Backbar refrigerators

What is a backbar?

A backbar is a bottle fridge that you place under a worktop, integrated into the bar counter in restaurants, bars and cafes. The special thing about a backbar is that it blows the heat out at the bottom of the front, so you don't have to make room for the fridge to get rid of the heat at the back, which is necessary with a normal display fridge.

Professional backbar refrigerators are also known as beer refrigerators, bar refrigerators and backbar coolers. In some cases, a backbar is a good alternative to regular free-standing bottle refrigerators.

The selection

Choose between back bars with sliding doors and hinged doors. A back bar is typically used for specialty beers, soft drinks, ciders and other drinks that are not on tap. We carry two models. Both models have double glazing, which is important for safety. One is a premium version (PV) with nice LED light, aluminum interior, low noise, strong and denser wire shelves for bottles with "elephant feet" and where the sliding doors stay when pushed to the side. It ensures a relatively fast cooling of less than 1 hour. Due to the internal height, it is ideal for long-neck bottles and the top plate can be used as a work table. The other is a cheap version (CV) that is good for the price in terms of energy consumption. It is covered with plastic inside, but the sliding doors do not hold themselves when pushed to the side. However, energy consumption plays a role in how quickly you can cool bottles down and for large events and festivals we recommend a heavy duty model (HV) with rapid cooling, heated front to avoid condensation and self-closing doors. Call 42613995 and get a price for these.

Sliding doors require more maintenance over time due to the spring. Hinged doors are therefore preferable, unless the space in front of the back bar is tight. All the models use environmentally friendly refrigerants and are among those in their class that make the least noise. For kegs, we have keg coolers that can cool both open and unopened kegs.

Check the power consumption of cheap alternatives

A backbar is often switched on all year round and therefore you have to pay attention to the power consumption. It can vary greatly from model to model. We have examined some of the cheapest models on the market and can see that they often use 20 to 40 percent more power. It is a requirement to inform about energy classification and energy consumption, and if you do not do this, you must stay away. If we compare the power consumption of the cheap models with the models we drive, you can achieve a saving of between DKK 335 and DKK 1,000 excl. VAT per year (2018 prices). What you save by buying some of the cheapest on the market, you can quickly pay in electricity, and often more.

Check the noise level

Some backbars are noisier than others, and since a backbar is close to the customer and your employees, you should also investigate the noise level before you buy. Even a small difference in decibels of 3 units makes a noticeable difference.

A high noise level is often also a sign that inferior quality components have been used.

Does the sliding door keep itself?

On some models, the sliding door holds itself when you push it all the way to the side. This is an advantage when you fill it up with goods. Other models always close by themselves, and this makes it more difficult to load goods.

Hinges

A backbar is opened many times in a day, and after a few years it can result in problems with the hinges. Therefore, it is also important to choose a model with solid hinges. It would be a shame to scrap an otherwise well-functioning refrigerator because it is not worth replacing the hinges. If you need it, you can visit our subcontractor and feel the difference between the models. You just have to call ahead and make an appointment on 42 61 39 95.

Is there a warranty on the product?

When you feel tempted to buy from a foreign webshop, remember that they only give you the mandatory spare parts warranty. Should something happen to the product, it is up to you to be responsible for troubleshooting and requisitioning the spare part. There can be a long wait for the spare part, and if it doesn't work, you're out of luck. Therefore, we always recommend that you buy from a Danish supplier and make sure that a proper warranty comes with the product. A refrigeration technician is expensive in hourly wages and driving, and a simple service visit often runs up to DKK 1,500 excl. VAT

Spot a cheap model

Many use buzzwords like quality in the context of low prices. Price and quality go hand in hand. If you see a cheap model, you can often spot the low quality by the seller highlighting a single component of the product made by a well-known supplier. Otherwise, you can often spot it by high energy consumption - other times by the fact that they use old types of refrigerant that are polluting. In addition, the ability to cool down quickly is very important, but this also goes beyond energy consumption.

Are you in doubt?

Then you can call us on 42613995.