The "Ins and Outs" of Walk-In Cooler Efficiency
If you have a walk-in cooler, it’s central to the success of your business. Your walk-in cooler helps you save money and keep your operations in order when it runs smoothly.
Throughout this blog, we will discuss the many important elements of your cooler and how you can keep it in check to ensure that your refrigeration unit runs efficiently for a long time.
Save Money, Gain Peace of Mind
Your walk-in cooler uses a lot of energy. You cannot afford your refrigerator to waste money, which it can if it’s not maintained correctly. You could lose thousands of dollars if your walk-in goes without service for long enough.
By implementing proper precautions, you can avoid the expensive headaches that eventually come from neglecting your walk-in refrigerator.
When your walk-in cooler is running smoothly, so does your business. Below are the most important things to look out for to ensure your refrigerator runs properly.
The Importance of Your Refrigerator's Gaskets
The gasket on your refrigerator door is one of the cooler's most essential aspects. Also known as the seal, your gasket ensures that the door closes entirely and lets no air out. Your gaskets must be in good shape at all times. Most gaskets are made from rubber and rubber composites and have a magnetic strip that keeps the door sealed and shut.
A semi-regular check of your gasket will help you ensure it is doing its job correctly. Because gaskets are made from a soft material, and the door is frequently opened and closed, the gasket will eventually deteriorate. It is vital to catch any degradation before it worsens, and you lose money by spending too much on your energy bills. Frequent inspection will help you save big money in the long run.
Gasket Replacement
If your gasket displays any sign of wear, you must replace it. We emphasize this point because many people leave their gaskets in a state of decay with the justification that it "probably" still works well enough.
You should view any damage on your gasket as money flying out of your fridge. Regularly and closely inspect the quality of your gasket and clean it to ensure it stays in good shape and does its job for a long time.
No Play in Your Hinges
The hinges on your door a very important too. There should be no play in your hinges beyond how they are designed to open and close. They should be adequately screwed down and only move when they are intended to. Loose hinges can cause incorrect sealing. As mentioned, this will result in money flying right out your refrigerator door.
Check the hinges on your walk-in cooler right now and see if you require a professional inspection.
Keep Your Refrigerator Clean and Organized
The objects inside your refrigerator are also very important for walk-in cooler efficiency. A disorganized or cluttered refrigerator can lead to food spoilage and improper cooling. The objects inside your fridge should have space between them and should not be overcrowded. Your fridge will not be able to function properly if there is too much stacking and over-packing.
Let this be your reminder to clean and organize your walk-in cooler today. Slight disorganization is permissible, but it shouldn't get out of hand. Having rotten food or food sitting outside of food-safe temperatures can make people sick, which can be detrimental to your business. Additionally, wasted food is wasted money, which should always be avoided.
Regular Equipment Maintenance
To ensure your walk-in cooler is always running efficiently, it is best to call your local expert: Leading Edge Mechanical Inc and set up a maintenance and refrigerator inspection plan.
Our rates are affordable and having our professionals inspect your refrigerator every few months can go very far in maintaining its long-term efficiency.
Add refrigerator maintenance to your monthly to-do list to ensure you never forget to take care of this piece of equipment that is so integral to the success of your business.
Take Additional Care Once Per Month
Once per month, take ten minutes to inspect the quality of your refrigerator's most essential parts and check the organization within the cooler to ensure it can run smoothly without working too hard. Ten minutes per month is all it takes to ensure your cooler benefits your business and saves you money.
Trust us, it's worth it.
Your Refrigerator's Access Panel
Every walk-in cooler and refrigerator has an "access panel." Though it may look intimidating, the access panel was designed for you to open it and look inside to see that everything is clean and looks right.
Various parts of your refrigerator (most accessible via the access panel) gather dust. To ensure maximized efficiency, dust should not be allowed to cumulate over time. This can radically slow down the functionality of your refrigerator.
Cleaning Your Condenser
The condenser is the piece of your refrigerator that gathers the most dust. Additionally, it is very easy to spot if you don't know what it is.
The condenser is the part of your fridge that looks like a grate. If you look into your access panel and see lots of dust on that grate, it is time to clean it.
Most condensers come out very easily. When pulling it out, try not to force it. Please call a professional if it doesn't slide out vertically, horizontally, or clip off easily.
Once out, take a soft-bristled brush and clean as much dust as you can off it before sliding it back in place. Always be careful inside your access panel, as the equipment inside is crucial to your unit's proper functionality.
Take Great Care of Your Walk-In Fridge
Your walk-in cooler's ongoing efficiency depends on you maintaining it. Regularly inspect the parts of your walk-in cooler mentioned in this blog, and you will increase the lifespan of your cooler by a lot—and you'll save a ton of money.
If any elements of your walk-in cooler that you don't understand are holding you back from doing maintenance, please get in touch with Leading Edge Mechanical Inc. We will gladly assist you with your walk-in cooler maintenance and repair needs.
We are commercial refrigeration experts and we know how important a smoothly running refrigerator is for your business.