The items you have on display in your refrigerator should be out of their box, spaced evenly and neatly, and be easily accessible to staff or customers.
If items are left in their wholesale box, the fridge will have to work hard to unnecessarily cool the packaging as well as the products inside. The cooled air will have a harder time penetrating the box and cooling each individual item effectively.
Stay on top of use by dates and make sure to get rid of old stock. This creates more airflow so the refrigerator only works to cool stock that you’ll be selling.
A commercial refrigerator works hard every day to keep food chilled and fresh, and the best way to maintain your refrigerator is by keeping it clean inside and out.
Cleaning the inside of your fridge gives you the perfect opportunity to closely examine the internal environment of your unit.
Wipe down the internal shelves, getting rid of any debris, grease, and spilled liquids. Make sure to use a gentle cleaning agent rather than harsh chemicals, as this may damage the finish on your fridge.
Keep things clean as spilled liquids and debris could stain the finish on your fridge, cause blockages, increase the moisture content of your fridge, encourage bacteria growth and contribute to bad smells.
If you want to learn more about how to properly clean a commercial refrigerator, check out our article here.
Check for signs of mould build up in the corners and other nooks and crannies of your fridge. Remove any sources of moisture such as spills, hot food, and leaky containers. Keep the internal environment of your fridge as clean and dry as possible.
Make sure all the internal lights are working properly, replacing any that are broken and faulty. This is especially important if your commercial fridge is a glass display fridge, as you want to proudly display your stock and make sure it’s brightly lit for customers to see.
Make sure all the shelves are secured, and ensure all the shelving clips are still in place. Replace any broken or cracked shelves, as they can begin to sag and cause an accident down the line if heavy stock is continually placed on the broken shelf.
Doors
Check the integrity of the door seals and make sure the door is properly sealed to stop warm air from coming into the unit. A broken door seal can quickly become a headache when your appliance struggles to keep the warm air and moisture out, which makes it work much harder than it needs to.
Make sure the door hinges are in good working order so that the door can handle regular use. If it’s a sliding door, make sure the tracks are clean and free of any obstacles.
Ensure any drain lines and water filters are free from dirt and debris. Blocked drains and filters affect how well your fridge operates and can cause your refrigerator to build up ice and create puddles of water.
Check to make sure your evaporator coil is regularly being defrosted. If there is a thick build up of ice all over the evaporator coil, it could indicate a problem with your defrost system, such as a faulty temperature gauge, defrost timer, or heating element. It’s good to check the evaporator coil after a defrost cycle, as the ice can hide a multitude of problems, such as leaking coolant.
Cleaning the outside of your fridge is just as important as cleaning the inside. Regularly go over the outside walls and roof of the unit with a damp cloth to get rid of any dirt, dust, and grime. Pay close attention to the door handle as this gets particularly filthy.
If your refrigerator is a glass door display fridge then buff out any finger marks with a microfiber cloth, so that your stock is clearly visible to customers and staff.
Make sure to check the castors or the stands at the bottom of your fridge, making sure they’re level and still firmly attached to the unit. Hair and debris can easily become stuck around castors and stands and quickly becomes filthy, so give them a regular clean.
Ensure the condenser coils, vents, and the back of the fridge are free of dirt and debris, as this can affect the efficiency of your case. Condenser coils can become particularly filthy in restaurants for example, where grease and grime quickly build up and make it more difficult for the refrigerator to cool stock properly. It’s a good idea to check the state of the condenser coils at least once a month, and hire a professional service technician to go check them properly at least every 6 months.
Ensure the temperature controls for the unit and for the evaporator coils are all properly set. Regular temperature checks should be done to keep food at a safe temperature and ensure the evaporator coils are defrosting properly. Click here to learn more about setting your commercial refrigerator to the correct temperature.
Fans are important for ventilating and moving cool air around the unit, so ensure all fans inside and outside the refrigerator are spinning properly. If your fan blades are not spinning freely, it could be a sign of hair build up or damage to the fan.
The compressor should be running smoothly with no jarring noises when it’s running on the cooling cycle, and should be regularly shutting down for the defrost cycle.
It’s always a good idea to hire a professional service technician to fully service your commercial refrigerator at least once a year to ensure that everything is working properly. They can also tell you if something needs repairing or replacing.
