The commercial refrigerator you have in your restaurant's kitchen was probably a very expensive investment, which is why you want to ensure you keep it in good repair over the years; how you maintain that refrigerator will contribute quite a bit to its overall longevity. Note a few tips that can ensure your expensive refrigerator is always running efficiently and is always in good repair.
Leave room for ventilation
All refrigerators should be placed a few inches or centimetres away from the wall behind them as heat vents out the back of the unit. Your commercial refrigerator, because it's larger and may need to stay cooler inside than the one you have at home, may produce even more heat, which means it needs more room for ventilation. No matter how crowded your kitchen, avoid pushing the refrigerator against the wall and never store anything on top of the unit that hangs over the back edge as this will block air circulation in the back. If you ever pull the unit out and notice the wall behind it is warm, this might mean that the refrigerator is sitting too close to that wall, so give it more space for even more ventilation.
Clean the coils regularly
The condenser coils produce and circulate the cool air that gets blown into the refrigerator. When these coils get dusty and dirty, they need to work harder or may not produce enough cool air to keep the refrigerator cold inside. To ensure a thorough clean, remove the condenser cover before running a vacuum hose in front of the refrigerator. This cover sits on the front of the refrigerator at the bottom and usually just unscrews to be removed. This will give you more access to do a thorough job of cleaning those coils behind the cover, keeping them free of dust and debris.
Inspect and clean gaskets regularly
The gaskets are the rubber pieces around the inside of the refrigerator door, and these provide a tight seal for the door. Gaskets are typically folded up like an accordion so that they form a slight vacuum, helping the door stay closed. You need to inspect these gaskets regularly, pulling gently at the folds to look for cracks and rips. Even small tears should be repaired quickly as these rips reduce that vacuum effect so the refrigerator isn't sealed shut. In turn, the refrigerator lets out cool air and the motor works harder to keep the inside cold.
Make sure you schedule refrigeration servicing as needed so as to avoid large amounts of spoiled food.
