Maintaining a Commercial Refrigeration Unit During the Summer

Written by: J. Vigotsky

While the summer heat is ideal for pool parties and beach vacations, it can also wreak havoc on commercial refrigeration equipment. If a refrigerator or freezer has an issue and stops working properly, the results can be catastrophic for any restaurant or foodservice. Luckily, there are several steps restaurant operators can take to ensure their refrigeration units remain working optimally throughout the hot summer months:

Proper Maintenance

Performing proper preventative maintenance throughout the year will help prepare your commercial refrigerator or freezer to handle the hot summer weather. Checking the unit’s interior temperature to make sure it’s within proper range is essential. If your refrigerator or freezer has a higher temperature than normal, it could be indicative of a faulty unit.

Maintenance also entails checking the discharge, liquid, and suction lines of your refrigerator’s condensing unit. Thermostats and pressure controls should always be working properly, and refrigerant levels should be routinely checked. Constantly needing to add more refrigerant to your unit is a sign that there’s likely a leak. If not repaired, the compressor can become overheated and potentially incur damage.

Be sure to thoroughly clean and lubricate motors. Consistently cleaning coils and drain pans ensures your equipment can remove unwanted heat, which will help keep the unit’s pressure and temperature low.

This video shows how to properly clean the condenser of a True TRCB Chef Base Table: 

Alarm Monitoring

If a refrigeration system fails, there’s usually only about four hours before its food perishes. Outfitting your commercial refrigeration equipment with an alarm ensures you’ll be alerted if your units malfunction. Monitoring suction pressures, compressor run status, coil temperatures, and energy usage, these alarms protect restaurant owners’ investments while also providing peace of mind.

Location

Freezers and refrigerators should be positioned in cooler spots that are away from exterior walls and windows. If units are placed too close to the exterior, they can be negatively affected by heat that comes in via poorly insulated windows or walls.

Power Interruptions

During especially hot summer days, some power companies cut back on the power provided to your restaurant or food service. Since compressors require high current to start a compressor, this power reduction can be problematic. The compressor’s motor winding can falter, which can lead to a complete electrical failure of the unit. If brown outs are common or lights tend to dim in your building, contact your power service and raise your concerns.

Keeping The Doors Closed

While leaving your cooler doors open for deliveries might be convenient, it also puts extra stress on your refrigeration unit. If humidity and temperatures are high enough, your system will be at risk for leaks and damaged oil. Make sure to minimize the time doors are left open during summer months.

Caring for your commercial refrigeration unit takes time and energy. But if you follow this list of steps, your freezer or refrigerator should be ready for even the hottest heat wave.