How to maintain your commercial refrigerators

As a catering, hospitality or food service business owner, you know that having reliable commercial refrigeration is key to keeping your business running smoothly.

Commercial refrigerators are large and expensive pieces of equipment businesses rely on to store food and drinks. 

They’re usually bigger than domestic refrigerators and have more complex features. So, keeping them running well is essential to extend their lifespan and avoid costly repairs. 

Commercial refrigerators are designed to last a long time and operate efficiently. But, like any machine, they require regular inspection, servicing and care to stay in good working order.

Here, we provide some handy tips on how to maintain your commercial refrigerators. 

What are the benefits of maintaining your commercial refrigerators?

When it comes to refrigeration for food businesses, well-maintained equipment is essential. Not only does regular maintenance keep your refrigerators running smoothly and prevent costly repairs, but it also helps to ensure food safety. 

Here are some of the benefits of keeping your commercial fridges in good condition:

Reduced energy usage

A well-maintained refrigerator runs more efficiently, which means you’ll save on your energy costs.

Fewer breakdowns

If you keep up with regular maintenance, your fridge is less likely to break down unexpectedly. That means less downtime for your business and fewer headaches.

Longer lifespan

Correctly maintained commercial refrigeration equipment typically lasts longer than appliances that aren’t taken care of. So, keeping your fridges in good condition will save your business money in the long run.

Increased efficiency

Properly maintained refrigeration equipment is more efficient to run, helping to keep your energy costs down and minimising your environmental impact. 

Convenience

If your fridge has a problem, you can often resolve it quickly and easily. That means less downtime for your business, which means more revenue.

Increased product quality and freshness

Properly maintained refrigeration equipment typically holds food closer to its peak quality. That means you can keep your ingredients fresher for longer – perfect if you’re looking to delight your customers with great-tasting food. 

Better product presentation

Well-maintained refrigeration equipment looks great, which can improve your company’s brand image and help you create more attractive food and drink displays. In turn, this can help increase sales on a per-item basis.

Improved food safety

Regularly maintaining and servicing your commercial refrigerator will enhance its performance and reliability and ensure it can reach and hold food-safe temperatures, to uphold your hygiene standards and, crucially, ensure your food is safe to eat. 

Commercial refrigerator maintenance checklist

Commercial refrigerators are an essential part of any food business. They keep food cold and fresh, ensuring your products and ingredients remain at the correct temperature. 

While most business owners understand how vital their commercial refrigerators are for their day-to-day operations, many don’t know how to properly maintain their equipment to keep it running well and extend its lifespan. There are a few things you should be doing regularly to achieve this. 

The first is keeping the condenser coils clean. The coils can get dirty over time from dust and other particles, preventing them from cooling correctly and causing the refrigerator to work harder and use more energy. This can lead to early failure of the compressor or other components. Coils can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, a stiff brush or compressed air, although be careful if you use the latter. 

Checking the seals around the door regularly to ensure they are tight is also essential. A loose seal can allow cold air to escape and cause the fridge to work harder than it should. You should also make sure the refrigerator is adequately ventilated. If it isn’t, it can overheat and damage the compressor.

Where you site your fridge can also have an impact. If the ambient temperature is too hot, it can shorten the unit’s life, or cause it to malfunction, leading to maintenance downtime. So, make sure it’s located in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources such as boilers, fryers or ovens. 

It also needs adequate ventilation to ensure it can breathe properly, so make sure there are no boxes or anything that may block the vents stored nearby. 

Whenever you open your fridge, check for any spills, food scraps, ice or dirt build-up and clean as necessary. On top of this, you should clean the interior of your refrigerator with a damp cloth and a non-abrasive antibacterial surface cleaner after every service to remove any grime or debris, to help keep it food-safe and bacteria-free. Your business and reputation depend on this. 

Be sure to regularly defrost the freezer section if necessary and keep the doors of the refrigerator closed as much as possible to maintain the correct temperature inside.

And have a qualified technician inspect and service the refrigerator periodically to ensure it’s running correctly.

How can Fridgesmart help?

If you’re looking for help and advice about how to maintain your commercial refrigerators – or if you might be due an equipment upgrade – then Fridgesmart can help. 

We’re one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial refrigeration products to businesses and have been selling shop and refrigeration units for more than 40 years. 

We aim to offer the best deals possible on the highest quality products.

Our customers range from small corner shops to large supermarket chains, and we also supply a wide range of independent cafes, delis, restaurants, takeaways and tea rooms. 

We deliver across the UK and pride ourselves on our great products, backed by unbeatable customer service. 

So, whether you’re looking for a new commercial storage or display fridge, a multiplexed freezer system, or just some advice about how to keep your existing equipment working as it should, we’re happy to help. Why not give us a call today?