6 DIY Refrigeration Inspection and Tips for Efficiency

Servicing and maintaining your commercial refrigeration unit is just as important as scheduling your vehicle’s oil change. These quick maintenance inspections and cleaning tips will reduce your maintenance bills and extend your equipment life.

1. Ensure all door gaskets, hinges and closers are working correctly

  • Clean them if they are dirty.
  • Re-glue the gaskets.
  • Make sure the hinges are secure and not sticking.

2. Make sure the drain lines are clean and properly placed

  • It is always good to inspect the drain lines and the drain pain to ensure the cooler is working and draining the excess water properly.

3. Clean and remove all the dust off the evaporator and condensing coil twice a year

  • Verify there is enough air flow near the compressor. Compressors will ‘suffocate’ or work harder if there isn’t proper airflow, such as being too close to the wall.
  • Avoid dirt, dust and grime! Most of the time, you can use a hose and clean the condensers by vacuuming them and/or running water over them. The dirtier the condenser, the harder the equipment will need to work.

4. Make sure the unit has the proper level of refrigerant and the refrigerant line is fully insulated

  • The refrigerant level is typically a clear liquid line sight glass, and it should be full.
  • If anything does not seem clean and normal, the staff member should contact the manager.
  • Interior hose, and refrigerant lines can be confusing; we recommend consulting with your service advisor and documenting the procedure to ensure proper safety.

5. Check all capillary and super hose line for proper placement and signs of wear

  • Perform a visual inspection on the compressor to verify proper operation.
  • Look at all hoses and wires, make sure they are not rubbing against moving parts, do not show excessive wear and do not have signs of liquid or bare wires.

6. Check Electrical Cords & Connections

  • Check to make sure the electrical cords are completely plugged into the electrical panel and no cords look exposed or loose.

bad compressor_1

Dirty and Leaky Fluids

Don’t forget the Ice Machine

Another key piece of equipment is the ice machine. Water filters should be changed regularly. Additionally, have employees check for mold often. It is recommended to clean the ice bin regularly. All ice must be removed for a thorough cleaning and sanitation of the storage bin. A solution can be flushed through the water lines to prevent slime from building up. Check with your favorite sanitation supplier for details.

Early Equipment Diagnostics from Small Box Energy

Small Box Energy’s chameleon platforms give users the ability to see a problem with their equipment long before the on-site staff may realize there is an issue. Because we monitor key data points such as temperature, fan and defrost cycles, users can easily detect when a piece of equipment is running in excess, never reaching set-point or having unusual temperature swings. Depending on the circumstances, alarms may notify a manager, otherwise, chameleon-cloud.com may issue a warning, similar to the one below.

equipment maintenance - early diagnotics warning