Refrigerated Van Sales FAQ
Please browse our Frequently Asked Questions by clicking the Questions below.
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REFRIGERATED VANS
- Why do I need insulation?
- Good quality insulation is very important to reduce the heat leaking into the vehicle from the walls, floor and roof. With warm air also entering as deliveries are made, the air temperature within the vehicle needs to be cooled and controlled by the refrigeration unit.
Without quality insulation, the refrigeration unit can not control the temperature correctly within the vehicle and it will gradually warm up. This means your products will not reach their destination at the temperature you require. - Why do I need a fridge unit as well as insulation?
- If you load your products into an insulated-only vehicle, they will gradually warm up due to warm air entering the vehicle (for example as doors are opened for deliveries), and to heat leaking through the insulation. This is why a refrigeration unit is essential to extract this heat from the warm air and keep your product at the correct and loaded temperature.
- Why does a fridge unit need servicing?
- Unlike static refrigeration units, transport refrigeration units are subjected to extremes of vibration and abuse. With vehicle engine-driven systems, the compressor is belt driven from the front of the engine. This drive system and the flexible hoses need regular inspection to ensure risk free operation. Early diagnosis can save costly bills and most manufacturers offer fixed price maintenance schemes to give predictable cost of ownership.
- What is my priority, space or payload?
- It is often thought that a larger vehicle, such as a high roof would be a greater advantage for space, but always consider the amount of product you are able to carry in your vehicle before you become overloaded.
- Why am I asked how many deliveries I make when I ask about a refrigerated or freezer van?
- When the doors are opened to unload, a lot of the cold air inside the van escapes and "falls out". You will feel it around your feet. This can be controlled by using curtains, which are particularly effective for freezer temperatures (i.e. -20°C). The cold air that falls out is replaced by warm moist air, which enters at the top of the door opening. Because the vehicle engine is stopped, the refrigeration unit is not working so the heat has to be removed during the next journey. With a known number of deliveries per hour, an estimate can be made as to the surplus performance needed to maintain temperature in mid-summer.