Commercial freezers are a common part of many industries. Having issues with your freezers can have a noticeable negative impact on your daily business activity and can cost you both time, money, and effort. Commercial freezer repair is an essential part of regular maintenance, and by keeping your freezers in top condition, you keep your business functioning, and you can also increase the lifespan of your freezer equipment. American Refrigeration Inc provides the best in freezer service and here are five of the most common commercial freezer issues they encounter.
Five Common Commercial Freezer Issues
By being aware of the common issues, you may encounter with your freezers, you know when it’s time to call a professional. By keeping a close eye on things, you can catch minor issues and have them dealt with by an expert before they lead to expensive repairs.
Issues With Temperature: One of the most common issues with freezers is problems with the temperature. If you have set the temperature and your freezer is not cooling, you could have repair needs concerning the thermostat, compressor, and possibly the fans.
Blocked Vents: Another common issue is vent blockages. If you have blocks in your freezer vents, it can affect its ability to cool and possibly damage other components. A professional can have your vents properly cleaned, ensuring continued operation.
Ice Build-Up: When frost starts collecting on the interior of your freezer, there could be several root causes. These can include the doors not closing properly often due to bad gaskets, poor air ventilation, and the doors being left open too long.
Lighting Problems: Lighting problems in commercial freezers often occur due to problems such as burnt-out light bulbs and, in extreme cases, problems with the electrical system. When changing bulbs, be sure to disconnect the power and use the type of bulbs recommended by your freezer’s manufacturer. Using improper bulbs can damage your freezer’s electrical system.
Compressor Issues: You need a compressor to keep a refrigerator at the proper cold temperature. Issues with your commercial freezer’s compressor keep it from working correctly. In some cases, the compressor just needs professional cleaning as debris such as dirt, grease, and other types of build-up lead to performance issues. Your freezer should be cleaned every 90 days to ensure the best performance.
Final Thoughts
Commercial freezers are essential to many companies’ daily activities and serve important uses ranging from storage to commercial sales to customers. No matter your uses, you need your commercial freezers to be in top working condition, and regular maintenance ensures that.
A commercial refrigerator is a big investment. Keeping your commercial refrigerators up and running is important to the smooth operation of your establishment. If you are having issues with cooling, it is important to diagnose that problem quickly before it evolves into something more serious and more difficult to repair.
In some cases, if you catch a problem early enough, you can even repair the problem yourself. However, refrigerator problems tend to worsen over time if left untended. This is why it is important to stay on top of commercial refrigerator maintenance. Let’s look at some common reasons why your unit may not be cooling properly.
Power Supply
You may be in need of bottle fridge repair if the power supply is not stable. You should always check the power switch first. Sometimes the power supply has simply been turned off by accident. You should also make sure that all power cords are plugged in properly. If a plug has been knocked out of place, it could create an unstable flow of power.
If everything is turned on and plugged in properly, then you will want to check the power flow with a voltage detector. This will let you know if there is an issue with the power supply.
Always make sure that you are connecting your commercial fridge to the power supply properly.
Temp Problems
Another issue that could cause cooing problems may be temp problems. Keeping food and drinks at a certain temperature is crucial for stores, restaurants, and other institutions. Without proper cooling temps, items can go bad and put patrons at risk. This problem must be addressed quickly and accurately.
You should check to see if the fridge is placed too close to a wall. Commercial refrigerators should stand slightly away from the wall. This gives the air room to circulate properly for cooling.
You should also check to make sure that the gaskets controlling the door opening and shutting are in good working order. If this gets worn out, the door may not close and seal properly, which will make it difficult to keep the fridge at temp.
You can also check the temperature control gauge. Make sure the gauge is giving accurate readings. If this is the problem, the gauge is easy to replace in most cases.
Compressors
The compressor is an essential part of any cooling equipment. Compressors for commercial refrigerators need to be cleaned about every 90 days. If left unattended, the compressor will struggle to provide the proper cooling for the unit. You may be in need of commercial freezer repair.
Though they’re a necessary component of many businesses, commercial freezers can use up a lot of electricity each month. This is partially due to their large size and the fact that they need to be set to a consistently low temperature to keep food safe.
However, newer freezers with an Energy Star rating have a much lower operating cost than their older predecessors. In fact, depending on the model year of your current commercial freezer, you could save 20 percent on your monthly energy bill by upgrading to an Energy Star certified freezer.
Ways to make your current freezer more energy efficient
The good news is that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a new commercial freezer to make yours more energy efficient. Follow these tips to see some savings each month:
Replace the rubber door seals: The door seals are called gaskets, and they’re designed to keep cold air in while the door is closed. The gaskets start to fall apart over time, leading to cold air escaping and higher energy bills. Keep an eye on them, and replace them when they start to look tattered.
Keep the doors closed: Most parents have had conversations with their kids about keeping the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. This also goes for commercial freezers! Unless you’re grabbing something from the freezer, keep it closed to avoid wasting energy.
Schedule professional maintenance: The best way to reduce your energy costs and prevent breakdowns is by scheduling yearly professional maintenance. These maintenance calls will ensure your freezer is running as it should and can help avoid wasting energy.
Is it time to upgrade your freezer?
A commercial freezer can last up to 20 years before it needs to be replaced, but your freezer might present some signs that it’s time to replace it before that two-decade mark. Here are a few indicators that you should buy a new one:
Your energy bill is sky-high: If your energy bill creeps a bit higher each month, there’s a good chance that your freezer is about to kick the bucket. While Energy Star appliances aren’t always cheap, they’ll pay for themselves in the coming years.
