How Does Your Commercial Cooler Work?
While most people know plenty about their home refrigeration system, not as many know about commercial coolers. However, even non-business owners may benefit from having more information about how they work and what the benefits of having one are. HVAC and refrigeration technicians are here to share information about commercial coolers.
What Are Commercial Cooler Components?
While commercial coolers come in all different shapes and sizes, their essential components are the same. To run, a commercial cooler requires basic components like a motor, compressor, coils, and a refrigerant.The process of cooling food with a commercial cooler is simple and runs on a loop, continually working to keep the cooler at the right temperature. It starts with the refrigerant being compressed by both the motor and the compressor.
This works to heat the gas up before it starts its journey through the coils. The gas continues on through the coils and starts to cool down, turning into a liquid. After turning into a liquid, the refrigerant encounters an area of the coils with lower pressure than the rest.
At that point, with further compression, it is changed back into gas after it is boiled (vaporized). This is the part of the journey that really cools down the commercial cooler.
Commercial Coolers vs. Freezers
Obviously, commercial coolers and commercial freezers are different appliances. The major difference between them is the temperature that they keep food at. A commercial cooler keeps the temperature at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, while a commercial freezer keeps the temperature around 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Obviously, though, that also means that a commercial freezer usually has a stronger, more powerful motor than a commercial cooler.
Both systems usually have the same amount of inside storage, and costs for installation and repair are also usually about the same.
Why Commercial Coolers May Need Replacing
Just like all kitchen appliances, commercial coolers eventually break down and will need to be replaced. The vast majority of these breakdowns are caused by a failure of one of the commercial coolers main components, or just general wear and tear on the system.Look for these common signs that may indicate the commercial cooler has started to fail and may need to be replaced.
- Water Puddles Forming Around the Cooler - Water is never a good sign to see around a commercial cooler. This can be a leak of refrigerant or a failure of one of the components.
- A Buildup of Frost - Frost build-up usually indicates a problem with the temperature and the unit cooling properly.
- Sudden, Loud Noises - Grinding noises, hums, pops, bangs… while some noise is normal for a commercial cooler, others indicate a problem that may be soon to occur.
- Food Spoiling Too Soon - If food is suddenly starting to spoil much quicker than it did before, the system may be starting to fail. If there is no obvious humming noise coming from the commercial cooler, the compressor may have gone out.
In addition, most commercial coolers generally only last for 10 to 17 years. If the system is older than that, it will likely need to be replaced.
About Skovron Mechanical Services LLC.
Established in 2005, Skovron Mechanical Services LLC. is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Since then, they’ve grown into the preferred heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning company in the area. Skovron Mechanical Services LLC.’s technicians are experienced, professional, licensed, and insured.
