Commercial Freezer Maintenance Guide

The Commercial Freezer Maintenance (Upright Freezer and Chest Freezer) is very important for your business in order to save time, energy, and money.

Commercial Freezers are an important part of most businesses, allowing you to buy food in bulk to save lots of time and money. Sometimes the freezer starts to function improperly or even stop. So, it will cause messy issues.

Whether you’ve got a chest freezer or upright freezer, you would like to understand the right commercial freezer maintenance. Therefore, you want to have it running efficiently and smoothly for now on.

So, let’s make a tour of the most important steps in making the Commercial Freezer Maintenance.

1.Freezer Maintenance Tips

2.Maintaining the Chest Freezer

3.Maintaining the Upright Freezer

4.Most Commonly Commercial Freezer Problems and Solutions

5.Cleaning a Freezer

1. Freezer Maintenance Tips

– Read the manufacturer’s manual guide.
– Place the commercial freezer in a stable temperature environment.
– Verify the thermostat with regularity.
– Periodically check the gaskets.
– Maintain your freezer clean.
– Maintain the commercial freezer interior full or almost full.

– Read the manufacturer’s manual guide.

There are various types of commercial freezers. And sometimes, these may have different maintenance guidelines and parts placement.

– Place the commercial freezer in a stable temperature environment.

Extreme changes in temperature will cause the freezer difficulties in functioning, causing strain. It’d appear to be low temperatures would help a freezer, but consider that it’s only designed to face up to freezing temperatures on the inside! Even more, be aware that condenser coils may exhaust heated air. So confirm there’s some space for air-flow between the cabinet and walls or nearby items.

– Verify the thermostat with regularity.

Many freezer units come with a built-in thermostat, but if your cabinet doesn’t have, you can use a thermometer. The temperature should be set at 0 Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius), so adjust the controls if necessary. If your freezer has fluctuations, you ought to make a check.

– Periodically check the gaskets.

The gasket or seal of your freezer ensures that cold air remains in and hot air goes out of the unit. If the seal gaskets are broken, the freezer performance will have to suffer. If you see damages, replace the gasket immediately to save your money on energy consumption.

– Maintain your freezer clean.

You’ll easily clean your unit with a humid rag and dishes detergent. Clean all the inside, exterior, and therefore the seals. You may use a sprig cleaner to get rid of tougher spills and deodorizers to get rid of nasty smells. Frost buildup is commonly, and you would like to periodically defrost the unit to get rid of the buildup.

– Maintain the commercial freezer interior full or almost full.

To have the best results, keep your freezer minimum at half-filled with food. This will help to stabilize the inside temperature and keep energy consumption low. It’d seem illogical, but the food retains its temperature easier than plain air when you open the door.

2.Maintaining the Chest Freezer

Chest freezers don’t have an automatic defrost, so you’ll need to roll in the hay manually. It’s recommended to do this a minimum of once a year. And this, because the frost has buildup abreast of the walls. Here are the essential steps to defrost your chest freezer:

– Remove all the food.
– Unplug the freezer.
– Plug-off the drain once all the ice has melted. Don’t scrape away the ice.
– Wait for the freezer to dry.
– Plug it in and switch the unit back on.
– Put back the food once the temperature returns to 0°F. For this, you’ll need to wait up to 24 hours.

3.Maintaining the Upright Freezer

Automatic Defrost option

Some of the upright freezers (like the meat freezer) have an automatic defrost cycle that commonly goes twice each day and removes frost from the coils. Then the resulted water drains into a pan at the bottom of the cabinet.

Normally, the water should evaporate itself, so you shouldn’t need to empty the pan. Yet, you ought to verify the pan and clean it using dish detergent to ensure it’s not filling up, getting stinky, or growing mould.

You also have to clean the dust from the condenser coils and cooling fan a minimum of once a year. If you permit buildup to occur, your freezer will need to chill harder and spend more energy to remain cold.

Plug-off the freezer then use a brush and vacuum to get rid of the dirt. It’s recommended to not use condensed air to blow away dirt. Therefore, this will end in the dust bunnies being crowded further into the cabinet, causing jamming, and lodging into the fan.

Manual Defrost

Some upright freezers don’t have automatic defrost feature. So, they require manual defrost. When the ice has built abreast of the walls, you’ll have to make the same defrosting routine.

First, remove all food from the freezer, then turn it off. Wait for the ice to melt on its own, then turn the freezer back on. At last, you can put back the food once the temperature has fallen to 0 F.

Most Commonly Commercial Freezer Problems and Solutions

#1 The freezer makes strange noises.
#2 The frost has built-up in the freezer.
#3 There appeared a small amount of water leaking on the floor next to my freezer.
#4 Commercial freezer won’t run.
#5 The freezer temperature is too high.

#1 The freezer makes strange noises.

