1. Prevent the Dreaded Emergency Breakdown

The easiest way to prevent emergency breakdowns – and the staggering costs that come with it is to take out a planned preventative maintenance plan. When your refrigeration systems are regularly checked by an expert, problems can be spotted and fixed before the equipment goes down and you lose an entire shipment of ice cream or meat. Worn parts can be replaced before they cause the unit to shut down. Checking electrical connections can prevent power loss. It is also important to note that regular cleaning reduces wear on the system and keeps critical parts from breaking down, while there are ways that you can clean your commercial refrigeration equipment yourself, it is advisable that you hire a professional to clean your equipment one or twice a year, they will be able to clean your systems thoroughly to prevent breakdowns.

2. Avoid Mould and Contaminated Ice

Contaminated ice is a health issue and is a frequent finding on health department food sanitation reports, yet commercial ice machines remain the least cared for food machines in a range of industries. It is easy to overlook the risks associated with a lack of ice machine maintenance, but according to FDA regulations, ice needs to be stored and handled like food, and that means that ice machines need regular cleaning, at least 2 to 4 times a year or as recommended by the manufacturer. In order to prevent health code violations, schedule a refrigeration maintenance expert to come in at least twice a year, and up to once a month depending on the usage of your machine to dissemble the unit and thoroughly clean all components.

3. Reduce Energy Bills

There are many benefits to maintaining your commercial refrigeration equipment, but did you know that it can save you between 5 and 10 percent on energy costs? How? A maintained refrigeration system helps to keep your units running at peak performance, this means that they are not working overtime due to a fault in the system. For example, when the condenser coils within your refrigeration system are dirty, your equipment needs to work harder in order to maintain the temperature inside and uses more energy in the process. If your unit has worn gaskets, hinges or faulty seals, your unit is forced to run longer and uses more electricity as they cause cold air to leak from the unit. As part of a maintenance plan, a qualified engineer will check the temperature settings and defrost frequency settings for maximum efficiency and minimum power consumption.

4. Extend the Life of your Equipment

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your commercial refrigeration equipment will without a doubt make your equipment run more efficiently and help your equipment last longer. When parts within your equipment are worn and dirty, the equipment runs more frequently and this makes your equipment work harder than it needs to, it will also cause more wear and tear on your parts, reducing the life of your equipment. Spare parts are often included in maintenance plans, so if your equipment needs a new part, your engineer will install it free of charge before your system ultimately breaks down and costs you a fortune.

5. Take good care of your equipment and it will take good care of you

Taking good care of your equipment will benefit you in the long run, make sure that you clean your equipment on a regular basis, following the guidelines of the manufacturer, in addition to this make sure that you take out a planned preventative maintenance plan so that a trained engineer can assess and clean your equipment at least twice per year and up to once a month depending on the load and usage of your equipment.

• A trained engineer will perform the following tasks;
• Clean your systems evaporator and condenser coils
• Check lines for condensation
• Clean your equipment’s fan blades and check the fan motor
• Check the integrity of the insulation
• Check your equipment for problems such as air leaks, holes and worn parts
• Lubricate your door hinges and handles
• Check your equipment for loose electrical connections
• Clear the drain holes of debris
• Check the temperature and defrost settings and calibrate thermometers
• Check filters on ice machines and thoroughly clean all ice maker components

If your refrigeration equipment is poorly maintained it can cause a lot of problems for your business and can also be a drain on your finances. When your units are running inefficiently, they waste energy resources, when they inevitably break down, you lose time, money and stock. For more information call a member of our sales team on 01254 614444..