General Tips for Refrigeration
There are two systems for showing the ambient temperatures in which cabinets will work. This is either a number or a letter which can be found on the data plate. The common ones are listed below:-
Climate Class 3 25°C 60% rh
Climate Class 4 30°C 55% rh
Climate Class 5 40°C 40% rh
Extended Temperate Class SN 10°C to 32°C (min to max)
Temperate Class N 16°C to 32°C
Sub Tropical Class ST 18°C to 38°C
Tropical Class T 18°C to 43°C
Tips for Improving Refrigeration Energy Efficiency
Location – putting a cabinet in the wrong place can lead to inadequate ventilation. This means the cabinet will have to work harder to maintain temperature. Take into account heat from windows, if the cabinets are placed against windows or in direct sunlight the compressor will have to work harder to keep the contents of the cabinet chilled or frozen. If the fridge or freezer is situated in the kitchen, try to put it in a cooler part, away from the hot cooking equipment.
Ventilation Gap – Make sure the cabinets are not placed against walls, the majority of cabinets are fitted with ventilation spacers at the back which should be used, there should be a gap of approx 100mm at the back and 20mm at either side to allow heat to flow from the cabinets condenser, if a cabinet gets over heated this will affect its ability to provide cooling. Also do not obstruct ventilation grills with boxes or stacking of goods.
Overloading – Do not overstock cabinets, the majority of chillers and freezers have clearly marked load lines. It is very important to keep food products within these lines as this ensures the air circulation around the food is not blocked. Affecting the internal airflow within a cabinet will reduce its ability to chill effectively. The cabinet will constantly work to try and rectify the problem and energy will be wasted – which will cost more in electricity!
Keep the door shut – Always shut the fridge, freezer or coldroom door and NEVER prop them open. If you are constantly going in and out of the coldroom, fit a plastic strip curtain to keep the cold in. With multideck cabinets, fit a PVC strip curtain to retain cold air during trading hours. Also fit night blinds as this will retain the cold air when the cabinet is not in use.
General Maintenance – Keeping your equipment in good working order will also help to be more energy efficient as well as increasing the working life of the cabinet.
- Check the temperature; make sure it is set at the appropriate level for the stored goods, running too cold will cost more money.
- Make sure door seal are in good condition and seal correctly. They should be tight enough to hold a piece of paper securely when closed.
- Clean the condensers regularly, at least every 3 months, to prevent dust from gathering and stopping your cabinet working properly. In hot, dusty or greasy conditions make this more frequent.