FAQ Conversions

Why am I asked how many deliveries I make and how long my working day is?

With a known number of deliveries per hour and knowing if you deliver during the night or in the day, allows us to calculate the performance required to maintain temperature in mid-summer.

Why am I asked what the product is?

Knowing what the product is and how it is packaged will enable us to select a suitable refrigeration system and bodywork specification. A defrost is particularly relevant for 'wet' products while other products, like mushrooms, produce heat of their own which might require a more powerful system.

Do I need insulation?

A refrigeration system is designed to work at its optimum with an insulated lining. Warm air will enter the load-space every time the doors are opened during loading and unloading, but heat will also transfer through the roof, walls and floor. That warm air has to be cooled and controlled by the refrigeration system. Good quality insulation reduces the ingress of external heat penetrating into the load-space, ensuring the refrigeration unit can control the temperature without over-working.
Without good insulation the refrigeration unit cannot adequately control the temperature within the load-space, which will gradually warm up and the quality of your product could be compromised.

Do I need refrigeration?

A well insulated van will only reduce the ingress of heat, once the doors are opened the full extent of the external temperature will enter the load-space which then needs to be cooled, that can only be achieved by fitting a refrigeration system.

Why does my fridge need servicing?

Unlike domestic refrigeration, transport refrigeration is subjected to a lot of movement and vibration. Flexible hoses and the compressor drive belts need regular inspection to pick up early wear and tear, ensuring a risk free operation and avoidance of costly repairs should they should fail.

Can I use my vehicle to cool my product down?

No. Transport refrigeration is designed to maintain the temperature of the product at the temperature it was loaded. It is important to load the product at the required carrying temperature in a pre-cooled load-space.

Can my fridge heat as well as chill?

Yes, if the temperatures are known at the quote specification stage, we can add a heat option to the refrigeration system that will allow the load-space to be heated as well as cooled.

When and why is defrost important?

Frost builds up when the outside air is warm and humid, and particularly when the door is opened often. If frost build up is not removed airflow is restricted and the performance of the fridge is reduced dramatically. Some refrigeration systems rely on manual defrost, which is generally acceptable for standard chill usage of +3C. However, if the product is 'wet', or temperatures might be required down to 0C or below, it is likely even more frost will build and a more efficient defrost system is therefore necessary.

Why am I asked the temperature I want my product kept at?

We need to know the exact carrying temperature in order to specify the correct system. Advising a temperature lower than you actually need might mean you are paying more for your refrigeration without any added performance.

Can I carry fresh, frozen and ambient products on the same van?

Yes, but only if the products are given their own separate insulated compartments. A choice of air transfer fan kits or dual evaporator systems are available to cool the fresh and frozen compartments independently.

Can my vehicle fridge run on mains electricity?

Yes, either single-phase 230/240v standby or three-phase 380/415v standby. It is important to check the correct voltage supply you have available. A standby unit is more expensive but if it is likely to be needed in the future it may be beneficial to consider taking it now. Some refrigeration units can be upgraded at a later date though this is even more costly.