How to Protect Your Walk-in Cooler Doors

A standard 8 x 8 x 8 walk-in unit uses approximately 8,000-kilowatt-hours per year, equating to over $1,200 per year per unit. With the high cost of running these units, you must find ways to save money and limit repairs. Protect walk-in cooler doors with regular cleanings, limit how much you stack on the cooler, and monitor the door gaskets.

Regular Cleanings

Quite possibly the most used equipment in a convenience store, restaurant, or grocery store, these doors are easily dirtied. Regular cleaning keeps dirt and grime off the cooler door.

While manufacturers use high-quality materials for a freezer door, dirt and grime will rust and ruin smaller pieces like door hinges and wiring. Since many temperature-controlled doors use wiring for frost and ice prevention, it’s crucial you regularly wipe the door opening, drain lines, and kick plates while also checking for loose wires.

Limit Stacking on Cooler

A good rule of thumb for the unit as a whole is to limit the weight you stack on the walk-in coolers. Ideally, it would help if you never put anything on top of a walk-in freezer as it increases the cooler’s temperature. These doors cannot hold a lot of weight, so with floor-to-ceiling doors, stacking boxes on them risks damaging the hinges and tearing any wiring in the process.

Door Gaskets

The main job of the cooler unit is to retain cold air within and prevent warm air from entering the unit. While constantly opening the doors affects the internal temperature, it’s crucial that while they are closed, they stay sealed.

If the door’s seals are weak or torn, the door cannot maintain internal temperature, which increases your energy costs.

Conclusion

A walk-in freezer is an investment, so it would be best to care for your expensive appliance. One of the most fragile parts of a walk-in unit is the door. To protect the door, you should regularly clean it, limit what you stack on the cooler, and maintain the door seals. Doing these three things ensures your walk-in units will continue running for years with minimal issues.

PGS offers a Preventative Maintenance Program to help you with your refrigerator door maintenance. With this service, our techs and surveying teams will regularly come to your store for routine inspections and check your equipment’s small parts for damage and regular maintenance needs.