The walk-in freezer is one of the most essential pieces of equipment in a restaurant, and one of the issues you should keep an eye out for is ice buildup. In today’s post, local air conditioning and heating service company American Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning Co., Inc. shares a quick guide to solving the problem of ice buildup in your walk-in freezer.
What Causes Ice Buildup?
Ice buildup is the result of moisture in the air getting trapped in the freezer, resulting in frost on the walls, shelving and ceiling. The following are some of the most common causes of ice buildup:
The door is left open for too long — When staff leave the door open for too long when restocking, humid air from outside the walk-in can infiltrate the space.
Gasket failure — Old or damaged door gaskets can allow air from the outside to infiltrate the space.
Faulty door — The freezer door may have faulty hinges and door closers that prevent the door from closing properly.
Leaky insulation panel — Old insulation panels may have leaks that result in water or ice saturation. If you notice water leaking from the panels when the refrigerator is off, you need to contact your refrigeration and air conditioning service technician as soon as possible.
How to Prevent Ice Buildup
Most of the causes described above can be prevented with regular inspections of your walk-in freezer. Your refrigeration contractor can help you come up with a multi-point inspection checklist that includes the gaskets, the door hinges and other weak points as described above.
Additionally, staff can be trained not to leave freezer doors open, or you can install self-closing hinges or a durable door closer to make sure the doors remain closed. You can also control the moisture levels in the freezer by installing a dehumidifier — which is ideal when you need to store products that initially have high moisture content. Lastly, make sure to contact your commercial refrigeration contractor if you find issues with your walk-in freezer. The sooner repairs are completed, the less downtime there will be
American Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning Co., Inc. is your leading provider of HVAC services. Give us a call at (662) 337-7968. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
