Whether you use refrigerators on your retail floor or walk-in-freezers behind the scenes, maintaining your refrigeration equipment on a regular basis is critical to helping it operate efficiently while extending the life of your equipment.
In this month’s blog, we share five easy ways to keep your refrigeration systems running smoothly and hassle-free.
Check Your Refrigerator Door Seals
The door seals are a critical component of your refrigeration system, working to keep cold air in and warm air out. Poor door seals can cause your system to work harder to maintain optimal temperatures, placing an extra burden on your equipment and impacting your energy efficiency.
We recommend testing door seals monthly using the “five-dollar bill” method. Simply place the fiver in the doorframe with part of it sticking out and close the door. If you can easily pull the bill out with the door closed, you may need to repair or replace the seals.
Additionally, you should clean the door seals every six months using a strong commercial cleaner. You can also mix sodium bicarbonate with water for a very effective cleaning solution. Be sure to remove any bits of food or other particles with a damp cloth or a small brush.
Keep The Unit Well-Stocked
Commercial refrigerators and freezers operate more efficiently when they’re full. That’s because the unit has to work harder to cool an empty space, especially in cases when the door is frequently opened, such as in a restaurant or busy retail store.
Your units need thermal mass to maintain a consistent temperature while minimizing the wear and tear of your system’s components. The easiest way to do this is to keep them well stocked with refrigerated or frozen stock, depending on the unit’s application.
Verify The Thermostat On A Regular Basis
One of the most common reasons commercial property owners seek out refrigerator services is a broken thermostat. Thermostats can sometimes fail to read the correct temperature if left unchecked over time, so be sure to verify it on a regular basis to help protect the performance of your system and the life of your equipment.
Verifying your thermostat is actually quite easy. Simply buy a thermometer, place it in the refrigerator or freezer, and compare its reading to the thermostat’s. If there is a discrepancy between what the thermostat is showing and what the thermometer is showing, the thermostat may need repair or replacement. Contact your refrigeration service provider for assistance and recommendations on what to do.
Thoroughly Clean The Unit Inside And Out
Grime and odours can quickly build up in a commercial refrigerator, so we highly recommend cleaning it at least weekly (or even daily) to keep it operating smoothly. Additionally, clean refrigerators will provide customers with a more comfortable purchasing experience.
If you’re able to clean the units yourself, here are some tips on how to go about it safely:
- Empty the unit of all its contents, including shelves, and unplug it when done
- Wipe down the shelves, walls, door seals, and other interior surfaces with warm soapy water
- Use a damp cloth and mild detergent to clean the exterior of the unit, paying extra attention to high-touch areas such as the door handles
- Every three to six months, remove any grills or panels covering the condenser coils and vacuum the coils, following up with a stiff-bristle brush to remove any stubborn dirt or debris from the coils
- Empty the drain pans and tubes and clean them with soapy water
Read More: Refrigeration Services
Partner With Springbank Mechanical Systems On a Preventative Refrigeration Maintenance Program
One of the easiest ways to keep your commercial refrigeration system running reliably with minimal downtime and maximum energy efficiency is to sign up for a preventative refrigeration maintenance program with Springbank.
Our team of technicians will thoroughly inspect, maintain, and clean your system regularly and recommend new technology that will help reduce your operating costs. We can also monitor your system remotely to ensure everything is consistently working properly and diagnose issues before they become severe.
As a leading commercial HVAC/R services provider in Toronto and Southern Ontario, we specialize in maintaining, repairing, or replacing all brands and types of commercial refrigeration equipment to help boost your company’s profits by reducing maintenance calls and optimizing your energy usage. All it takes is one phone call to Springbank to get started.
Read More: The Benefits To Signing Up For A Preventative Maintenance Program
Get in touch with our team today for a free, no-obligation discussion!
Gregg Little, Paul DeThomasis, and Hugo Lopes are co-owners of Springbank Mechanical Systems. You can reach them at 905-569-8990 or via email at gregg@springbank.com, paul@springbank.com, or hugo@springbank.com.