Breakdowns are frequent: A commercial freezer can stop working from time to time, which can mean trouble for your business. If you find yourself frequently calling the repairman, cut your losses and invest in an Energy Star freezer.
The food is spoiling: You’ve got a problem when the food inside your freezer or fridge starts to spoil faster than it should. Not only is this a safety hazard, but it also means that you need a new unit. Ensure you stay out of trouble with the health department by replacing your freezer today.
What can our team do for you?
Whether you need to buy a new freezer, get it repaired or have it maintained, American Refrigeration Inc is the only team you need. We offer an array of services for commercial freezers that ensure your business is always running its best.
The walk-in freezer is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in any commercial kitchen. If you’ve started to experience any problems with yours, it’s important to be proactive about getting professional assistance to get it back up and running as quickly as possible so you can avoid losing inventory and having to deal with inefficient operations.
So how do you know if there’s something wrong with your walk-in freezer in Eugene, OR? Here are just a few examples of some of the most common walk-in freezer issues you should know about:
Temperature is not cold enough: Are you having problems getting your freezer to, well, freeze? There are several potential causes of this common problem. It could be that your freezer is overloaded with product, which would increase the burden on the cooling system. It could also be that you have frost buildup on the evaporator, which is causing the interior to warm up. Or, if you have issues with doors being left open for too long, or with air leaks around the edges, this could also be a cause of temperatures running too high. A professional will quickly be able to identify the problem.
No power: Your first step when you lose power to your walk-in freezer should always be to check the circuit breaker or fuse that controls it. If that’s not the issue, it could be a problem with wiring or a control board, either of which are issues that should be left to a professional to deal with.
Drain pan problems: Do you see ice in the drain pan? If so, this could indicate a clogged drain line or a defective heater, as ice buildup in the drain pan is a common result of both of those problems. Again, this is an issue you should have repaired by a professional, and quickly, before your inventory is lost.
Other ice buildup: Ice can build up in other areas than the drain pan. While you might think ice buildup is natural in a freezer, this actually means there’s too much moisture. The ice buildup can result in freezer burn on your product, or cause other issues inside the freezer that can damage the system. Ice buildups on the air vent or evaporator coils can be especially problematic, so if you see these issues forming inside your walk-in freezer, it’s important to have a professional appliance repair technician come out and resolve the issue.
Gasket or door issues: Have you been having issues with your gaskets or doors? Perhaps it’s become difficult for you to reliably close the door all the way, or you’ve seen signs of an air leak. This could be an issue with worn or damaged gaskets, or with a damaged seal around the door that needs to be replaced.
For more information about some of the most common problems that occur inside walk-in freezers in Eugene, OR, we encourage you to reach out to the team at American Refrigeration Inc. with your questions.
If you combed back through the annals of history, making a note of all of humankind’s most important inventions, you’d be hard pressed to find much that’s more monumental, more critical to our everyday life, than the development of refrigeration. The ability to preserve food and, eventually, other essential items, for extended periods helped sustain people through the winter. It allowed more people to focus less on food cultivation and pursue other worthwhile endeavors. Indeed, refrigeration just might be one of the building blocks of civilization.
Today, that fact is underscored by the number of applications for refrigeration and the scope of commercial freezer services in Eugene, OR.
Serving every industry under the sun
The number of industries that make daily use of commercial freezer services in Eugene, OR is truly astonishing. Throughout the Eugene area, supermarkets and convenience stores big and small keep their food and drink cold with some help from commercial freezers. In fact, across Oregon and around the world, more and more people are filling their grocery carts with frozen food. That means more commercial refrigerators and freezers than ever before.
Beyond the grocery store, commercial freezers play a crucial role in medical laboratories, hotels and restaurants. Large farms and agricultural ventures will find so much to love in a walk-in freezer that can keep goods at the perfect temperature.
Keep things running
Once you’ve found the perfect commercial freezer, the smartest thing to do is schedule routine visits from a qualified professional. Putting experienced eyes on your freezers and refrigerators can have numerous benefits:
Neglected equipment leads to break-downs. Broken refrigeration units and freezers can lead to lost product, which, in turn, could lead to lost clients.
For those in the food service industry, imagine a health inspector popping by your kitchen only to discover that your refrigeration unit isn’t up to standard.
Faulty refrigeration units cost money. Every single month that an ailing unit goes unrepaired, energy costs go up just a little bit more. In the world of business ownership, every dollar matters.
Perhaps most importantly for business owners, routine maintenance saves you money. After all, when your refrigeration system breaks down, not only does it stop your business in its tracks, but it can cost big money to call for emergency repairs and parts.
When emergencies happen
On a long enough timeline, no matter how well you maintain your refrigeration and freezer systems, they will eventually fail. If life experience is any indication, the moment your freezer shuts down will be the absolute worst moment possible. When disasters happen, make sure you have the number of a qualified and competent technician who will be able to come to your aid 24 hours a day.
Our difference
At American Refrigeration Inc., we specialize in a vast array of commercial freezer services in Eugene, OR. From installation to repair to preventative maintenance, our team of highly-skilled technicians can make your refrigeration issues a thing of the past. We even offer emergency services 24 hours a day.
We’re committed to your complete satisfaction, and it’s time to let us prove it to you. Give us a call or visit us online today.
