If you’re in the market for a new walk-in refrigerator, you’ve probably heard salespeople reference the term “R-value” multiple times. If you’re not familiar with commercial walk-in refrigerators, you might not know what that means.
The R-value is a numbered rating that indicates how well your refrigerator can resist heat. The values usually span from R-7 to R-50, with a greater number offering greater resistance to heat. You can better understand the importance of the R-value of your walk-in refrigerator in Delaware if you know what factors go into determining it.
What makes up an R-value?
There are several factors considered when calculating an R-value. These factors include but are not limited to the type of material, the age of the material, the thickness of the material and the intended use of that material. The R-value of a given refrigerator is a shorthand way to measure how resistant a cold space is to heat, in addition to how well it is insulated.
Why does it matter?
There are a few key reasons that the R-value of your Delaware business’ walk-in refrigerator matters:
- Finding the right walk-in refrigerator: Having a handy number that can tell you how well your refrigerator will keep warm air out is convenient and can save you time when you’re in the market for a walk-in refrigerator. While you could get into the nitty-gritty details like the type and thickness of the foam (and you probably should), an R-value provides a nice jumping-off point when shopping for a walk-in refrigerator.
- Saves inventory: No matter what you are trying to keep cold, from food in a restaurant or grocery store to flowers in a florist’s shop, your inventory is the lifeblood of your business. Having an inadequate walk-in refrigerator that can’t sufficiently keep your products cool can turn out to be a disaster. While you can expect and overcome a small amount of shrink (merchandise that can’t be sold), an entire cooler of shrink could be catastrophic.
- Saves energy: If the R-value on your walk-in refrigerator is too low, it could be costing you money. If more energy is needed to keep the refrigerator cool, your energy costs are going to go up. This might not seem like a big deal, but over time the increased costs can add up and prove to be damaging to your bottom line.
- Extends the life span of your walk-in refrigerator: If you’ve spent all this time picking out the correct walk-in refrigerator for your commercial purposes, you’re going to want it to last a long time. If the R-value of your walk-in refrigerator isn’t high enough, it could force the compressor to work harder than it normally would, overtaxing it in the process. Over time, this would likely shorten the lifespan of your walk-in refrigerator.
It’s crucial that you invest in a walk-in refrigerator with a high-enough R-value to avoid the above issues.
Call today for your commercial and industrial cooling needs
Now that you understand what an R-value is for a walk-in refrigerator in Delaware and why it’s important, give Commercial Equipment Service Inc. a call. We want to help make sure you’re able to keep your inventory at a cool and consistent temperature so you can safely deliver it to your customers.