7 Tips to Maintain Your Commercial Coolers and Freezers in Top Shape

To keep your commercial cooler or walk-in freezer running efficiently, it needs to be maintained 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Emergency repairs are costly, and if your business sells perishable goods, you could lose a lot of money.

With continual, suitable care, you can avoid frequent malfunctions. A proactive cleaning strategy for walk-in coolers and commercial fridge repair ensures that your equipment lasts as long as possible.

Regular Preventative Maintenance Benefits

Reduce the amount of energy used. With a little forethought, it’s simple to be GREEN.
Equipment, particularly key components such as the compressor, capillary tube, and condenser fan motor, should have their lives extended.
Avoid the expense of EMERGENCY service due to a lack of maintenance.
Mold development and tainted “spotted” ice should be avoided. (Ice machines should be taken disassembled and cleaned at least twice a year to avoid this.)
Line coolers that are properly maintained will not cause system oil and capillary tube breakdown, as well as compressor failure.
A good door seal saves energy and increases the life of your equipment.

Refrigeration maintenance is often overlooked by restaurant owners and others with commercial refrigeration equipment until it is too late. If you run a restaurant, warehouse, or storage facility, however, ignoring such a vital aspect of your business might result in a slew of issues. Sanitation issues, higher energy bills, and a massive loss of cash are all possibilities. You should apply this walk-in freezer maintenance checklist instead of spending a fortune on replacement refrigerator equipment or emergency service calls:

1) Keep Cooler and Freezer Equipment Clean At All Times

Spills and filth can often be cleaned up with just soap and water. Meanwhile, harsher industrial chemicals may damage your metal surfaces. Make sure to wipe up any spills right away to avoid dangerous freezer-burn, which can ruin your commercial fridge repair.

Large amounts of food in a restaurant’s commercial freezer almost invariably result in spillage and messes. There’s a mound of vegetables here, and there’s run-off oil over there… The combination of all of these chemicals will only aggravate your storage over time. However, ignoring processed food waste has serious consequences. Prolonged freezer burn from waste like food is the most prevalent indicator of a worn or corroded commercial refrigerator.

2) Regularly Inspect Coils

Coil cleaning is essential for your system’s efficiency and should be included on every refrigeration preventative maintenance checklist. Condenser and evaporator coils should be inspected and cleaned once a month. The transfer of heat from your system will be hampered if your coils are caked in dirt and filth. This is yet another source of inefficiency and overwork for your system, hastening repairs.

3) Inspect Seals and Hinges Frequently

Door seals and gaskets should not be overlooked while cleaning commercial refrigeration equipment. Dirt, sticky substances, and other waste tend to accumulate in these places. When a seal becomes blocked, your commercial cooler’s capacity to self-regulate is harmed, resulting in high cooling costs.

Make sure your hinges are greased and that the seals on your door are working properly. Propping the door open for long periods of time will disrupt your baseline temperature. Always remember to close the door as much as possible.

If you don’t close it properly, your system won’t be able to chill and preserve your food adequately. Plus, you’ll end up paying more in the long run for energy and commercial fridge repair. We recommend that you exercise extreme caution when it comes to the industrial refrigerator door.

4) Condensing Unit Compliance

The cooled air condenser cable is the most important component of any commercial cooler. If the cable becomes clogged with dust and dirt over time, the fridge will have to work harder to keep everything chilled.

It is not inexpensive to replace this cable. By inspecting the cable on a regular basis, you can avoid having to replace it during commercial fridge maintenance. At least once a week, a member of your team should wipe off the cable.

Even though refrigeration requires moisture, this does not imply that you will allow any fluids or spills to accumulate in your system. Over time, too much moisture might cause your system to freeze, which can lead to a premature collapse. Regularly inspect the shelves and condenser coil for spills and excess water.

If in doubt, see the EPA’s guidelines on safe alternative refrigerants for further information.

5) Don’t Overload the Cooler

Fluctuations could indicate that one of your equipment’s components is deteriorating. Fortunately, most cooler control systems keep a minimal history to aid personnel in diagnosing a problem. Just keep in mind that storing too many goods in your cooler can result in temperature changes.

You’ll want to make the most of the space in your business cooler. Filling your walk-in cooler to capacity, on the other hand, exposes it to major risks and reduces its lifespan. Overcrowding your refrigerator puts a pressure on the motor and condenser coil, resulting in longer operation and higher expenses. When it comes to commercial fridge maintenance, there are a few circumstances you’ll want to avoid.

6) Make Sure Fan Blades are Cleaned

Cleaning fan blades is another DIY project you should leave to the professionals. The fan motors will have to work harder to revolve the blades if they are dirty. Make sure the screws are tightened before cleaning the blades. Another monthly task is blade cleaning.

7) Ensure Adequate Air Flow

Do not disregard outside airflow issues in addition to correct interior ventilation. Kitchens, unfortunately, are frequently cramped rooms. Even if you have limited space, it’s critical that you don’t block the air intake and exhaust vents. If you do, your refrigerator will have to work more to keep the food chilled. This not only wastes electricity, but it may also cause your system to fail prematurely. This is why this item on the preventative refrigeration maintenance checklist is so important.

If you’d like to learn more about Celestial Air’s commercial refrigeration capabilities, please follow these links to our related articles: