Ask Us About a Van Refrigeration Installation in Edmonton

How Does a Refrigeration Reefer Work?

A reefer unit removes heat from the interior of the cargo hold and pushes it outside by means of convection. The insulated walls, floor, and roof prevent warming of contents from outside heat, while keeping everything nice and cool on the inside. Energlo installs the market’s highest capacity refrigeration reefer units. These units are capable of handling even the hottest areas of North America.

Why is Insulation Necessary?

As previously mentioned, quality insulation is vital to keeping food, medical, and other items cold. Without insulation, heat from outside the vehicle would penetrate into the cargo area, spoiling foods or ruining products. Insulation on the floor, roof, and walls also helps to keep warm air from entering the cargo area when you open and close doors. Your vehicle’s interior temperature is controlled and cooled by the reefer unit. But, without quality insulation in place, the refrigeration unit would not be able to maintain ideal temperatures within the cargo area. If insulation is lacking, it will also cause the reefer unit to work harder than it was designed to do, shortening its lifespan and creating energy inefficiencies. This is why proper insulation is a must!

What Insulation Thickness is Best for Me?

This all depends on your region’s ambient temperature fluctuations, as well as the amount of deliveries you perform each day. Since we use products with high specifications, installed by our own team, we can properly shield outdoor temperatures of 100°F (38°C) with three inches of insulation.

What is Electric Standby - Shore Power?

Plug-in electric standby, or shore power on a reefer unit, allows the reefer to continue operating, on the electric power grid, when the vehicle is stopped and switched off. A separate electric motor and compressor in the reefer unit allows the reefer to operate from 110v - 230v, one-phase, 60HZ. This option is best suited for applications that require the cargo to be cooled even when the vehicle is stationary. This option is best installed at the time of purchase. Knowing if you need stand-by or road only is a decision needed to be made at start of job.

Is Thermal Efficiency Less with Spray-Foam Insulation?

Yes. For many years traditional spray foam insulation has been the industry standard. The thermal efficiency of spray foam is generally lower due to the inconsistency of the foam thickness and air pockets. Insulation thickness and air pockets can vary, this effects the cooling performance of the reefer making it work harder and longer.

Does Spray Foam Warp the Panels on Vans?

Yes. The heat generated by spray foam causes panels to warp out of shape due to the heat and pressure of the foam. Essentially, the foam twists the steel out of shape, leaving an uneven, visually warped look on the sides of the van. Today, most vans on the market have large panels that easily warp. Energlo reduces the amount of spray foam; therefore, there is no warping with Energlo’s modular insulation system. Energlo just uses spray foam to lock the walls, ceiling, and floors together.

Is the Spray Foam Method Heavier? Why is this Important?

Energlo insulation systems do not use wood framing; therefore, the lightweight modular lining is 35% lighter than the spray foam method. With spray foam insulation, a lot of heavy wood is used to frame the van. This extra weight reduces the payload of product you are able to carry and increases fuel costs.

No screws are used in installing Energlo modular lining systems. This reduces the risk of accidental damage to van wiring or van panels when the system is being installed.

Call Energlo for a quote on your refrigeration van conversions.