Cold storage rooms are frequently used inside factories, shops, warehouses and restaurants for keeping large quantities of goods cool at once. If you’re planning to install a cold storage room somewhere on your premises, it is important you know how to operate them effectively.
Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions we receive about cold storage rooms in Eugene, OR that should give you some valuable insight into how they work.
Q: What do I need to install a cold storage room?
You’re going to need a sufficient amount of real estate, for starters. Cold storage rooms can be the size of walk-in closets, or they can cover massive areas, depending on the amount and type of goods you need to store. You’ll also need to make sure you have a level concrete floor and foundation on which to install it.
Q: How is a cold storage room constructed?
The process of building a cold storage room will have several phases. First will be the construction of the insulated structure. Once that main structure is complete, the next phase is installation of the refrigeration equipment. Finally, all the trimmings and finishings of the insulated structure can be completed, and then the system will be ready to be put into full use.
Q: What size can I expect a cold storage room to be?
The size of your cold storage room is really up to you, as is the configuration. They can be custom-built to any size. It’s worth checking with other companies in your industry to see what size they use, if you know they have needs similar to those of your company.
Q: What do I need to know about temperature control?
You will be able to control the cold storage room based on the storage temperature you select at the control area. The length of time it takes for the cold storage room to actually reach your desired temperature will depend on your particular application and needs. Factors will include the product head load, the amount of product you’re storing, the total weight, the size of the room and the equipment you’re using.
The good news is that you won’t have to worry about hot weather impacting the operation of your cold storage room, so long as the room has been designed correctly.
Q: What do I need to know about equipment?
Cold storage rooms will require 1Phase 220V or 3Phase 380V systems. Any system larger than a 2HP unit will require that 3Phase supply.
With regard to the condensing unit, usually this will be placed outside in a spot where it can be easily connected to the internal evaporator blower coil with copper tubing and wiring. While you can expect some noise from the freezer unit, it should not be an excessive amount.
For more information about cold storage rooms in Eugene, OR and what you should know about their installation and operation, we encourage you to reach out to American Refrigeration Inc. today.
If you run a restaurant or cafeteria, one of the most important pieces of equipment you will have at your facility is your refrigeration unit. You are likely to have several units, whether they be walk-in freezers or refrigerators or standard reach-in refrigerated containers. If you’re looking to add new refrigeration options, you might be wondering whether a reach-in container or a cold storage room in Eugene, OR is the better way to go.
It’s important to note that one does not necessarily have to replace the other, and there are benefits to each type of system. Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of refrigerated containers in particular.
Reach-in refrigeration: Advantages and disadvantages
The biggest benefit associated with reach-in refrigerated containers is that they will take up less space. You don’t have to dedicate nearly as much real estate to them as you do to walk-in units. Their very nature also makes them more flexible with regard to where you can place them. As long as there is a power source and enough space to put them there, you have versatile options for how you will lay out your kitchen spaces. Compare this to a walk-in freezer, where once you have it set up, there’s no moving it—it is a part of the architectural design of your space.
There are ADA-compliant models available for reach-in refrigeration units and freezers, and any unit you get will come with shelving already installed. You will need to consider, though, that reach-in units will give you much less storage capacity than what you’d get from a walk-in unit. This is why reach-in units are generally used in conjunction with walk-in units, and not as a replacement or substitute for them.
However, despite the less available storage space, accessing the items you’ve stored there is much more convenient. All you have to do is open up the door and reach in, rather than step in and walk to the area where your specific item is stored. While the self-contained nature of reach-in refrigeration units can add some heat and noise to the room, the level of extra convenience they provide cannot be understated, especially for items you use frequently in your commercial kitchen. They enhance the productivity of your kitchen space and ensure you spend less time hunting down ingredients and food items.
Reach-in refrigeration units also have more energy-efficient models than what you’d find from walk-in units. While walk-in units can use less power when used in place of multiple reach-ins, individual reach-ins have much better levels of efficiency and come in Energy Star models.
Installation is simpler, and most reach-in models are much more affordable than walk-ins.
These are just a few examples of some of the biggest pros and cons associated with the use of refrigerated containers and reach-in refrigeration units as opposed to cold storage rooms in Eugene, OR. For more information about the services we provide and the kinds of refrigeration you should seek for your commercial kitchen, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today.
A cold storage room can be an incredibly useful feature for a number of different industries and businesses, including restaurants, wineries and grocery stores. Cold storage rooms in Eugene, OR are mainly used to prevent food spoilage, especially fruits and vegetables. Here are some of the biggest benefits of having a cold storage room on your premises:
- Wide range of uses: Typically, cold storage is used for food and food prep businesses, but their applications can range from a cool place to store fruits and vegetables to an airtight, dehumidifying environment to a blast freezer. All you have to do is pick the temperature setting that works for your current needs, and your storage room will do the rest.
- Customizable sizes and settings: The best part about cold storage rooms is that they’re completely customizable, from the size you need to the refrigeration type. Whether you need refrigeration or a deep freezer, you’ll find the right option for you—and they come in both portable and stationary options.
- Free up food prep space: Whether at home or work, having enough usable food prep space is always a challenge. In a professional kitchen, cold storage is crucial to always having enough food on hand, but not clogging up the prep space while the chefs and/or cooks are trying to serve others. Inside coolers help, but they take up a lot of space and have a significant heat output. That can make already-boiling kitchens cross the line into completely unbearable. When you have a dedicated cold storage room, you’re saving space and energy in a lot of ways, including your own personal comfort.
- Have a backup: There will be times when your refrigerator or freezer will fail, or the power will go out, and that can result in the loss of products. An airtight cold storage room can help you store products until the power comes back on or your refrigerator is repaired, which will save money and time when you need it most.
- Save money: Similarly, food spoilage isn’t just wasteful on a resource level—it’s also expensive to replace. Cold storage rooms with moisture control allow your delicate produce to last longer, as well as extend the life of your bulk storage staples, like grains, flour and sugar. The cooler temperatures and lack of light are ideal for many different types of food storage. Between having backup refrigeration and never needing to risk food spoilage, your cold storage room will pay dividends.
Cold storage rooms in Eugene, OR
Ready to install your own custom cold storage room? Now that you know the benefits of having one, pick the best contractor and supplier to get the job done. American Refrigeration Inc. is Eugene’s top destination for honest and dependable commercial HVAC services. We handle installations, repairs and more for our commercial and industrial clients. If you need a cold storage room installed or repaired in Eugene, OR, we can help. Reach out to us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
