subject: Used Refrigeration Equipment - To Buy Or Not To Buy? [print this page] Used Refrigeration Equipment - To Buy Or Not To Buy?
Buying and installing the right refrigeration equipment is of paramount importance to any restaurant or culinary organization. There are many different kinds of refrigeration equipment available these days and one needs to select the right one, based on an understanding of the specific needs and requirements. And of course, one also needs to keep an eye on the budget too.
It is a common practice to seek old and used refrigeration equipment in order to save costs. While buying used kitchen equipment sometimes makes sense, especially if you are buying cooking equipment, refrigeration equipment are a different ballgame. They are more complex in nature, with compressors, condensers, evaporators and many wires. It is very difficult to assess the amount of life left in them when you're buying them.
A piece of refrigeration equipment may look perfect from the outside and may even give the appearance of having been sparingly used. However, it may a completely different story inside. Who knows, your newly purchased second-hand cooler may fall in need of major repairs just weeks after you bring it into your kitchen. There's little economy in that. So, why bother?
Old refrigeration equipment also pose another problem. It's the unavailability of spare parts when a repair or replacement becomes necessary. Some parts belonging to old models may get discontinued and if you happen to fall in need of such a replacement, you can have a very hard time finding it. With new refrigeration equipment, this is never a problem. Most parts are readily available. What's more, your new equipment will also be covered under a replacement warranty. So, you don't need to pay anything to the technician if your cooler suddenly starts to malfunction while within the warranty period. Remember, new commercial refrigerators and freezers come with warranties on all their components and extended warranties for all compressors. With old refrigeration equipment, the onus of carrying out all repairs lies solely upon you.
The compressor, which is at the heart of all refrigeration equipment, is a very tricky customer when it comes to assessing its health. Let me explain. There's virtually no easy way of determining how long a compressor will last after it has run for some years. You should thank your lucky stars if you find that the compressor on a piece of old refrigeration equipment that you've purchased lasts for another 10 years before finally giving up on you.
In most cases, it's the opposite that happens. Second hand refrigeration equipment are usually found to have very short life and fall in need of repairs soon enough. So why ask for all those hassles? Insist on buying new machinery and enjoy uninterrupted service for a long time.
