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In a supermarket or any other business that uses cold cases and refrigeration systems, keeping perishable goods at the proper temperature is crucial. If your equipment isn’t working correctly or the temperature isn’t properly set, you could end up with spoiled inventory, health code violations, expensive repairs, and lost customers. If you need to keep perishables cold, here’s why regular maintenance is a must.
Maintenance prevents product loss
Some perishables are sensitive to the slightest temperature fluctuations, and if it goes unnoticed, you could have thousands of dollars in spoiled goods. For example, deli meats, dairy, seafood, and packaged meals are especially sensitive to temperature changes.
Regular maintenance, which begins with inspections, will catch issues like compressor problems, air leaks, and coolant system leaks. All of these problems can cause a breakdown if left unrepaired.
Maintenance inspections can also identify poor-quality components that could be contributing to breakdowns and low efficiency. For example, maybe your refrigerator is using an older heat exchanger when you could be using microchannel coils for better efficiency. Once discovered, you can either upgrade the part or buy a new refrigeration unit.
Maintenance protects your reputation
If your store consistently stocks spoiled or wilted perishables, customer trust will disappear fast. Most customers will understand a simple mistake if your refrigerator breaks down once, but not when it’s an ongoing issue.
Bad smells and condensation in a cold case instantly tell customers you’re not taking care of your refrigerators. For example, eggs housed in cardboard cartons generate condensation when the temperature rises and then drops again. When customers open their eggs to see condensation, they know something happened with the refrigerator, and many won’t risk a purchase. Most won’t even complain about it. They’ll just silently close the carton, put it back on the shelf, and shop somewhere else.
You’ll avoid emergency repair costs
Maintenance is designed to identify issues before they become a full-blown crisis. If you skip maintenance and your refrigerator breaks down, you’ll need to pay for emergency repairs at a premium rate.
You’ll avoid lawsuits over foodborne illness
Perishable foods are required to be held at specific temperatures for safety reasons. Foodborne illness is a real threat and businesses have a legal obligation to sell safe food. If temperatures rise above the threshold for a short period of time, that food is supposed to be thrown out. However, some businesses encourage team members to keep the products stocked like nothing happened. When customers buy these spoiled products unknowingly and get sick, they sometimes file lawsuits for food poisoning.
The only way to avoid lawsuits for foodborne illness claims is to perform regular inspections and maintenance on your refrigerators. You also need to perform daily temperature checks and keep that in a logbook so you can prove what the temperatures read on any given day. And if someone notices a temp above standard, it should be addressed immediately by lowering the temperature, and if that doesn’t work, the contents should be moved to another refrigerator.
Maintenance helps you stay compliant
Any establishment that sells food is subject to inspections by the local health department. While the inspectors won’t tear apart your cold cases looking for broken parts, they will notice blocked airflow, warm food and beverages, and low temp readings. In many cases, they’ll ask to see your maintenance and temperature log records to verify you’re staying on top of your duties.
Failure to comply with health and safety regulations can result in hefty fines and temporary shutdowns. Routine maintenance gives you peace of mind knowing you’ve been taking care of your appliances and you’ll pass the next health inspection.
Maintenance extends the lifespan of refrigeration units
No piece of equipment will last forever, but you can extend the lifespan of your cold cases by performing regular maintenance. Commercial refrigeration systems are major investments and will wear out when neglected. Instead of handling emergency breakdowns, maintenance allows you to catch small issues early to prevent total motor burnout and part failure.
Create a comprehensive maintenance checklist
To maintain your refrigerators, create a maintenance checklist that covers everything you can do without calling a technician. For example, you can inspect and clean door gaskets, monitor temperatures every few hours, clean the drain lines, and schedule professional servicing at least twice a year. A tech will clean the condenser and evaporator coils and replace worn components before they fail.
Don’t let a failing cold case drain your profits
All it takes is one small breakdown, like a slow refrigerant leak or a poorly sealed door, to lose money. Regular maintenance keeps your inventory safe and keeps customers coming back for more.
