Commercial Refrigeration Safety Guidelines

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When you get a commercial refrigeration unit installed, it’s easy to focus on the interior capacity and how much food it can store; whether it fits perfectly into the kitchen of your store, restaurant, or supermarket; and how much it costs to operate. Many commercial fridges are also sold based on their efficiency. An important aspect you need to consider, however, is how to keep your fridge safely in operation.

 

There are a few safety guidelines that need to be followed when you have any type of commercial refrigerator, whether it’s for your business or restaurant. Following these guidelines will optimize the performance of the fridge, but will also protect you from potential damage that can come from a faulty fridge or poor maintenance—whether that damage is customers getting sick, or failing a health and safety inspection.

 

 

Keep An Eye on Refrigerant

Refrigerant is required within the system in order for your fridge to be able to reach lower temperatures. Your fridge must be at 40°F or lower to ensure that food is preserved and prevented from spoiling. If your refrigerant level is low, this means that there is a leak somewhere. Instead of just simply refilling, you need to find where the leak is and get it repaired. Failure to do so means that refrigerant will be released into the atmosphere of your business, and this is a violation of the Clean Air Act and will result in heavy fines.

 

 

Make Sure Fans Are Unobstructed

This is another important aspect that you should pay attention to, in order to ensure your fridge is working correctly. The fans within your refrigerator push out hot air to keep the interior cold. Anything that’s blocking them can not only increase your utility bill, but can be dangerous. Make sure that there are no obstructions and that there is no risk of overheating.

 

 

Check the Thermometer

The thermometer and all other parts of your fridge need to be kept in working order so that the proper temperatures can be maintained. Temperatures that are too low can result in frozen food, and temperatures that are too high can spoil everything.

 

 

Keep Up with Regular Maintenance

This is a must to ensure the safety of your food. All electrical components of your fridge should be checked two to four times a year. Keep an eye on faulty wiring, condenser coils, evaporator coils, and drain lines. If any of these fail, your fridge will not maintain its temperature and your whole unit may be damaged.

 

Several times a year, you should have a licensed commercial refrigeration professional come in and fully inspect your unit to recommend repairs. While you can look yourself, a professional will know more about extensive maintenance and repairs and will be able to help you get your fridge, and your business, back on track.

 

 

If you have the best commercial refrigeration equipment, it’s imperative to follow the above guidelines. The safety of your food starts with how efficient your fridge is, and you need to remain vigilant about its maintenance.