The evaporator fan motor needs to be replaced. Confine mind, though, that not all freezers will make exactly the same noise while this happens. Noises coming from the freezer can also be prompted through:

– Clicking sounds from the kitchen equipment because it harvests a batch of ice.
– Sizzling sounds due to the fact the appliance goes via a defrost cycle.
– Gurgling sounds as water drains off the evaporative coil in the course of the defrost cycle.
– Swishing or whirring sounds as a multiple-velocity fan ramps up to excessive velocity.

The key question to ask yourself is that if the other troubles are going on with the equipment. Is that the kitchen equipment working? Does the freezer hold your required temperature? Does it dispense water and ice? If the entirety is functioning, then the noise is perhaps just the equipment surfing its normal operation.

Diagnosing noise criticism is often very difficult. What looks as if humming on in some unspecified time in the future may sound like humming on another. Loudness is generally relative. So what’s taken into consideration loud at night might be quiet throughout the day. Also, unique situations will cause the equipment to sound differently.

Always verify the product manual for particular information regarding regular running sounds.

#2 The frost has built-up in the freezer.

The defrost heater should be replaced. Counting on where the frost is forming, it might be a way to many correctable situations.

Frost forming spherical the door’s gaskets shows the door wasn’t completely closed. Search for any packaging or objects which may obstruct the gaskets from sealing properly. For example, food applications protruding too far, a drawer that’s now not absolutely sealing, an ice field now not locked down or gadgets left on the pinnacle of the equipment.

The freezer temperature can also be set at a low level if the frost is light, snowy and seems to be everywhere. If the set temperatures of the appliance are too low, there isn’t an opportunity to put off the moisture from the air because the equipment cools.

Ensure the commercial freezer median temperature is 0°F (-18°C).
The upright freezer door may also left open when the frost is anywhere and is tough and icy. At first, the frost will shape closer to the door area but sooner or later will cover all the interior.

In most of the cases, solving the issue that brought about the frost buildup and allowing the freezer to have some of defrost cycles will resolve the excessive frost. And therefore the appliance is going to function normally again.

Frozen buildup at the rear of the unit’s segment, where is the evaporator coil, suggests trouble with the defrost cycle. Depends on the equipment, this might be, at the same time, a defrost sensor, defrost timer, a bimetal, defective heater, or manipulate panel. Further troubleshooting is needed to pinpoint what precisely is required to remedy the issue.

#3 There appeared a small amount of water leaking on the floor next to my freezer.

The defrost drain has frozen over and desires to be defrosted and cleaned. Water on the ground via the appliance can also go with the flow from to:
– Dropped dice that melted.
– Spilt drink whilst filling a glass.

If the appliance has water and ice, the leak may come from the internal connections. Verify the water line course from the shut-off valve to the upright freezer. Check carefully in which the road appends to the appliance and to the valve. The water line must be replaced if it’s draining anywhere.

Carefully check out the shut-off valve. The valve ought to be replaced if it’s leaking. Contact a licensed plumber to alternate it if you’re not able to attempt it by yourself.

If the water is coming from the freezer itself, it’ll drift from to the condensation pan overfilling. This will generally go with the flow from to:

– Excessive quantity of frost forming on the evaporative coils. When the freezer is going via a defrost cycle, it’s making much water than the drain pan can hold. This could float from too excessive utilization, specifically during times of high humidity.
Limit the time you spend with the door open.

– Water isn’t evaporating within the condensation pan before the next defrost cycle. Assure the rear mechanical room cowl is in situ. This enables proper airflow over the condensation pan, that can improve the velocity at which the water is evaporated.
The condensation pan needs to be repaired or changed if it’s choppy and leaking.

#4 Commercial freezer won’t run.

The virtual controls ought to be replaced. But first, check if the energy slight indicator and freezer moderate are working. If not, energy may not be flowing to the product. Check if the unit controls are correctly set.

Newer domestic equipment have a showroom or demo mode used at the sales floor to highlight abilities without strolling the cooling machine. Most of the time, the commands on how the appliance is getting in and out of demo mode might be listed in the manufacturer’s manual within the “Setting the Appliance’s Controls” phrase.

The specific putting to check is that the upright freezer has been set to off.
Verify controls are set to 0°F (-18°C) for the display freezer unit and 37°F (3°C) for the display fridge. You may set the mechanical controls to the midpoint settings. Check the unit’s manual for precise commands on adjusting the device’s set temperature.

Check the system has energy going to it. This may be done through the use of verifying interior lights or checking if the interfaces display is on. Or if the equipment can dispense water or ice.

If there’s no power going to the gadget, test to see if the cabinet can be plugged in something else, like a hairdryer or lamp. If that tool additionally doesn’t work, then the hole doesn’t have power going to it. Search for a tripped GFI outlet or tripped circuit breaker. You may also call a certified electrician.

If its energy is going to the opening, there may be a problem with the number one control or consumer interface boards. Or the temperature-checker devices together with the sensors, or the thermostat is probably bad. Further troubleshooting may be had to pinpoint and solve the trouble.

#5 The freezer temperature is too high.

