Tag Archive for: Commercial Refrigeration

Commercial Refrigeration Accessories Explained

/in /by

For businesses with commercial kitchens, walk-in coolers and freezers, and similar refrigeration systems, refrigeration accessories are extremely important. They are what keep food, drinks, and other perishable items cool, along with cooling other equipment. You may not think about it, but these accessories help keep your business running. There are also plenty of ways to use these accessories to make your system more energy efficient. That’s why it’s important to understand what these accessories are and what they do for your refrigerators and freezers.

Strip Curtains

Strip curtains are PVC strips that regulate the temperatures of refrigerated areas in walk-in coolers and freezers. They can come in 4-, 6-, and 8-inch widths, and they prevent dust and contaminants from getting into refrigerated areas in freezers and coolers. Strip curtains also prevent warm, unrefrigerated air from entering walk-in freezers and coolers, so they help extend the shelf life of the products inside. Since they work as infiltration barriers, strip curtains reduce the compressor’s run time. That increases the cooler’s or freezer’s energy efficiency.

Not only are strip curtains energy efficient, they’re also federally mandated. The U.S. Department of Energy’s most recent refrigeration standards require that all walk-in coolers and freezers manufactured after Jan. 1, 2009, have strip curtains. So if you have an older freezer or cooler, you’ll want to update it so it’s compliant.

Night Covers

Night covers are deployed during your facility’s off-hours to reduce display cases’ energy consumption. Additionally, they have perforated components that decrease moisture buildup in the refrigerated displays. When they’re deployed, night covers reduce heating, utility, and operating costs, and they reduce maintenance as well. Night covers are easily installed and easily used, but they cannot be used during your business’s open hours because they would prevent customers from accessing the contents. However, they will keep your displays running smoothly by reducing their runtime when your facilities are unoccupied.

Door Closers

Door closers are applied to the main insulated areas of walk-in coolers and freezers. They are mounted at the tops of doors, and they work well with self-closing hinges to reduce door-opening time and deflect warm outside air. Door closers are required refrigerator parts in commercial facilities, but they also work well in other, non-commercial facilities.

Maximize Your Energy Conservation With OES

If you want your commercial refrigeration system to operate with maximum energy efficiency and to comply with federal standards, you need a team of experts who can provide the proper equipment and installation. OES is a partner you can trust to deliver high-quality accessories and top-notch installation services for your refrigeration cases and systems. We know which products and techniques will help you save energy while also saving money. If you have any questions about our services or would like a consultation, contact OES today.

Commercial Freezing Done Right

/in /by

Modernizing your refrigeration and freezer system is a very careful, yet critical practice. This is especially important if you work in a commercial setting. There are many people that you’ll need to support, so it’s important that your refrigeration equipment is always performing up to par. A fully-functioning refrigeration and freezer are two must-have machines, but in order to get the most out of these cooling solutions, it’s a good idea to know he best ways to care for them. That’s why it’s crucial for you to take the right steps in order to keep your systems up to date.

This is the procedure that you’ll need to follow in order to maximize the performance of your commercial freezing and refrigeration equipment:

Get The Right Equipment In Place

The first step in this process is to understand what you are working with. If there is a lot of food to store, then make sure that you have an abundance of commercial freezer parts present. The right equipment is essential. Some of the commercial cooler parts that your repair company should support you with includes:

  • Reach-in refrigeration systems
  • Walk-in coolers (for restaurant and kitchen settings)
  • Ice machines and water coolers
  • Upright and chest freezers
  • Cold air insulation systems
  • Defrosting units and drainage systems
  • Commercial freezer door parts (hinges, gaskets, locks, etc.)

Maintenance And Upkeep

Once you have gathered the right supplies, it’s important that you put together a regular maintenance plan. These programs should have a cleaning and inspection list. Make sure to thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of your freezer and refrigeration stations. Perform a close examination of the entire surface area, and if there are any replacement parts that need to be installed, make sure this gets accomplished immediately.

Maintain A Steady Airflow

Keeping cold air flowing into the refrigeration system is vital. In order to do this, you need to make sure that your cold air intake valve, compressor, and condenser coils are all working in unison. The condenser coil will generate hot gas into the refrigeration unit. The gas will then be transported into the compressor unit and converted into a liquid coolant. From there, the evaporator fan motor will convert the fluid into cool air and properly distribute that throughout the refrigeration surface.

Routine Defrosting and Drainage

In order to keep food items fresh, you’ll need to defrost your refrigeration system on a routine basis. To do this properly, make sure you set a defrost timer for yourself. Remove all refrigeration and freezer stations from the system and then manually defrost the system by unplugging the units. Finally, once all the frost has melted, you’ll need to dispose of any water or liquid waste through the drainage valve.

Inspect The Gaskets

A door gasket is an essential refrigeration part. This utility is what keeps the freezer or refrigerator sealed shut. If the gasket splits or cracks in any way, then this will prevent you from keeping the unit door shut, causing cool air to exit from the interior. To prevent any damage, make sure that you routinely clean the gaskets. If there are any cracks or splits detected, make an immediate effort to replace the entire gasket with its appropriate model.

Keep The Refrigeration Units Dry

Too much moisture can cause your freezer or refrigerator to inadvertently freeze. If this happens, then it can stop the unit from working properly altogether. Be sure to wipe off any liquid that accumulates in the interior of the refrigeration system. Check for moisture buildups frequently and clean up after any spills.

Leave The Hard Stuff To OES

If you are ready to upgrade your commercial refrigeration environment, then make sure you have the right team in your corner. At Orange Energizing Solutions, we are experts in all things refrigeration management. In an effort to help you maximize your refrigeration and freezer systems, we’ll make sure that you have the right supplies and equipment in place, along with the proper management guidelines.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our certified technicians.