Commercial refrigeration maintenance is essential in the hospitality industry, but what exactly does it entail?
Throughout this article, our experts explain exactly how you should care for your commercial refrigerator, and when to get it professionally serviced.
Why is commercial refrigeration maintenance important?
Commercial refrigerators should be maintained and cleaned regularly for various reasons.
- Firstly, maintaining your refrigerator will help to keep perishable foods in good condition – something every commercial kitchen needs to meet food hygiene standards for chilled storage.
- Frequent cleaning will help to keep your commercial refrigeration equipment in operational condition until it reaches or surpasses its expected life span.
- With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can reduce commercial refrigeration repair costs.
- A routinely cared-for commercial refrigeration system can also help to reduce energy consumption.
How to maintain your commercial refrigeration equipment
To keep your refrigerator in working condition, you need to implement and sustain a proper maintenance schedule to keep your refrigeration unit’s performance strong.
Routine maintenance
Here are the routine steps you should take when routine cleaning your commercial refrigeration unit.
Interior cleaning
Start by removing the goods from your fridge and temporarily storing them in a separate cooler unit. Then take out the interior shelves, and wash them with a degreasing solution specifically made for refrigerators. Don’t forget to scrub the inside of the fridge unit, too!
Interior cleaning should be done every week to prevent build-ups of bacteria and natural deposits, which can cause food spoilage.
Exterior cleaning
Cleaning the exterior of your commercial fridge is essential when it comes to preserving the quality of your appliance. Maintenance can help prevent germs from collecting on the door and avoid corrosion of the external frame.
Be sure to use proper cleaning solutions and a microfibre cloth or soft brush – using harsh abrasive scrubbers or cleaning detergents that aren’t suitable could damage the stainless steel surface.
Again, this should be a weekly task in any commercial kitchen.
Condenser coil
Your condenser coil needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent dust and dirt build-ups, which can cause the coil to retain heat, potentially leading to overheating and component damage as a result.
You can use an air compressor, coil comb, or a small brush to clean these components, which should be done every few months.
Evaporator coil
Evaporator coils are responsible for keeping refrigeration units cool by absorbing heat. But just like condenser coils, if dust collects and blocks the system, it can lead to underperformance or overperformance. An underperforming component won’t keep your refrigeration cool, and an overworked coil will only increase your energy bills unnecessarily.
To stop evaporator coil component failure, you can increase airflow to this component by readjusting and aligning the fan blades. Then, to remove grease that has already formed, you should use a dedicated evaporator coil cleaner formula.
Fan blades and motors
These parts can also collect dirt and grime, so be sure to gently wipe them down with a soft cloth. To shield your motor from too much moisture, cover it with a dry cloth.
Door gasket and seals
Door gaskets are the seals that line your refrigerator door to prevent air from infiltrating, and cool air from escaping. You’ll need to remove and check them for damage and wear, as cracks and splits will lead to warmer fridge temperatures – this can be detrimental to the quality of your produce, and could leave you with spoiled and unedible food.
If they’re torn in any way, replace them immediately. If they’re intact, soak them in soapy warm water to remove dirt – you should leave them for half an hour and repeat this process every week.
Drain the pan and tubes
Your refrigerator’s drainage system consists of the drain pan and tubes, which collect and drain excess water from the unit. However, excess water or blockages can sometimes occur within the tubes and cause foul smells and leaks.
You can avert these issues by cleaning these parts with warm soapy water and a vinegar solution once every month.
Replace the air filters in your commercial fridge
Your commercial fridge’s air filters keep your system ventilated and remove airborne nasties such as dust and bacteria from the air inside. This is essential for keeping your food from becoming spoiled.
If your air filter becomes blocked, it can prevent your fridge from ventilating properly, and as a result, give rise to contaminated food.
Dry your commercial refrigerator
It’s imperative that you keep your commercial refrigeration unit dry, as moisture buildup can result in produce freezing.
Simply check your fridges daily and wipe up any spillages that may have occurred throughout the day to avoid this.
Inspect your refrigeration equipment for wear and tear
The final step of your commercial refrigeration maintenance schedule should be to check your refrigeration equipment daily for any signs of damage and general wear.
By doing so, you can tackle localised problems and replace parts before they develop into much bigger issues.
Commercial refrigeration servicing
Even if you follow a regular maintenance schedule, you still need to have your system serviced by qualified commercial refrigeration engineers. A plannedregular maintenance contract with a vetted refrigeration company can help to prevent equipment failure and ensure optimal and efficient performance.
To find out more about planned maintenance contracts, click here.
How do you know when a refrigerator needs servicing?
If you don’t have a planned maintenance service contract, commercial refrigeration systems will likely require professional maintenance if any of the following starts to occur:
- Warm food and drinks
- Foul smells
- Volume of the fan has reduced
- Frost inside
- Excess condensation levels
- Temperature won’t adjust
We recommend preventive maintenance to reduce the chance of the above occurring. Commercial refrigeration specialists like ourselves provide maintenance contracts that make sure your refrigeration equipment is operating efficiently, and conduct any repairs if necessary to make certain your unit reaches its lifespan.
Contact J&M Refrigeration today
Are you in need of a professional maintenance contract for your commercial refrigerator? Maybe you need a new unit altogether?
Whatever your commercial refrigeration needs, the team at J&M Refrigeration has you covered!
Give us a call today on 0121 544 0555 or message our team using our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.
