Many business owners only look at parameters when choosing a cold storage unit, completely ignoring their store’s environment. As a result, they use ordinary units in humid areas, which rust and short-circuit in less than half a year; in dusty areas, they use unprotected units, whose filters get clogged, leading to poor cooling performance and a lot of repair costs. In fact, you should check the environment first before choosing a unit to ensure it lasts long.

If you’re in a humid environment—such as a store during the rainy season in southern China or a seafood market stall—you must choose a unit with "anti-corrosion protection". The outer shell of such units is galvanized, and the condenser is coated with an anti-oxidation layer. Even if it’s surrounded by moisture and saltwater (from seafood) every day, it won’t rust easily. A seafood stall owner once used an ordinary unit first; the condenser rusted so badly it was unusable in three months, and replacing the unit cost over 2,000 yuan. Later, he switched to an anti-corrosion model, which worked without issues for two years—turning out to be cheaper in the long run.

But if you’re in a dusty environment—such as a store near a vegetable market or hardware factory—focus on units with "easy-to-clean filters + dust-proof design". The filters of ordinary units get clogged with dust easily, which affects heat dissipation, slows down cooling, and increases power consumption. However, units with easy-to-clean filters allow you to remove the filter and rinse it with water; a monthly cleaning is enough, no need to hire someone to come over. A convenience store owner near a vegetable market didn’t pay attention to this before; in half a year, the clogged filter caused the compressor to overload, costing 800 yuan in repairs. After switching to a dust-proof unit, he never had this problem again.

Simply put, for humid environments, focus on "anti-corrosion"; for dusty environments, prioritize "easy-to-clean and dust-proof". Choosing a unit based on the environment is much more reliable than blindly looking at power. It can help you avoid frequent repairs and save money.