You may not think about your walk-in coolers and freezers often, but they are critical to your business success. Emergency repairs can be costly, not to mention the potential loss of perishables.
Often malfunctions could have been minimized or prevented with proper maintenance. Proactive walk-in cooler and freezer maintenance schedules ensure prolonged operation of refrigeration equipment.
Always keep the cooler or freezer clean. Soap and water are the best methods; harsh chemicals may harm the metal surfaces. Sweep or mop surrounding floors and keep free of debris. Make sure to clean up any spills immediately to prevent dangerous freezing.
Routinely clean evaporator fan coils and blades. Schedule a quarterly cleaning and be sure to inspect them for damage as well; replace as needed.
Inspect door seals and hinges quarterly. Make sure hinges are lubricated quarterly and that seals are they are closing properly. Do not prop the door open for extended periods and make sure that the door is always closed (except when entering or exiting of course).
Check condensing unit for proper operation. Always keep the areas around your evaporators and condensing units clear to ensure proper airflow. Do not allow trash or other debris to accumulate around the walk-in.
Monitor temperatures daily. Fluctuations can be an indicator that something is not working properly. Cooler control systems like CoolTrol®, record and store a minimum 10 years operational history to help technicians diagnose a problem. If a fault is detected a strobe light will flash to warn of the potential problem.
Talk with your refrigeration technician about setting up a scheduled maintenance program. Scheduling routine upkeep will ensure that equipment is working as it should be. A refrigeration technician should know what signs of wear and tear to look for. Early detection could make a huge difference and prevent costly emergency situations.
Maintained walk-in coolers and freezers function better. Because of this, they operate more efficiently than a cooler that is not maintained, which in turn means less money spent on bills.
Refrigeration is just one of the important pieces to your successful business operations. Since refrigeration is often forgotten about, it is a good idea to make calendar appointments with yourself or your staff as a reminder of the importance in maintaining a working system.
