How to help your refrigeration units stay cool during heat waves
July 5th, 2021
When the thermometer rises and heat waves hit, the refrigeration units that keep your business running cool are even more important. There are things that you can do to help relieve some of the summer stress on your commercial refrigeration equipment and help reduce breakdowns.
Heat waves can wreak havoc on commercial refrigeration equipment such as:
● walk-in coolers or freezers
● refrigerated counters
● ice-machines
● HAVC units
In this post, the commercial refrigeration specialists at Frigotech serving Ottawa and the Outaouais will share their professional insights about how to help your refrigeration units stay cool during heat waves. Of course if you are having any difficulties with your equipment, don’t hesitate to call us. We offer 24/7 emergency service because we know how vital these systems are to the smooth operations of your business.
Here are some easy to implement steps to help reduce the strain on your commercial refrigerators, coolers, freezers, cold rooms, counters, ice machines and air conditioners during a heat wave.
Make sure your equipment can breath
Clean the air intake grills, fan covers, condenser coils, and any other surfaces that accumulate dust so that they don’t get dirty and clogged. The addition of humidity to dust can turn a thin coating into a sticky mess that will cause your motor to work overtime and add extra heat to the mix.
Also make sure that you’re not stacking overstock and other items too close to your refrigeration units or pushing them too close to the wall. It is important that there is sufficient air flow so that heat can disperse properly from the condenser.
Keep warm air out
During a heatwave, it is extra important to make sure that all gaskets and seals are leak-free. If a piece of paper slides out easily when you close the door on it, it might be time to have your equipment inspected and repair or replace any loose or damaged seals.
Another simple wait to limit the amount of warm air entering your refrigerator, cold room, freezer, counter or ice-machine is simply to keep the door closed. A little bit of planning can help you cut down on the number of times you open the door and the length of time that it’s open. Try to get everything you need in the least number of trips.
A third and very important way to keep warm air out of your refrigeration units is to avoid placing hot items inside your fridge, freezer, cold room or refrigerated counter. As we explained in our post about The first things to do when your refrigeration system breaks down, you may have to adjust your pre-cooking schedules during a heatwave in order to cut down on the amount of warmth being introduced to your cold spaces.
And of course, an important step to keeping your refrigeration units cool and minimizing the strain on your air conditioner is to control the indoor air temperature around your equipment as well. As much as possible, block out the sun and hot outdoor air by creating shade and closing windows and doors to the outdoor heat. Waiting until the cooler evening, overnight and early morning periods to open up for fresh air will help to ventilate out the heat and introduce clean, fresh air.
Reduce Humidity
Excess humidity is not good for your commercial refrigeration units and it is important to reduce the amount of moisture whenever possible, especially during a heat wave. Some easy ways to reduce the humidity in your walk in freezer, refrigerator, cold room and refrigerated counters include:
● wiping away excess condensation
● covering all foods and liquids to limit evaporation
● avoid adding hot, steaming items
● defrost your unit if you have more than .5cm of frost build-up
Trust the professionals at Frigotech
Following these simple steps can help you preserve the cool temperature inside your walk-in refrigerator, cold room, or freezer and reduce the amount of strain on your cooling equipment during a heat wave. If you have any concerns about how your commercial refrigeration equipment is performing, don’t hesitate to reach out.
At Frigotech we offer 24/7 emergency commercial refrigeration repair throughout the Outaouais. Our bilingual staff are here to help with over 30 years of experience in the field. Trust the team at Frigotech to keep your commercial heating, cooling and refrigeration systems running smoothly. We work hard to let you keep doing what you do best. Contact us today!
