Air Curtain Refrigerator Buying Guide

Air curtain refrigerators function in a way that is distinctly different from traditional refrigerators: they do not have doors on the front to keep the cool air in. Instead, they maintain an "air-curtain" an invisible air seal generated by high-efficiency, direct-driven centrifugal fans that compress air inside the unit and release it through a directional nozzle outlet with a pressure designed to be powerful enough to keep the food inside the refrigerators at a safe temperature, while maintaining the temperature of the surrounding area.

Product visibility is the most beneficial aspect of an air curtain refrigerator. Not only do they allow customers to freely view what chilled foods are available without opening a lot of doors, inconveniencing them and costing you more money on your cooling bill, but they permit free access to the food items, which means your customers will be able to serve themselves, freeing up your staff to perform other tasks.

This innovative type of refrigerator has many advantages that are not readily apparent. It is particularly good at keeping insects away from your food, and is even recommended by the FDA as a means of preventing insect-borne diseases from being spread through refrigerated food. Because they maintain a constant barrier, air curtain refrigerators excel at controlling aromas and scents from flowing all around a kitchen or dining room. They’re also more able to help keep a kitchen at a comfortable, moderate temperature, because they aren’t constantly being open and closed like traditional refrigerators, and spilling their cold air out of the cabinet and into the kitchen.

There are some things to remember before investing in an air curtain refrigerator. The compressor that powers the flow of air is a bit noisy, and because of that, an air curtain refrigerator may not be the best choice for locations where quiet is required or preferred. Air curtain refrigerators are designed to work ideally in places where the temperature doesn’t exceed 75° and the humidity doesn’t exceed 55%. They should not be installed in direct sunlight or near HVAC vents, fans or doorways that will disrupt the air curtain and compromise the function of the cabinet. Air curtain refrigerators will run most efficiently when completely loaded with product.

Air curtain refrigerators are available in either a 36 square foot variety or a 48 square foot variety. The latter can be further broken down into a refrigerator with paneled sides and one with clear sides.