LETS BRING 8 COMMON PROBLEMS TO THE TABLE THAT EVERY COLD ROOM OWNER FACES
Mastering the 8 Main Cold Room Hurdles in the UK
From Takeaways to Restaurants, from small business to a large, scaled business in the food handling industry, everyone uses cold rooms. In a day to day running operation of a cold room, it’s quite common to face various issue which has a direct impact on your business, but these can be easily avoided and can be easily solved too, lets explore what are the ten common cold room problems and find their practical solutions to ensure your cold storage remains operational and efficient.
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Frequent Temperature Variations
Problem: Frequent fluctuations in temperature of your cold room can affect quality of the food stored inside, depending on the storage of the food that required specific temperature, its crucial to maintain the right temperature.
Solution: Practically speaking, it requires a bit of your attention and a regular logging, try to regularly calibrate, and maintain temperature control systems. Try to look for temperature logging devices, remote temperature loggers are ideal for this solution. Ensure cold room doors and walls have proper insulation, there is no damage to the cold room walls, ceiling panels or floor panels and carefully seal any leaks in the cold room structure.
Our expert engineers at G M Cold Rooms can help you finding the right temperature monitoring device for you and help you with any air leaks that might affect your temperature to variate.
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Ice Buildup on Floors, Ceiling or Side Wall Panels
Problem: When ice starts formation on cold room floors, or Ceiling Panels, or any walls, not only it can damage the cold room’s structure and affect its cooling efficiency, but it can cause severe injuries to the person managing stock in cold room, as it holds a risk of slipping.
Solution: The main reason for ice formation is the moisture in the cold room, that can be built for various reason, the most common of them is your door seals, and leaving doors open. Therefore, it’s good to check for and repair door seals and always keep your door closed when not in use. Ensure the defrost system is functioning correctly and adjust its settings if necessary. This can also be avoided by using Cold Room Strip Curtains.
If you are still experiencing ice, you can always get in touch with G M Cold Rooms, we have qualified engineers who can inspect and resolve any ice buildup issues in your cold room.
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High Energy Bills
Problem: Factors like Leaks, loss of cold air can lead to increased energy consumption.
Solution: Since many factors can affect your energy bill, one primary factor is insulation and sealing of your Cold Room, once this is catered for, you can consider controlling temperature and humidity, using temperature sensors to control thermostat can help you reduce your energy usage. Conduct energy audits to identify inefficiencies. Upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting and insulation and ensure the cold room doors are sealed properly.
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Poor Air Circulation
Problem: Inadequate air flow can create hot spots and lead to uneven cooling.
Solution: By regularly checking and cleaning air vents and fans, you can ensure you have the best air circulation in the cold room, one good practice is to stack your perishable items a little away from the walls i.e., 25 mm is the ideal distance here. One other way is to use Cold Room Shelving i.e., Wire Shelves, Do not stack or block the evaporators. Arrange goods in a manner that allows for unobstructed air circulation.
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Refrigeration System Failure
Problem: The refrigeration system can fail due to various issues, leading to a complete shutdown and loss of stock
Solution: By implementing a regular maintenance schedule for the refrigeration system, including cleaning, checking for leaks, and replacing worn components can help you to identify any refrigeration failure systems earlier. Always keep a backup option i.e., keep a note down of emergency contact numbers in case you experience a failure.
G M Cold Rooms UK have professional engineers available to assist you for all emergency situations.
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Lighting Issues
Problem: Inefficient lighting can contribute to higher energy costs and heat within the cold room.
Solution: Switch to LED lighting, which is more energy-efficient and emits less heat compared to traditional lighting.
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Drainage Problems
Problem: Poor drainage can lead to water accumulation and hygiene issues.
Solution: Ensure that the cold room’s drainage system is clear of obstructions and that water can flow freely away from the area. If you experience blocked drainage, always clear the area before using any chemicals to unblock drain, it will be ideal to use an engineer who are professional to help you with drainage issues.
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Structural Damage
Problem: Damage to the cold room’s structure can compromise its insulation and efficiency.
Solution: Conduct regular inspections of the cold rooms structure for any signs of damage and repair them promptly to maintain insulation integrity, always buy a modular cold room, this will make it easy for you to replace a damaged panel just in case you would need one.
Conclusion
Regular maintenance and prompt attention to any issues that arise are key to keeping your cold room functioning efficiently. By addressing these common problems, you can ensure the longevity of your cold room and the safety and quality of the goods stored within it. Remember, preventive measures and routine checks are always better than costly repairs and downtimes.
Should you need want a refrigeration company to look after your cold room for you, we at GM Cold Rooms can provide our best quote for your cold room service, feel free to contact us today.