Commercial Refrigeration Maintenance Melbourne
As we say goodbye to Summer and head into the cooler months, it presents the perfect opportunity for maintenance and overhaul work on critical refrigeration assets that have worked hard over the summer. Refrigeration systems are just like any other complex bit of machinery and require regular periodic maintenance checks to keep everything operating in good order.
Some simple checks can be done by the end user, such as:
Check liquid line sight glass, if fitted, to ensure a full level of liquid.
Look out for debris/dirt build-up on the condenser and evaporator fins and ice build-up on the evaporator. This will hinder heat extraction.
Listen for excessive noise coming from compressors. It could mean that the bearings are worn and they may need to be replaced by a technician.
Listen for excessive noise coming from fans – it could mean that the bearings are worn or the fan is loose on the motor, which may result in reduced heat transfer.
Some more in depth checks require a licensed and qualified technician, such as:
Leak testing of refrigeration system and associated components to ensure no refrigerant loss.
If a refrigerant leak is not promptly repaired,
it will start to affect system efficiency and the energy cost for the refrigeration system will increase. Eventually the refrigeration system will no longer be able to provide enough cooling, which could lead to product or other losses. The longer you leave the leak before repairing it, the higher the costs for repairs, refrigerant loss, additional energy usage and other consequential losses.
Have compressor units checked and serviced regularly.
Regularly clean condensers and evaporators.
Like cars, refrigeration systems need regular maintenance to ensure they continue to perform efficiently and reliably. Set up a maintenance contract with an experienced contractor to make sure that your plant is safe, efficient and reliable. This will also reduce the cost of breakdowns and emergency service calls.
Another trick of the trade to assist end-users in diagnosing any developing maintenance issues is monitoring:
Monitoring is used to detect trends in the performance of the refrigeration system, expose developing problems and prompt timely intervention. All businesses can benefit from keeping track of the energy used by their refrigeration system. The amount and frequency of monitoring needed will depend on the size and complexity of the system.
You may want to introduce computerised monitoring with automatic fault alarms if a refrigeration fault could lead to significant stock losses, production problems or energy wastage. Such systems can be installed and operated in-house or remotely by a contractor. A refrigeration specialist will be able to determine the most appropriate level and frequency of monitoring for your system.
Get to know your system controls. Most refrigeration systems are automatic, with controls that switch the compressors and fans on and off. Basic controls work off a thermostat, while more advanced controls monitor factors such as the cooling load, the build-up of ice, and weather conditions. For freezer rooms and cabinets, electric heaters are normally used to stop surfaces such as hand rails from getting too cold, and also to prevent condensation on glass. These heaters can often be pulsed on and off, or switched off altogether when the store is closed.
The Team at MNK Technical Services can assist you with any maintenance requirements for your commercial refrigeration in Melbourne.
We can also inspect your refrigeration equipment with a view to implement any relevant adjustments in order to lessen energy consumption and increase efficiency. This is known as an “energy audit” for your refrigeration equipment, MNK can advise you on a multitude of options available to save $$$$ on refrigeration running costs.