Maintenance of cooling and freezing equipment

ការពិពណ៌នា

The following maintenance checklist can help companies prolong the useful life of their refrigeration equipment.

Condensers

Clean them regularly, especially air-cooled types
The frequency of cleaning depends on the condenser location and its surrounding environment
Check fan/pump motors all work
Check fans are not loose on motors

Compressors

Carry out standard maintenance if required
Recover oil and recharge compressors as necessary (ammonia systems)

Air coolers

Clean them regularly
Check the defrost (where necessary) is working correctly
Check the defrost control allows the optimum time for defrosting
Check fan/pump motors all work
Check fans are not loose on motors
Liquid chillers - Check water pump operation.

Liquid line filter drier - Check for blockage and replace if necessary.

Refrigerant charge

Check liquid level in the receiver or check for bubbling in the liquid line sight glass
Check for leaks all-round the system and repair (this is required under EU 'F-gas' regulations on the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases)

Control

Ensure the discharge pressure is as low as possible; in particular, check that head pressure control settings are not too high
Check that the suction pressure is as high as possible
Check cold room/process temperature set points; they should not be lower than required
Check superheat setting of expansion valves and adjust if necessary

Insulation

Replace suction line insulation if necessary
Replace chilled liquid line insulation if necessary
Repair or replace cold store insulation if necessary
Cold store doors

Ensure doors are not left open unnecessarily
Repair or replace door seals if necessary
Repair or replace strip curtains if necessary
Repair or replace air curtain if necessary

Ice build-up

If condensate pipes are iced-up, applying gentle heat will help to defrost
Integral defrosting elements should work correctly
Ice build-up on evaporators indicates to poor heat exchange
Light ice build-up can be removed with a brush, but heavy ice has to be removed as described in manufacturer guidelines
In order to avoid damage, sharp objects should never be used for de-icing
The Retail Code of Conduct includes information on service and maintenance of cooling systems