Regular preventative maintenance is the best way to save money on unexpected repair bills. The goal with preventative maintenance is to keep your equipment running effectively as long as possible. While no cooler, freezer or ice machine will last forever, we want to help you make sure yours stays working all the way up to the end. But what kind of maintenance should you be doing to get the most out of your equipment?
We’ve compiled a list of tips and recommendations for ice machines, reach-in coolers and walk-in coolers so you know what needs to be done and when!
Ice Machines
Should be professionally serviced every 3-6 months for cleaning and maintenance. Ice machines producing high volumes of product require more regular cleaning, sanitation and service.
Remember that mineral build-up is a major cause of reduced efficiency and premature parts failure and it’s a good idea to use a cleaning solution specific for ice makers when you’re cleaning the unit between professional services.
As with all refrigeration equipment, adequate ventilation is necessary for performance. Have your staff inspect the ice maker’s air filters and vents weekly and clean as needed.
Reach-in & Walk-in Coolers
Should be serviced every six months in most cases. While there are regular inspections and cleanings that you can do yourself, a technician should still come out to check the refrigerant charge, look over all internal parts and do a thorough cleaning of the unit.
Why does refrigerant charge need to be checked so often?
Having the correct amount of refrigerant in a system is mandatory for optimal performance. Finding a unit low on refrigerant is more common than one that is overcharged but both problems can cause premature damage to equipment. We want to find these issues and take care of them before they have the chance to cause equipment failure. For example, if your cooler has a small refrigerant leak, you might not notice any decrease in performance just yet but we’ll be able to diagnose and solve the issue before you come into work one morning and find a warm cooler full of melted or expired product.
With preventative maintenance, our hope is that a little money spent on a service call will save you from a bigger repair bill in the future.
What can you do to ensure your reach-in or walk-in keeps cooling effectively?
We recommend that you check these things at least once per month:
Door seals: do the doors close with good tension? Are there any visible cracks or tears?
Drains: is the drain line clear? Do you see a buildup of rust or other debris?
Thermostat: does the thermostat setting match a stand-alone thermometer kept in the cooler? Can it maintain its temperature throughout the day?
Condenser coils: are they clear of dirt and debris? Is there good ventilation around the unit?
Evaporator: is there adequate ventilation around the evaporator? Is there excessive ice buildup?
Pro tip: monitor your building’s indoor air quality. Indoor pollutants and humidity levels can negatively affect your cooler’s performance.
If you’re not sure how to do a thorough check and clean of your cooler, we’d be glad to show you at your next service appointment. While there are some things that should be left to the professionals, there’s still a lot you can do yourself. At Tri-Point Refrigeration, we believe that giving our customers the knowledge to properly take care of their refrigeration equipment benefits everyone in the long run. All businesses need to make money but we don’t want to see you replacing your equipment before it's needed, and especially not due to a simple issue like a dirty condenser coil.
If you have any questions or want to set up a maintenance plan for your ice machine or cooler, contact us by email info@tripointref.com or call us today.
Austin, Texas Location
Tri-Point Refrigeration, Inc
118 Iron Road Suite 100,
Hutto, Texas 78634
(512) 651-4565
Lubbock, Texas Location
Tri-Point Refrigeration, Inc
13805 Avenue P Unit B
Lubbock, Texas 79423
(806) 686-0050