Commercial refrigeration installation means setting up cooling systems to keep perishable items, typically food, beverages, or medicine, at the right temperature in commercial settings like restaurants, grocery stores, and warehouses.
Commercial refrigeration equipment includes walk-in coolers, freezers, ice machines, display cases, reach-in coolers, and refrigerated storage units. It helps prevent spoilage, extend shelf life, and maintain compliance with health and safety standards.
Key commercial refrigeration applications include:
Food service industry: Restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores use it to store ingredients, prepared meals, and beverages.
Industrial storage and distribution: Warehousing and logistics companies rely on commercial refrigeration to cool large quantities of goods, such as dairy, meat, or pharmaceuticals during storage and transportation.
>>>Want to ensure the optimal level of cooling for your commercial customers? Use the free Refrigeration BTU Calculator from ServiceTitan.
Types of Commercial Refrigeration Systems
Companies rely on multiple types of commercial refrigeration units to manage energy costs and achieve their business needs. The system often depends on the physical space and type of products that require refrigeration.
Reach-in refrigerators: These are the standard upright fridges you’ll find in most grocery and convenience stores. They’re easy to access and perfect for cooling products like milk, produce, and sodas.
Walk-in coolers/freezers: These are large rooms for chilling or freezing bulk items. They’re typically used in restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores, and food warehouses.
Display cases: These units are designed to show off chilled products while keeping them fresh. They’re found in bakeries, delis, and supermarkets and come in open or glass-front styles to drive sales while maintaining food safety.
Warehouse refrigeration: This refrigeration is used in large-scale storage and distribution centers. It keeps bulk amounts of frozen foods or pharmaceuticals at precise temperatures.
Specialty units: Specialty refrigerators cater to unique needs. For instance, wine fridges control both temperature and humidity to protect flavor. Floral coolers keep flowers fresh without damaging delicate petals. Medical refrigeration stores vaccines, lab samples, or medications at tightly regulated temperatures.
What to Consider Before Commercial Refrigeration Installation
Before installing a commercial refrigeration system, plan carefully to avoid unexpected issues and provide your customers with the best long-term value for their investment.
Size and capacity requirements: Start by figuring out how much storage you need. Consider the volume and type of items the client stores and how often they’ll access them. Choosing too small of a unit leads to overcrowding while one that's too large waste energy consumption and needlessly increases energy bills.
>>> Use the ServiceTitan HVAC Load Calculator to determine the right BTUs for a commercial space.
Site preparation: Make sure the space is ready for installation by checking for proper electrical connections, good ventilation, and a floor that can handle the weight of the equipment. Poor prep can delay the install or lead to performance issues.
Energy efficiency: Look for models with ENERGY STAR® ratings. These units lower utility bills and reduce your environmental impact.
Common Challenges in Commercial Refrigeration Installation
Installing commercial refrigeration invites a few common challenges.
Space limitations: Tight kitchens, small storage areas, undercounter crevices, and other awkward layouts can make it tough to fit large refrigeration units. Measure carefully to ensure the system fits and still allows for easy access and airflow.
Complex electrical and plumbing integration: Refrigeration systems need proper wiring and drainage. That means coordinating with multiple trades to get the electrical and plumbing work done right.
Local code compliance: If your install doesn’t meet local code, you may incur fines and delays. Research local requirements and can make sure your install is fully compliant.
Refrigerant safety and EPA regulations: Refrigerants are tightly regulated because they can harm the environment. EPA Regulation 608 requires “technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere” to be certified.
Safety Best Practices During Installation
During commercial refrigeration installation, safety is essential to protect both workers and equipment. It also ensures equipment runs optimally while reducing the need for emergency services.
ServiceTitan helps technicians stay on top of safety checks. With customizable Forms, you can create digital checklists that automatically appear at different phases of the installation process. Forms can include required safety steps, such as PPE checks, secure mounting verification, electrical inspections, and more. Technicians complete forms on their mobile device before closing out a job, ensuring they don’t miss critical safety protocols.
Common safety practices include:
Wearing PPE: Personal protective equipment (PPE) prevents injuries from sharp edges, electrical shock, and refrigerant exposure.
Ensuring secure mounting and stable installation: Units must be installed on level, reinforced surfaces and anchored securely. This prevents movement, tipping, or vibration that could damage the system or create hazards.
Performing electrical safety checks: Electricians verify grounding, circuit protection, and proper voltage to avoid short circuits or fires.
Running pressure checks after installation: This step ensures there are no leaks, and the unit can handle operational pressures safely.
How Often Should Commercial Refrigeration Be Maintained?
Regular maintenance keeps systems running smoothly, extends equipment lifespan, and reduces costly fees for untimely service or emergency repairs.
Recommend that your clients maintain commercial refrigeration systems at least twice a year with professional service. A trained technician will inspect the system, clean components, check refrigerant levels, and make sure everything runs safely.
In between professional visits, customers should perform weekly in-house checks. This includes inspecting door seals to make sure they close tightly, cleaning dust off the coils, and monitoring internal temperatures to catch issues early.
Businesses in high-demand environments like food service, markets, or cold storage facilities, often need more frequent checks. Daily or bi-weekly spot checks help ensure consistent performance and prevent costly breakdowns.
>>> Download our free Commercial HVAC Maintenance Checklist to ensure technicians never miss a step when maintaining commercial HVAC equipment.
What is the Average Lifespan of a Commercial Refrigeration System?
Commercial refrigeration systems typically last 10 to 15 years, provided they receive regular maintenance and proper care. Some well-kept units can last 20 years or longer.
Several factors can shorten the lifespan of commercial refrigeration equipment, including:
Overloading: Storing too many items inside a refrigerator forces the system to work harder, leading to increased wear and tear.
Dirty coils: Dust and debris on condenser coils blocks heat exchange, causing strain on the compressor.
Missed service: Skipping regular maintenance allows minor issues to escalate, resulting in costly commercial refrigeration repair
How Software Supports Commercial Refrigeration Maintenance
Commercial HVAC software helps HVAC businesses grow their operations by automating processes and providing data-driven insights. It streamlines day-to-day tasks while improving service quality and system performance for commercial clients.
With ServiceTitan Commercial HVAC software, businesses can actively:
Manage preventive maintenance and recurring services, making sure they never miss a scheduled visit and consistently deliver a better customer experience.
Keep office staff and field technicians informed when important updates happen with real-time text and email updates.
Record service and equipment history in the field, giving the team clear insight into system condition, past maintenance, and repairs.
Log energy usage directly from a mobile device, ensuring regular tracking that supports optimal performance and energy efficiency.
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Getting Started with Commercial Refrigeration Software
ServiceTitan’s field management software helps commercial refrigeration businesses automate processes, improve team efficiency, and grow revenue. The end-to-end software and mobile app combines powerful tools for scheduling, dispatching, job management, inventory tracking, CRM, reporting, and more.
Book a demo with ServiceTitan and see how we help commercial refrigeration businesses work smarter and scale their operations.
