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In the off-season: what to do with your chest freezers and drinks display fridges during the cold months

Author: Echipa Modaco

As the weather cools down, ice cream sales drop sharply, and drinks display fridges are used less frequently or not at all. For a grocery store, a petrol station, a fast-food outlet or a café terrace, the off-season months raise a practical question: what do you do with refrigeration equipment that's sitting empty? Do you simply switch it off? Move it? Sell it? There are several correct approaches that protect your investment and prepare you for the next season.

Why the decision you make in the off-season matters

Refrigeration equipment that is switched off incorrectly or stored without prior preparation can accumulate moisture, mould or mechanical problems that are far more costly to fix than a simple service. On the other hand, equipment left running with no load wastes electricity unnecessarily. The right choice depends on the type of equipment, the available space and how long it will remain unused.

Chest freezers: switching off correctly and storing safely

Horizontal chest freezers for ice cream are among the most susceptible to damage from careless storage. If you won't be using them for several months, follow these steps:

  • Empty and defrost completely. Do not simply cut the power with products still inside. Allow the chest freezer to defrost fully, clean it with a neutral solution and dry it thoroughly before closing it.
  • Leave the door or lid slightly ajar. A hermetically sealed chest freezer in storage will accumulate moisture and mould. Prop it open with a small stopper or a piece of cardboard so that air can circulate.
  • Store it in dry spaces, away from freezing temperatures. Extreme outdoor temperatures can damage compressors and gaskets.
  • Do not place heavy items on the lid. Plastic or glass lid surfaces can deform under pressure.

If you need a reliable chest freezer for next season or want to replace a worn-out unit, you can browse the ice cream display fridges and chest freezers category in the MODACO range — including refurbished options that have been tested and are fully operational.

Drinks display fridges: reducing consumption or repositioning strategically

Vertical display fridges for drinks are more versatile than chest freezers. During the cold months, they can be:

  • Repurposed for other products. A drinks display fridge with an adjustable temperature can store dairy products, portioned cold cuts or other products with good turnover in the cold season — check the technical specifications of your model for the supported temperature range.
  • Moved to more active areas. If you have multiple points of sale or a large floor area, concentrate them in the highest-traffic zone and switch off the ones in peripheral areas.
  • Switched off and stored correctly, following the same steps as for chest freezers: defrosting, cleaning, drying, leaving the door ajar, and placing in a dry space.

If the off-season reveals that you have more display fridges than you need, it may be the right time to review your equipment fleet and optimise it before the next season.

The off-season — the ideal time to purchase and renew equipment

Paradoxically, winter is one of the best times to buy refrigeration equipment for the warm season. Orders are fewer, you have time to compare models and plan installation without the pressure of summer sales.

If you want to renew your equipment on a controlled budget, MODACO also offers refurbished second-hand equipment — previously used units that have been reconditioned before resale and tested to function correctly. For example, the refurbished 100 cm horizontal chest freezer is a practical option for restaurants, fast-food outlets or butcher shops looking to supplement or replace worn-out equipment.

For new drinks display fridges, the range of vertical display fridges for drinks includes imported models available from stock (delivery within 24–48 hours) or to order (15–25 working days).

Options for companies purchasing multiple units

If your company is acquiring equipment for its own operations and orders are high in volume, you can request a wholesale quote — MODACO can offer this to companies purchasing for their own use, not for resale. Details are available on the dedicated page.

If you are a distributor, a physical or online retailer, or an installation company that resells equipment, the B2B Partner Programme gives you a personalised partner discount, access to a product feed for your online store, and direct delivery to your customer without MODACO's prices appearing on the delivery note.

Old equipment: what to do with it

If you are disposing of an old unit, please note that MODACO can arrange its collection on request, for a fee communicated in advance. The fee is determined based on the equipment and location — contact the MODACO team for details before planning a replacement.

Conclusion

The off-season doesn't mean refrigeration equipment should simply be forgotten in a corner. Proper storage extends their lifespan, and smart planning can reduce your costs and set you up better for the peak sales period of the next season. If you'd like to find out which equipment best suits your company's needs or would like a personalised quote, call 0727.324.787 — the MODACO team will answer and help you find the right solution.