Proper commercial refrigeration maintenance is extremely important. It will extend life of commercial refrigeration including coolers, freezers & ice machines. Routine maintenance can also reduce the chances of emergency service caused by major component failure such as a compressor or condenser fan motor going bad due to a dirty coil. We try to get the word out about this as much as possible. We want to let our clients & everyone else know how important maintenance is. In this case an ounce of prevention is worth much more than a pound of cure!The following is a short list of some possible problems caused by not maintaining equipment on a regular basis.Failure of fan motors caused by dirty coils restricting air flow.Failure of thermostat caused by high amp draw due to dirty condenser coils.Failure of compressor caused by dirty condenser coil & excessive head pressure.Restriction of capillary tubing (metering device) caused by refrigerant oil … [Read more...]
Commercial Refrigeration Energy Saving Tips
Refrigeration accounts for about 20% of the energy used world wide. There are steps that can be taken to lower commercial refrigeration energy consumption. Following our thorough refrigeration maintenance checklist and performing control upgrades can reduce electrical consumption by as much as 20% and more. It can also extend the life of commercial refrigeration equipment & prevent commercial refrigeration repair service. The following is recommended to start reducing commercial refrigeration energy usage & avoid commercial refrigeration service calls. Commercial Refrigeration Energy Saving ChecklistKeep condenser coils clean & de grease if necessary. Have the coils inspected once a month or more. Make sure door gaskets (seals) are in good condition & working properly. If refrigeration unit is equipped with automatic door closers make sure they operate properly. Keep commercial ice machines clean & have them serviced at least twice a year. Ice Machine … [Read more...]
Know When To Replace Your Commercial Refrigerator Or Compressor
When it comes to repairs, think of your commercial refrigerator like you would your car. Imagine the compressor in a cooler is like an engine in a vehicle. If the compressor goes bad and is replaced you get a new compressor, not a whole new cooler. The same way the garage doesn't tell you to get a new car just because you need a bit of engine work. In other words, all the other components including coils, fans, controls, piping, and gaskets (door seals) are still old. This is similar to an engine in a car going bad and being replaced. You end up with a new engine in an old car. There are a couple of key factors to consider when trying to decide whether or not to do a major repair on a piece of refrigeration equipment. Here are a few things to ponder before pulling the trigger on an expensive repair.1. How old is the cooler? If older than 10 years it is advisable to price out a new one.2. What kind of refrigerant is used in the cooler? If the answer is R12, R502, or R22, … [Read more...]
5 Steps To Conserve Energy & Extend Life Of Refrigeration Equipment In Chicago
The following is a short, but extremely important, list of things end-users can do on their own to reduce power usage and extend the life of their commercial refrigeration units including coolers, freezers, and ice machines. This list is easy to check, and critical in maintaining proper product temperature. If, after reading this, you should have any questions please feel free to contact us! 1: KEEP CONDENSER COILS CLEAN: This includes condensers on coolers, freezers, and ice machines! The condenser coil is the heat exchanger on refrigeration units. It's the coil located on the outside of unit and expels the heat from refrigerant by passing it through a coil with the aid of a fan. It is ESSENTIAL TO KEEP THIS COIL CLEAN for proper operation of the unit. Failure to do so will result in expensive repairs including, but not limited to, compressor failure, fan motor failure, capillary tubing restrictions, burnt wiring and thermostat failure.We recommend that the … [Read more...]
AHR EXPO in Chicago showcasing Innovations in Commercial Refrigeration
On January 23rd through the 25th, Chicago welcomes the 2012 AHR EXPO. The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Exposition will be host to over 2,000 companies, showcasing industry exhibits from over 30 countries. The International AHR Expo is the premier industry event where leading manufacturers and innovative suppliers display their latest products. All areas of the industry will be represented from Green, energy efficient systems and more sustainable building technology, software, innovative tools, services, right down to service equipment.Everyone is welcome: engineers, facility managers, OEMs, architects, educators, students, HVAC&R industry professionals, and anyone with an interest in the industry. If you’re interested in up-and-coming innovations in the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration industries this is the event for you.Northeast Cooling strives to be on the forefront of new, and especially Green Refrigeration, innovations in the Commercial … [Read more...]
Storms Wreak Havoc Northeast Cooling Saves the Day!
Severe storms and extreme temperatures have wreaked havoc among homeowners and businesses alike across the Chicagoland and Milwaukee areas in the past two weeks. Northeast Cooling knows firsthand how nerve-wracking and frustrating outages and overworked equipment can be for those that depend upon them for their livelihood. Last Saturday around 10 PM, we received a call from a meat warehouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The entire refrigerated warehouse was down due to a compressor that would not stay on. The temperature was rising fast and so were tensions. The owners had roughly $50,000 worth of meat that they stood to lose within hours if something didn’t happen FAST!Mitch headed up to Kenosha from Mundelein, Illinois and arrived around 11:30 PM. Once inside, he found the compressor overheated and off on High Pressure Safety cutout. This meant that neither condenser fans were running at all. With some thorough checking of the electrical system, he found one of the two in-line … [Read more...]
