subject: How To Keep Your Cooler Working Efficiently For Longer [print this page] A refrigerator or a cooler is a must-have device for any business that sells foodstuffs and particularly those that are perishable. These are typically quite expensive investments for small businesses and hence it is important that you derive maximum value from it. To obtain optimal value from your cooler you need to ensure that its operation is always as efficient as possible and that no energy is wasted. Here are a few tips that can help to keep your cooler working efficiently.
The first thing you must ensure is that its coils are clean. These coils are the refrigeration parts that extract heat from the cooler. If you allow the coils to accumulate too much dirt they will become inefficient and consequently force the compressor to work harder. Cleaning the coils is fairly easy. You need to locate them first, usually at the rear of the cooler or at the bottom in some models, and then use a vacuum cleaner or a soft broom to remove the dust that has accumulated on them. Alternatively, you can buy commercial coil cleaner from the shops or improvise your own cleaning solution at home. However, the chemical cleaner can damage the refrigeration parts because of its corrosiveness and so you are better off using ordinary soap and water. If you need a stronger solution for washing the coils you can mix water and vinegar in the ratio of three to one. Make sure that you rinse the coils thoroughly thereafter.
The positioning of the cooler also determines how efficient it is. A cooler should be placed away from heat sources such as windows that let in direct sunlight, heating ducts, stoves, radiators, and other sources of heat. This is important because heat absorbed from the environment makes the cooler work harder.
How tightly does the coolers door shut? This can also be a factor in determining how well the cooler works for you. It is important that the door of a refrigerator shuts tightly. If it does not, cool air will escape and warm air will get into the cooler. The result is that the cooler will overwork and spend more energy to maintain the required temperatures. There are a number of precautions you can take in this regard. First of all, ensure that the cooler is placed on a flat surface so that it does not lean on one side because if it does, the door may open a little. Next, ensure that all users properly shut the door after opening it. Also make sure that the door gaskets fit properly to stop air from moving in or out of the cooler.
