Always Inspect These 4 Walk-in Fridge Parts
Refrigeration is one of the most important investments for any food preparation business because it’s the only way to keep perishable inventory at safe temperatures. While you might have smaller units to handle beverages and other goods, the brunt of your cooling is done by an oversized unit in the kitchen. Once you’ve invested in one of these giant coolers, it’s in your best interest to keep it running efficiently, but where are some common failure points? Here are four important parts of your refrigerator that might necessitate a call for commercial walk-in service.
Lights
Your refrigerator is a windowless cave, which means it needs artificial illumination. If it’s too dark to see every recess of the unit, you run the risk of missing a small maintenance issue that could balloon into a larger problem. While incandescent lighting has long been the norm for these devices, advances in LED technology allow you to install brighter lights that run at a fraction of the cost of older models. The initial setup cost might be more than standard bulbs, but they last significantly longer and don’t create heat that could affect your perishable product.
Hinges
Every time you open the door to your refrigerator, the hinges handle the work. While the average household fridge doesn’t involve much stress, the door to a commercial refrigeration unit weighs a lot more, and the device is expected to last significantly longer. Over time, each hinge will eventually wear down to the point when it needs to be replaced. Loose-fitting hinges prevent the complete closure of the door, which could lead to higher energy bills, decreased efficiency and a shorter life for the unit.
Door Closers
How many times have you absent-mindedly walked in and out of the refrigerator without thinking about closing the door behind you? If you can do it as the owner of the business, how likely is it to happen with an employee who isn’t responsible for the power bill? By installing one of these automatic closing devices, you can eliminate one task from everybody’s day, but make sure it stays in good working order. When it starts getting sluggish when closing, it might need to be cleaned out or replaced.
Gaskets
A refrigerator gasket might seem like a little thing, but it’s one of the hardest-working components of any refrigeration unit. Much like weatherstripping keeps your heating and air conditioning from leaking out of your house, gaskets help the inside of your fridge stay cool without constant operation. Despite the heavy load your gaskets shoulder, they’re quite fragile, which means they need replacement every six months before they start to break down.
Keep Your Refrigerator Running Efficiently
These are just four of the components you should keep your eye on when inspecting your restaurant’s refrigeration unit, but there are plenty of other potential problem areas on these sophisticated devices. No matter if your fridge isn’t working properly or you just need regular maintenance, let the experts at CASCO help with professional service and repairs. To schedule an appointment with one of our technicians, contact us here or call our office at 707-544-5200 today.