When you have a commercial refrigeration unit installed, you typically focus on things like the interior capacity, overall size to ensure it fits in your store, restaurant, or supermarket, as well as the efficiency of the unit and how much it costs to operate. However, one thing that you really need to consider is how to keep your unit safely operating.
There are a few safety guidelines that should be followed when you have any type of commercial refrigerator installed in your business. Not only does following these guidelines increase the longevity and optimize performance, but it also keeps your business safe from potential damage that could be caused by a faulty installation or poor maintenance.
Refrigerant within the system is required in order to be able to reach lower temperatures needed to preserve food and prevent it from spoiling. If your refrigerant is low, this indicates that there is a leak somewhere within your system. Instead of simply refilling the system, the leak must be detected and repaired. Failure to do so results in the refrigerant being released into the atmosphere, which is a violation of the Clean Air Act’s regulations and can result in heavy fines.
Another important guideline to note is that you should always make sure that fans are unobstructed. Since these fans work to push out hot air to keep the interior of a cooler cold, blocking them can not only run up your utility bill, but it can be dangerous for the components in your unit. Your unit should never be pulled out from the wall a bit, particularly where there are fans or vents to prevent overheating. Read more in our previous post on maintaining proper commercial refrigerator temperatures.
The thermometer and all parts should be kept in working order to maintain the proper temperatures. Temperatures that are too low can result in food that is frozen and spoiled, while higher temperatures can help bacteria breed and spoil everything contained within your unit.
If a leak is detected in your drain line or around any other part in your unit, you should have it immediately inspected and repaired, as this can result in standing water that can lead to slips and falls by your employees or customers.
Regular maintenance is a must to ensure complete safety of your product. Faulty wiring can result in failure at best, or at worst, a fire that can damage your property. All electrical components should be checked at least semi-annually or quarterly. Other important components including the condenser coils, evaporator coils, and drain lines. If any of these components fail, your refrigerator will not maintain its temperature, your energy bills may rise significantly, and you put your whole unit at risk for damage.
Several times a year, a licensed commercial refrigeration professional should fully inspect your unit and should make repairs as needed. While you can certainly take a look at certain components yourself, the more extensive maintenance and repairs should out be performed by a licensed and experienced professional.