You’ll need to replace the defrost thermostat if its contacts aren’t well functioning. The ordinary freezer temperature is among 0ºF and 5ºF. Here are some things to check:

The commercial freezer’s set temperature is correct. Ensure it wasn’t through a twist of fate adjusted to a higher temperature. If it was, set the temperature correctly to the advocated setting of 0°F (-18°C).

Ensure there’s enough quantity of goods inside the freezer phase. It’s encouraged to hold the freezer 70% to 85% full. Too heaps stuff in there will restriction air circulation in the system — and too little will reason all of the cold air to spill out of the equipment on every occasion it’s opened.

The placement of products in the device is also important. Keep topics calmly dispersed close to the middle of the cabinets so as no longer to dam any vents or intervene with right air circulation.

Check that the equipment is stored in an environment among 55°F (13°C) and 110°F (43°C). If the environment is simply too cold, the freezer may not get sufficient run time to preserve its temperature. If the temperature is too warm, the equipment should have a tough time getting the interior right down to the preferred temperature.

There may be a defrost trouble, in which the evaporator coil is located, is intently frosted. Depending on the equipment, this will be because of a defective defrost heater, bimetal, defrost sensor or control board.

The temperature-monitoring tool can be malfunctioning, each a temperature sensor or thermostat isn’t reading the temperature correctly.

The main manipulate board might not be reading the temperature to manage input correctly.
The sealed device can be leaking, and there’s no longer enough freon to chill the freezer to the preferred temperature.

5.Cleaning a Freezer

Having a dirty, iced-over freezer can drastically decrease its efficiency, boom your strength bill and wreck your saved food. Unpleasant smells and tastes can have an effect on your products. However, you may avoid this with the aid of giving your property system a good smooth. Ideally, you need to smooth your freezer at least twice a year.

– Materials
– Preparations
– Cleaning operation

First of all, you’ll need

Materials:

– Rubber gloves
– Towels
– Sponge or microfiber fabric
– Old toothbrush
– White vinegar
– Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
– Dishwashing liquid detergent

Preparations

First topics first – you need to defrost the freezer if you need to easy it properly. So, this is in which you start:

– Empty out the commercial freezer. Remove all the food from the freezer to get to the messy components. Put the products in your fridge, an ice-crammed cooler or a box coated with newspaper. This will hold your products cool as you work. Take any cabinets or drawers out of the freezer as well. You will want to easy those later.

– Put towels down. Avoid any similarly mess through putting towels down and round your freezer. They will soak up any water that could leak because of the melting frost. You wouldn’t need to purpose a few other messes that you’d have to deal with.

– Prepare a cleaning solution. In a bowl, make a combination of white vinegar and hot water. Alternatively, you can use baking soda mixed into heat soapy water. These substances help to interrupt down the stains so that you can wipe them off easily.

Avoid the usage of harsh chemicals which incorporates bleach. They also need extra time to air-out and may damage your freezer and have an impact on food. Avoid scented dishwashing liquid – the flavours can also moreover transfer over to any food you have got stored.

Cleaning operation

Now that you’re truly prepared, it’s time to begin cleansing the freezer. Keep in thoughts that you’ll be trying to clean the shelves and drawers, too.

Wipe ice down with a warm material.

You need to melt any ice that may have built-up interior your freezer. Start by way of the utilization of a cloth dipped in hot, soapy water to wipe it down. Once the edges begin to melt, the ice pieces should break off. Once it goes down, junk it in the sink. Use a wet material to wipe down the walls and floor of the freezer to cast off any leftover frost.

Clean the freezer with a sponge.

Use a microfiber fabric (or a sponge) dipped inside the choice to wipe down the door, partitions and floor of your freezer. You would possibly also need to replicate this step to remove extra chronic stains.
Don’t forget to clean the gasket as well. Using an old used toothbrush and the cleaning aggregate, scrub any dirt off it and wipe the residue with a sponge.

Dry your upright or chest freezer.

Before putting some element back, you’d need to dry the freezer with the assist of microfiber fabric. This will do away with any extra moisture internal. That manner, you prevent any additional buildup ice once you shut the door and the temperature drops.

Wash the cabinets and drawers.

You should clean the drawers and shelves before putting them back to the commercial freezer. Use warm, soapy water to clean them and dry them off with a smooth cloth. Put them decrease returned in the freezer and near the door.

Return food to the freezer.

First, you must wait for the temperature to fall down. Then, you can return any goods you’ve got taken out and you’re all done!

– Avoid rubbing the ice using a knife. Consequently, you may damage the commercial freezer walls.
– Do no longer use boiling water without delay to your walls to keep away from detrimental them. Make advantageous to wipe any more water off the floor afterwards to save you slips and falls.
– If you don’t have the time to smooth your freezer, there are different options. Most modern-day models have a self-defrosting feature. This makes cleaning them faster and easier.
– If you’re no longer geared up for an alternate of equipment, you can make a professional cleaning.