, appliances, and other appliances, this energy-star review highlights five facts about commercial refrigerators that you should know. The facts include: refrigeration technologies have changed drastically over the past two decades; there are now a wide variety of technologies that contribute to improved energy efficiency when compared to traditional models; the efficiency of modern refrigerators can continue to increase as the world’s need for safe, healthy food increases; and the efficiency rating of commercial refrigerators has increased steadily over the past three decades. To learn more about the five facts about commercial refrigerators, appliance experts conducted a comprehensive consumer survey. The consumer survey results were then analyzed to identify the key factors that contribute to greater energy efficiency in refrigerators.
A very significant factor contributing to improved energy efficiency in refrigerators and freezers is the design of the appliance. Today’s models offer better compartment organization that help conserve energy and space. With improved compartment organization, food will stay fresher longer. Energy consumption for commercial refrigerators and freezers also decreases due to the fact that it is now easier to control temperatures inside these appliances because of the enclosure that is built in the back of the unit. New technology allows for greater temperature control than ever before, and the result is an appliance that requires less energy to keep cool.
A second factor that helps to maximize energy efficiency in refrigerators and freezers is the design of the door opening and the bypass valve. For this reason, it is important to choose a brand that has a design that is attractive and that incorporates a good bypass valve. A bypass valve that does not allow vapors from the outside to move into the compartment or from the appliance to escape is a poor design that will make a refrigerator or a freezer more expensive to operate over time. Today’s refrigerators and freezers offer good door openings that provide easy access from both the outside and the inside.
There are some new technologies that contribute to the efficiency of refrigerators and freezers in keeping the area where food is stored cooler. This type of technology involves the use of air to transfer heat from the interior of the machine to the food stored within. This ensures that the area where food is stored remains cooler by allowing ice cubes or water to melt, thus reducing the formation of odors inside the appliance. This type of technology has been successful in decreasing the formation of foul odors but it has yet to eliminate all odors completely.
In addition to having refrigerators that are kept at a comfortable temperature, it is important that they are properly maintained. It is recommended that all refrigerators and freezers are cleaned on an annual basis and that the door be left open during this cleaning to remove any build-up of debris. Built-in ice makers should also be cleaned on an annual basis. Most appliance professionals can provide a cleaning schedule that is ideal for refrigerators and freezers. They may suggest various solutions that include removing ice from the refrigerator and buildup of sediment on the filter basket.
Many people who have refrigerators and freezers that reach-ins find them problematic to clean because the access points are hard to reach. The most efficient solutions are wire rack shelves that feature built-in wire filters and built-in air outlets. For this type of appliance, there are several brands that manufacture pullout shelves that are designed to reach-in. These types of shelves offer a simple and effective way to clean refrigerators and freezers that are located in small areas where access is difficult. These products also help to keep the kitchen more organized.
