Commercial Refrigeration Maintenance: Keeping Your Cold Room Running Efficiently

Your cold room can seem like such a simple thing that you almost forget about it. That is, until it breaks down in the middle of summer and you have a nightmare on your hands. You could end up losing all your stock. Worse yet, you may lose a lot of customers when you have to tell them all the food has gone bad. This can potentially cause long-term damage to your business reputation. The smartest thing you can do to keep this from happening is to look after your cool room to ensure that it’s always running as efficiently a possible. As a side benefit, an efficient cool room also reduces energy costs.

Regular Maintenance is the Key

The simplest way to prevent a breakdown of your cool room is with regular maintenance. It allows you to keep an eye on how everything is running. You can also spot potential problems before they develop into full-scale disasters. The best part is, you can do a lot of the following jobs yourself:

Keep It Clean

• Clean the walls regularly. Use a damp cloth and mild detergent. Avoid using any chemicals that might damage your cool room. If there are any stains appearing on the walls, then make a note of it. If they reappear after you clean them, then your cool room might need professional maintenance
• Keep the seal clean. Run around it with a damp cloth regularly to make sure there’s no build-up of gunk. Generally, warm water will be enough, but if it’s particularly sticky, use a small amount of detergent. Avoid using heavy duty cleaners. They can damage the seal, which will affect your cool room's efficiency.

Keep a Record

• Record refrigeration temperatures daily. Most food service businesses already do this several times a day, so make sure you pay attention. If the cool room temperature seems like it is fluctuating a lot, it could be time for some professional maintenance.
• Keep your eyes open. Watch and record any water leaks. Keep track of food and check that it’s properly frozen. If anything is thawing out in the cool room, you may have a problem.
• Use your nose. if there are any strange smells, it could signal a leak. Your cool room might still be able to keep things cold if this happens, but it will have to work overtime. This can cause wear and tear, as well as costing you a fortune in energy bills.

Know Your Maintenance Schedule

On top of your own regular maintenance and care of the cool room, you’ll need scheduled maintenance to ensure everything is running as efficiently as possible. In Darwin especially, refrigeration systems have to work extra hard to keep up with the high temperatures and humidity. To find out about your maintenance schedule, check your warranty or contact the company that installed the unit. You can also contact a local, reputable air conditioner servicing company. They will be able to assess your system and develop a schedule for you.

Parts Replacement and Repairs

It’s a lot more affordable to replace a few crucial parts in your cool room than to install an entirely new system. Make sure you keep a record of when different parts are reaching the end of their warranty or are close to wearing down, so you can replace them before they cause problems. While there are some repairs you can comfortably do yourself, there are times when you’ll need an urgent repair. Check to see if your cooling supplier provides 24-hour emergency repairs, so you don’t risk losing stock.

Know When You Need to Call in a Professional

Choose a reliable company that knows the area well and is knowledgeable about your particular system. Most businesses need their cool room to run 24/7, every day of the year, which means you shouldn’t skimp on maintenance. If you suspect there might be a problem, then call in a professional straight away. You'll save yourself a lot of money and headaches in the long run.