How to Light Your Walk-In Cooler or Freezer

Did you know that lighting can contribute to up to 50 percent of a business' electrical use? If you own a walk-in cooler or freezer, it's important to choose the right kind of lighting.

An efficient light will not only cost you less to operate, but also will produce less heat, allowing your commercial refrigeration unit to stay colder.

This chart from ENERGY STAR compares the CRI (Color Rendering Index), efficacy, lifetime hours and color temperature of popular lighting technologies:

The higher the CRI, the better. Efficacy measures light output. Color temperature allows you to compare how cool (blue) or warm (orange) a light is.

For more information about how to light your walk-in cooler or freezer, contact East Coast Refrigeration. Call us at (631) 249-4556 or send an email to info@eastcoastrefrig.com.

You can also get in touch with us on social media! Connect with East Coast Refrigeration on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

About East Coast Refrigeration

Founded in 2005, East Coast Refrigeration provides commercial and industrial refrigeration services throughout the Northeastern United States. What sets us apart is our commitment to you, the customer.

Our service team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We are committed to a teamwork approach that allows us to effectively manage our customers' operational and budgetary needs.

If you're looking for the highest level of service available in the commercial and industrial refrigeration industry, choose East Coast Refrigeration. Our staff is honest, experienced and reliable. We are committed to establishing long-term, value-based customer relationships.

What industries do we work with? 

• Food processing
• Ice arenas
• Fisheries
• Retail
• Education
• Manufacturing
• Municipal
• Cold storage
• Packaged ice
• Wholesale & distribution industries

We also work with the brands you know and trust, including:

• Vogt
• Hillphoenix
• Baltimore Aircoil
• Trane
• Evapco
• Mycom
• American Insulated Panel
• Vilter
• Bohn
• Heatcraft
• Lennox
• Kingspn
• Frick
• Copeland
• Manitowoc
• Hoshizaki

Want to learn more about how we can help you? Contact us via phone, fax or email, and don't forget to connect with East Coast Refrigeration on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube!

The Benefits of Flake Ice

Not all ice machines are created equal. In fact, there are many types of ice available, and the differences serve a purpose.

East Coat Refrigeration brand partner Manitowoc defines flake ice as "small, soft pieces of ice [that] form around [an] object without bruising." Below, we take a look at the benefits of this type of ice:

1. It prevents tipping and spilling

Flake ice may be light and fluffy, but its texture actually helps to hold products in place. This is especially pertinent for businesses in the food service industry. For instance, fish markets that put their seafood on display.

2. It's attractive

Flake ice is also just plain good looking! Whether you use it to make slushies or store salads, attractiveness counts. This is something to keep in mind when shopping for the right ice machine.

3. It's  multifunctional

Although it's popular within the food service industry, flake ice can also be applied elsewhere. For example, it's great in a medical setting, when ice is needed to treat pain.

To find out if a flake ice machine is right for you, contact East Coast Refrigeration at (631) 249-4556. We provide sales and service for a range of ice making products and ice storage systems.

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Top Tips for Buying a Commercial Refrigeration Unit

If you're new to the restaurant industry, you may have no idea where to begin when it comes to buying a commercial refrigeration unit. With so many options to choose from, it's easy to feel lost. The experts of East Coast Refrigeration are ready and willing to help you find the right unit for your business.

To help you become better acquainted with the process, we've put together the following guide:

1. "You get what you pay for"

While we understand that price is a concern -- especially if you're just launching a new business -- don't be fooled by corrupt peddlers selling low-quality units. We offer brands you know and trust, like Kingspan, Hillphoenix and Trane.

2. Get the size right

Commercial refrigeration units are not one-size-fits-all. Need help determining what shape and size is right for your restaurant? East Coast Refrigeration's design team will work together with you to specify the proper equipment needed for your business. You can also refer to this guide from Food Service Warehouse.

3. Consider energy efficiency

Refrigeration is a major energy cost for restaurants, according to National Grid. It's certainly worth your while to look for the most energy-efficient commercial refrigeration unit you can find -- even if it means paying a bit more up front. You'll save big in the long run.

East Coast Refrigeration offers a full line of commercial refrigeration products, including everything from ice machines to walk-in coolers. Call us today at (631) 249-4556 for recommendations tailored to your restaurant! Plus, don't forget to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

3 Reasons Why a Compressor Might Fail

If your commercial refrigeration unit is making a humming sound and can't seem to keep food cold, you may have a blown compressor. How could this have happened? There are many reasons why a compressor might fail.

Electrical issues. A compressor can fail due to electrical problems. For example, improper wiring or low voltage can both make your unit's compressor break down.

Liquid floodback. When liquid returns to the compressor while it's running, it can dilute the oil. This makes lubricating the compressor properly more complicated, leading to wear and tear as well as overheating.

Other contaminants. Your commercial refrigeration unit should only contain oil and refrigerant. Anything else is a contaminant! That includes air, moisture, dirt and debris. Keeping your unit clean will prevent contaminants from causing compressor failure.

No matter what the cause, compressor failure is a big headache. You can count on East Coast Refrigeration for 24 hour repair! Contact us at (631) 249-4556 today.

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How to Lower Commercial Refrigeration Energy Costs

"A typical 40,000-square-foot (ft2) grocery store in the U.S. can spend nearly $230,000 annually on energy," reports EnergyRight.com. It's a massive expense, and it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Are you looking for ways to lower commercial refrigeration energy costs? Keep reading below:

DO perform regular maintenance on your unit:

• Clean your condenser coils. Doing this about once every six months should improve efficiency. Plus, it will keep the inside of your commercial refrigeration units cold!
  
• Keep an eye out for cracks. A worn out gasket will not do a very good job at keeping warm air out. Check your gasket (aka rubber door seal) often for damages that could cause your energy bill to skyrocket.
  
• Fill it up (but don't overfill it). You may not know this, but keeping your commercial refrigeration unit well-stocked can help it retain its temperature. However, it's important that you don't over-stuff the unit; doing so could lead to warm spots in your fridge.

DO NOT do the following things if you want to lower commercial refrigeration energy costs:

• Do not store your unit near heat-producing appliances. Commercial stoves produce a lot of heat. Keeping your commercial refrigerator near a heat-generating appliance will make it work harder to stay cool.
  
• Do not leave the door open. This one's common sense, but it bears repeating. Every time you open the door to your commercial refrigeration unit, cold air escapes. Only open the door when you need to -- and be sure to make it quick! -- in order to minimize energy costs.

If you're still seeing higher-than-normal energy costs, contact the experts of East Coast Refrigeration. We can repair your commercial refrigeration unit and bring down your utility bills. Dial 631-249-4556 to get in touch.

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