Important in prolonging the lifespan of your commercial refrigeration unit, carrying out essential checks, routines and maintenance work will play a key role in ensuring your system remains effective, efficient and operational for the long term. Below, we highlight key methods to help maintain your commercial refrigerator.
Door Seals
Whenever you carry out inspections on your commercial refrigerator or freezer, an essential component of your maintenance checklist should include checking your door seals. Door seals are paramount in preventing warm air from making its way into your system and will prevent cold air from escaping. Using a powerful cleaning agent, you should scrub your refrigerator door seals at least every three to six months to keep your refrigerator seal clean and well-maintained, preventing a build-up of dirt and food debris.
You should also check your refrigerator door seals at least once a month. Using a piece of paper or a banknote, simply slot this in the doorframe with enough sticking out to hold onto, and shut your refrigerator door. Then, try to pull the paper out of the door, if it happens far too easily, you may require a new door seal.
Verify The Thermostat
A malfunctioning or broken thermostat will play havoc with your commercial refrigerator, as left unnoticed, it will gradually begin to deliver incorrect temperature readings, which can quickly lead to frosting or food spoilage. Carry out regular checks of your thermostat and the current temperature and log these readings as part of your maintenance checklist.
Condenser Coils
Although dependent on the type of cooling system your commercial refrigerator holds, wherever possible, you should ensure that your condenser coils are kept clean and well-maintained. To clean your condenser coils, you should carry out the following:
- Unplug the unit and position it in such a way that you can easily access your coils.
- If the coils are at the front, remove the grille to expose them.
- Using a vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment, gently run this over your coils.
- Use a cloth to wipe off dust and debris.
- Place everything back to where it was, plug it in and restart the unit.
We recommend you carry out condenser coils checks and maintenance every six months as part of your routine maintenance checklist to prevent a malfunction or breakdown in your condenser coils.
Clean It Out
Carrying out regular cleaning, both inside and out, of your commercial refrigerator is a considerably important part of maintenance, and therefore should be performed regularly to ensure safety standards are met for your particularly industry. It’s a smart idea to combine a full-scale clean with your defrosting routine, as you’ll be emptying the space of products to remove your commercial refrigerator of built-up ice. Once the ice has melted and the remaining water is drained, you can then clean the entire space effectively.
At Mitchell’s, we offer a wide range of business services including commercial refrigeration maintenance and installation. Working across Gloucester, the South West and further afield, we’re on hand to keep your walk-in fridge or commercial refrigerator running smoothly. Get in touch today.