For many businesses, commercial refrigerators are an essential piece of equipment.
Whether you’re a butcher, baker, or running a busy hotel kitchen, your commercial refrigerator is just one of the things that keep everything up and running.
They have all the same components as the fridge in your kitchen at home does, but they work slightly differently to keep the products inside cool.
But how do they do it?
In this article, the commercial refrigeration experts at J&M Refrigeration reveal how commercial refrigerators keep your products chilled.
So, how does a commercial refrigerator work?
All fridges – be it the one in your kitchen at home or at work – contains a fluid called a refrigerant.
Your refrigerator pressurises, condenses and evaporates this liquid in a closed circuit to eliminate heat and reduce the temperature inside the unit.
All the components work together so that this process is constantly occurring to ensure that your produce can keep its optimal temperature.
What are the different components and what do they do?
Commercial refrigerators have 4 key components – including:
- Compressor – the compressor is one of the most important parts of any commercial refrigerator. It helps move the refrigerant throughout the unit which helps to keep the items inside nice and chilled.
- Condenser coils – these also help with the cooling process by moving air over the compressor up to the condenser fan motor.
- Condenser fan motor – this motor is what circulates the air throughout your unit by drawing it through the condenser coil – helping to regulate the internal temperature of your refrigerator in the process.
- Evaporator fan motor – this is another key component that plays a huge role in the cooling process.
What happens if these components fail?
A variety of issues can arise if any one of the above components break – including insufficient cooling and premature food spoilage.
Not only will this disrupt business, but the repairs can also be costly – depending on how big of an issue you’ve got on your hands.
Proper care and maintenance are crucial if you want to avoid these kinds of disruptions – so make sure to inspect and clean all the components of your commercial refrigeration system regularly.
How can I tell if my commercial refrigeration system is failing?
There are many telltale signs that your commercial refrigerator is struggling, with some of the most common including:
- New, strange noises
It’s totally normal for your fridge to make a little noise, like a low hum in the background. However, if you notice loud vibrating and banging, then you should call a professional to investigate immediately.
The problem may only be a quick fix – such as a misaligned compressor fan, for example – or it could be something more severe such as a problem with one of the motors.
- Ice build-up inside your refrigerator
This can happen for many reasons, but it’s important to have a professional rule out that it’s not a refrigerant leak.
- Inconsistent temperatures
Again this can be caused by many things, such as dirty condenser coils, a refrigerant leak or an incorrect oil-refrigerant ratio.
If you’ve tried cleaning all the components of your fridge and are still having issues, be sure to seek expert assistance to diagnose and treat the problem.
Need expert advice?
Got a problem with your commercial refrigeration unit? Looking for expert maintenance tips?
The team at J&M Refrigeration are on hand and would be more than happy to assist you!
Offering both planned and 24/7 reactive commercial refrigeration repair services, they’re always just a call away should you run into any problems. Give them a call today to find out more, or send them an email and they’ll be in touch with further details!
