Read Time:6 Minute, 28 Second

Almost every restaurant depends on walk-in coolers for food storage. Taking care of such refrigerators is critical when it comes to enhancing their lifespan and keeping your food safe. You should train your staff for daily and weekly maintenance while for monthly maintenance, hire commercial appliances repair services. Below are some tips in this regard.

Tips For Regular Walk-In Cooler Maintenance

The maintenance routine for walk-in coolers has to be regular. It should be done on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The short duration is an indicator of urgent and immediate cleaning and care, whereas longer periods refer to more comprehensive and detailed care of the walk-in coolers.

Daily Checks For Walk-In Coolers

The process of daily inspection involves taking care of visual problems, such as ice buildups. This can lead to the malfunctioning of door seals and the cooler may start behaving improperly.

Daily care and maintenance will definitely enhance the life of the walk-in cooler. In addition to this, temperature monitoring is also necessary on a daily basis, as temperature fluctuates every single day. Letting the walk-in cooler keep working without assessing the temperature can be costly. It has to be kept within the desired range in order to protect the food as well as the unit itself.

Weekly Checks For Walk-In Coolers

Various parts of your walk-in cooler need proper cleaning and maintenance at different times. The evaporator and condenser coils have to be cleaned weekly. Cleaning them daily is not recommended for a walk-in cooler, as they don’t get dirty too quickly.

Make sure that the dirt, dust, or any kind of debris is removed for proper working of the refrigerator. Apart from this, drain lines also need attention every week. They should be kept free from clogs to avoid any damage and clogs.

Monthly Checks For Walk-In Coolers

When it comes to the monthly routine, various components of the walk-in cooler need care. These include fan blades, the motor, and electrical components. Restaurants and food services must seek help from a refrigerator repair and maintenance professional in order to ensure the durability and longevity of their walk-in cooler. The monthly routine involves expensive components of a refrigerator, which is why they should not be neglected.

Walk-In Cooler Maintenance Checklist

Apart from what has been added above, there is a checklist of the things you should be doing for proper maintenance of a walk-in cooler.

Inspecting the unit’s components
Taking care of electrical components
Temperature and airflow maintenance
Cleaning coils and fans
Taking care of panels and doors
Water and ice management
Measures for pest control
Sweeping the floors and corners
Proper storage of food
Documenting the cleaning process

1. Inspecting The Unit’s Components

It goes without saying that a commercial freezer has lots of components. They are meant and designed to provide perfect cooling for the items stored. Knowing these components is essential to ensure proper care and maintenance. Door seals, pans, drain lines, condenser and evaporator coils, and other relevant components should be monitored every now and then. Ignoring them can be a costly mistake.

2. Protecting Electrical Components

Like other components, electrical items are also important. These include fans, motors as well as connections. Lots of users are careless when it comes to electrical connections. They may get damaged or broken if proper care is not taken.

Moreover, the placement of these electrical connections is also important, as in summer, they may develop problems more often. That is why fans, motors, and all connections should be inspected and repaired in case of any damage.

3. Temperature And Airflow Maintenance

A number of things are involved when it comes to the temperature of a walk-in cooler. Thermostats, defrost cycle, airflow, and refrigerant levels are included in the checklist of the temperature levels inspection. These items demand regular inspection and maintenance.

In case of any small issue, the refrigerator may stop cooling and as a result, the food items will start to decay.

If the airflow is not proper, similar problems will occur and this can lead to costly repairs. Airflow problems can be due to clogged air filters, faulty fans, dirty condenser coils, and improper installation. That is why proper installation and regular maintenance can improve the lifespan of your walk-in cooler.

4. Cleaning The Coils And Fans

With the passage of time, as a walk-in cooler is used, its components may get damaged or wear out. Some components start collecting dust, while water and ice may also build up. This will ultimately affect its functioning. Therefore, fans and coils in a walk-in cooler need regular inspection and cleaning. It is not a hectic task, but it demands some time and skill. You can also seek the services of a commercial refrigerators repairs Clifton expert in this regard if you want the best results.

5. Taking Care Of Doors And Panels

Both external and internal parts of a walk-in cooler are important. Perfect care of your walk-in cooler does not mean taking care of the external items only. There are dozens of items inside the freezer that have to be cleaned regularly. Door gaskets are important in this regard.

Apart from it, the panels are other items that cannot be ignored in regular maintenance. Warm water can be used to clean the internal surfaces of the freezer. Clean all kinds of dry surfaces as well.

6. Managing Water And Ice

Managing water and ice in a walk-in cooler is critical. Ice may build up over time. Coils can get blocked for many reasons. All these things, when combined, affect the performance of a freezer.

In order to deal with these things, you should set the thermostat to zero, open the doors, and clean it using a dry piece of cloth. That will be sufficient.

7. Measures For Pest Control

One of the less noticeable things is that many walk-in coolers can have pests in nearby places. The walls can offer them shelter. That is why wall inspection is mandatory in this regard to find out if there are any pests. You should then make arrangements to get rid of all the possible pests.

8. Sweeping The Floors And Corners

Mostly, staff members don’t pay attention to the place where the walk-in cooler is installed. These places accommodate food and edibles. Naturally, some parts of the food are left on the floor and near the corners.

Not sweeping them after a peak season and before a new season will ultimately affect the cooler. The leftovers may lead to numerous issues. That is why cleaning them is important.

9. Storing The Food Properly

A very neglected fact in the maintenance of walk-in coolers is food storage practices. This includes the selection of food items and where they should be placed. It also means the amount or quantity of the food.

Over-stuffing the storage will put pressure on the refrigerator and this can lead to performance issues or food decaying problems over time.

10. Documenting The Cleaning Process

This is one of the best things you can do to ensure perfect maintenance of your refrigerator. The cleaning process is sometimes challenging and your staff may forget some steps involved. It will be better to document the cleaning process of a walk-in cooler. This will allow everyone to follow the instructions and perform regular maintenance.

Conclusion

Walk-in coolers are a necessity for food businesses. They can last long if you take proper care of them. But if they are ignored or neglected, their repairs become a costly expense. So, consult walk in cooler repair Fairfax services for your commercial refrigerators maintenance.