Maintaining and Servicing Commercial Refrigeration

Unlike almost any other piece of commercial food equipment, it is essential that all refrigeration works to a maximum efficiency 24 hours a day. Refrigeration that doesn’t operate to high standards can lead to a long list of performance issues that could potentially affect the finances and reputation of your business.

Periodical Checks

The following areas of the appliance or component assemblies require weekly checks:

• Condition of the condenser unit and sufficient airflow
• Condition and efficiency of the door sealing elements
• Condition of shelves in contact with food products
• Condition of hinges and correct fixing of the doors
• Condition of electrical cables and electrical parts
• Position of the refrigerated appliance

Preventive Maintenance

Any refrigeration system with a blocked condenser, leaking refrigerant, faulty door seal or incorrect defrost settings (to name just a few issues), works the components harder than they were originally designed to. Ultimately, this can cause operating failures and increase the amount of energy being used.

We recommend that you take out a service or maintenance contract with a local reputable refrigeration engineering company. Most businesses in the food and drink industries will have a long-standing relationship with a reputable refrigeration company who provide a full cleaning, monitoring and maintenance service which includes:

• Cleaning of the condenser
• Periodical checks of the refrigerant charge
• Checking complete cycle operation
• Electrical safety

Positioning

It is important that the appliance is positioned correctly, as incorrect positioning can cause damage to the refrigeration system and affect the performance of the cabinet. Before switching on the refrigeration system, you should check the:

• position of the refrigerated cabinet keeping a minimum distance of 3-4 cm from any wall
• position of the refrigerated cabinet away from heat sources
• exposure to direct sunlight is avoided
• drafts from doors and air conditioning units is avoided
• airflow above the compressor unit is adequate
• polyethylene, cardboard or wood packaging is removed

It is also important to ensure the ambient air temperature of the room, where the cabinet is positioned, is in line with the manufacturers guidelines.

Failure to follow these guidelines will invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty.