The power bill for a temperature controlled warehouse is one of the largest running costs. The refrigeration unit works overtime and the bill climbs. Many owners accept this bill as inev-itable but it doesn’t have to be so. Small faults and wasteful

habits account for most of the energy being wasted. Simple solutions can fix the problems and reduce bills with the help of reliable industrial cooling services This article provides a list of simple and effective ways to ensure no energy is wasted cooling stock.

Why does energy get wasted

A cooling system has one job. It must remove heat from a room and transfer it elsewhere. Anything that impacts that process will cause the unit to work harder or longer than it needs to. And that results in a higher power bill.Waste occurs in many ways and can be difficult to spot. The unit may be running and fans whirring but the cooling process is slower than it should be. The compressor may be running continuously. You won’t see this on your shop floor; instead you’ll see it on your power bill.

How to prevent energy waste

Clean condenser coils

The condenser is the outdoor unit that transfers the heat from the building to the atmosphere. Dirt leaves grease and grime can all build up on the condenser coils restricting the flow of heat out of the system.A dirty condenser means the unit is struggling to transfer the heat to the outside forcing it to run for longer with little result. Cleaning the coils is a cheap and easy way to cut down on wasted power. Ask your engineer to clean the coils as part of every service. It should be a routine task rather than a one off.

Fix faulty door seals

Warm air is getting in through worn door seals. Your air conditioning system is then having to work overtime to remove the warm air from the room. This results in additional strain on the unit, even if the warehouse itself is operating under normal conditions.Inspect door seal edges for signs of damage and look out for frost forming on the edges. Leaving a door open for a matter of minutes can cause a spike in internal temperature.

Check display settings

The controller display is one of the easiest places to waste energy. If the display is incorrectly set the air conditioning unit will waste power. The wrong setting could have been accidentally programmed or changed by a staff member.Make sure the display setting is set to the correct temperature and ensure it’s meeting the requirements of your perishable goods. Cooling a room to a lower temperature than required will cost more in power. A difference of one degree can create significant waste over the course of the year. Note the correct settings down and share them with your team.

Remove ice from the evaporator

 A professional engineer will be able to identify the root cause of the build up, whether it is a problem with the defrost cycle or gas issue.

Repair faulty fans

Fans circulate the air throughout the coil and the system. A faulty fan can cause dramatic changes in temperature and create hotspots in the room, putting additional strain on the air conditioning unit.It’s not uncommon for one fan to work while another fails completely. Faulty fan motors can be repaired at a low cost or replaced with a spare motor to save valuable time. Fan motors are standard parts and a good cold room repair company will have spares available to hand. Repairing the motor rather than replacing the whole fan can save power.

Maintain panels

Major faults or wet foam insulation may require new panels to be fitted. Walk around your cold room every month and inspect the panels for dents and cracks and signs of dampness. It’s always cheaper to repair minor faults than it is to replace the whole panel.

Watch out for gas leaks and faulty compressors

The refrigerant gas cools the air in your room and moves the heat to the outside. A fault with the refrigerant gas can cause the unit to struggle resulting in wasted power.A gas leak can be identified by a hissing sound coming from the unit or the formation of ice on the pipes. You also may notice that it is taking the unit longer than usual to cool the room. The compressor is the central component of the air conditioning unit regulating and controlling the gas flow. A faulty compressor will continue to run and consume power without actually cooling the air.

If the compressor is faulty it is important to have it professionally serviced to restore power savings. You may hear unusual noises from the compressor or notice that the body of the compressor itself is hot. You may also notice the compressor repeatedly switching on and off.These faults can cause a huge waste of power. Make sure to book cold room repair services as soon as you notice any of these symptoms. Only F-Gas qualified engineers should be asked to service a unit with issues with the gas. It is illegal for unqualified engineers to undertake any gas-related service.

Monitor temperatures

Alerts provide a warning that the system has moved outside of its safe range. This enables quick action to be taken before unnecessary costs are incurred. In the event of an emergency, you can request cold room emergency cooling support services to help prevent your stock from being compromised while the fault is resolved.

Simple checks for staff

There are a few simple checks that every member of staff can carry out.

These include;

• Checking the controller temperature setting.
• Checking the condition of the door seals.
• Making sure that the fans are working.
• Looking out for any signs of ice.
• Ensuring no items are blocking the air outlet.

However it is never advisable to open up any unit. Always leave gas-related issues to your cold room repair provider.

When to call an engineer

If any of these simple checks fail it’s time to contact your cold room repair provider. A good engineer will identify the root cause of the problem rather than just resolving the symptoms of a wider problem. For major issues such as the failure of a compressor ask for a competitive quote for either a repair or replacement.

How to find the right company

Having the right provider can be key to reducing repair and maintenance costs. Ask these questions to help you identify a good provider;

• Are the engineers F-Gas qualified
• Is the company registered with trade bodies such as Refcom? Refcom
• Will a full breakdown of estimated costs be provided before any works commence?
• Do the delivery vans carry common spares for first visit repairs?

Why choose ColdTec

ColdTec has been providing cold room repair and other industrial cooling services for 15 years. We operate nationwide and provide a full range of services for industrial cooling systems. Our service vans carry digital controllers, fan motors and expansion valves, enabling us to repair many common faults on the very first visit.Every member of our team is F-Gas qualified and certified by Refcom and ISO 9001:2015. We provide a full breakdown of the costs likely to be incurred before any jobs commence. We are based in Surbiton and serve the south east but are able to offer our services anywhere in the country.

FAQs

Why is my warehouse cooling bill so high?

Common problems include dirty coils faulty fans leaking door seals gas leaks ice on the evaporator and failing compressors. Check for these common problems and if none are apparent contact a cold room repair provider.

Can a dirty coil raise my energy use?

Yes. A dirty condenser coil is struggling to get rid of the heat in the building, forcing the unit to work harder and use more energy.

Who should handle refrigerant gas?

Only an F-Gas qualified engineer should handle refrigerant gas. It is illegal for anyone else to undertake gas related services.A running cold room isn’t always a performing cold room. Prompt action can save you money and protect the stock you’ve invested in. If your cold room is costing too much to run contact the ColdTec team.

Contact Us

Name: : ColdTec Cooling Service

Phone: 020 3773 1250

Email: info@cold-tec.co.uk

Address: Unit 7 177 Hook Road Surbiton KT6 5AR

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