Maintenance Tips for Commercial Refrigeration
There’s nothing worse than a commercial refrigeration breakdown during a dinner service. It puts your customers at risk. Your kitchen team’s production slows down. Getting refrigeration repair takes time and can potentially shut you down longer. The best way to avoid a major failure of your commercial equipment is to perform preventative maintenance. You’ll prevent many major problems, reduce your utility costs and extend the life of your equipment.
In-House Maintenance and Cleaning
Much of the regular equipment maintenance can be done in-house by your team. Make a checklist of things that should be done on a regular basis. Check with your equipment manufacturer for recommended time frames to maintain any warranties:
- Clean fan blades - once a month clean the fan blades with a warm, damp cloth. Make sure moisture doesn’t get into the motor.
- Check the drain for clogs. Make sure there are no blockages in the drainage system.
- Clean the condenser coils. You can usually use a nylon brush to clean the coils, but there are chemicals that can be used if you have a lot of grease or oil on the coils.
- Check and clean the gaskets. Wipe down the gaskets with warm soapy water. Check for rips and tears. Expect to replace the gaskets about every three years to maintain a good seal.
- Check the door hinges for alignment. The hinges may need lubrication periodically to perform effectively.
- Clean the interior of the refrigerator. Use warm water, a soft cloth and mild soap on the shelves to prevent damage to the finish and to avoid leaving strong chemicals that can affect food.
- Replace interior lighting when necessary. Good lighting helps your staff get in and out of the refrigerator quickly to keep food colder.
- You should be checking temperatures daily to make sure that food is safe. If the temperatures trend high, you may need a service tech.
Call Professionals for Maintenance
There are some types of refrigeration service that are best left to the professionals. Twice a year, get a technician in your business to inspect the motor, refrigerant level, the wiring and compressor. Your technician should provide you with a detailed report after the inspection that gives you information about the condition of your equipment. It should include the make, model, serial number and temperature of each appliance that was inspected.
Pay Attention to Your Equipment
Many appliances have a self-diagnostic system, which will let you know when there is a problem. If your equipment does not have this technology, you can still be aware of problems by paying attention to your appliances. Changing holding temperatures will indicate that something is off.
If your equipment is louder than usual, the equipment may be headed for a breakdown. If the food has a shorter shelf life than normal, it could mean that you have a problem. If the refrigerator cycles on and off more frequently than normal, it probably indicates that something isn’t right.
Preventative maintenance will save you time and money. Need commercial appliance service in Santa Rosa? Contact CASCO for regular maintenance and emergency refrigeration repair for your restaurant equipment. We want to make sure your business runs smooth for safety and profits.
If your equipment is louder than usual, the equipment may be headed for a breakdown. If the food has a shorter shelf life than normal, it could mean that you have a problem. If the refrigerator cycles on and off more frequently than normal, it probably indicates that something isn’t right.
Preventative maintenance will save you time and money. Need commercial appliance service in Santa Rosa? Contact CASCO for regular maintenance and emergency refrigeration repair for your restaurant equipment. We want to make sure your business runs smooth for safety and profits.