Heat Stress on Refrigerators

Keep Them Clean to Keep Them Cold

FANS

1. Unplug unit and wipe fan with a mild detergent or degreaser

2. Rinse thoroughly with a spray bottle

3. Check that fan rotates freely – fans should

not squeal

4. Check all fan blade set screws and tighten

as needed

5. Lubricate motors where applicable – not motors with sealed bearings

6. If unit has multiple fans, they all must be operating. If one is not, air will leak back

through the opening of the stopped fan instead of being forced through the

evaporator

Do not leave chemicals like detergent, bleach, or ammonia on refrigeration components.

They cause corrosion and reduce the life of the unit.

CONDENSERS

1. If you can’t see light through the condenser, it needs cleaning

2. Unplug unit

3. Brush fins in one direction with a stiff bristled brush; clean brush following each pass

4. Wipe dust off other components

5. If washing, use a mild detergent or a commercial condenser cleaner; then rinse/flush thoroughly with a spray bottle (detergents and cleaners can corrode the

coil)

6. Install castors to easily move reach-in units for cleaning condenser coils in back

7. Condenser units can be placed outside or in basement to reduce heat in kitchen and

increase efficiency of unit

REACH-IN REFRIGERATION UNITS

In bain-maries, the cold air flow inside the unit should be directed onto the bottom of the inserts.

Older bain-maries that direct cold air flow

horizontally can be retrofitted with an evaporator that directs cold air vertically directly onto the bottom of the inserts.

WALK-IN REFRIGERATION UNITS

1. Install and maintain self-closing devices

on walk-in doors.

2. Remind employees to shut off the lights

when they exit the unit or install motion-

activated lights so that the lights go off

automatically.

3. Install fluorescent lights in walk-ins; they

produce less heat.

4. Install hanging strip curtains in walk-in

unit doorways.

ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS

1. Replace worn or leaky door gaskets and seal cracks to prevent warm air from entering unit.

2. Don’t stack items around the fans or evaporator – it will restrict air flow and decrease performance.

3. A build-up of ice around the entire evaporator coil indicates that the unit needs to be defrosted.

4. A strip of ice build-up on the evaporator coil indicates a possible refrigerant leak.

5. Use stainless steel pans and inserts; they conduct cold better.

6. Be sure that air circulates freely in the unit, unobstructed by containers piled too

high or too close together.

7. Monitor the temperatures of your refrigeration several times a day.

Keep a Refrigeration Temperature Log

Use a separate log for each refrigerator or freezer. Take temperature in warmest part of unit (normally at highest point next to door). Call repairman if temperature stays above 38°F (refrigerators) or 0°F(freezers) for more than a few minutes.

Check the accuracy of the thermometers in your refrigeration units monthly.