How long is too long to leave your walk-in cooler door open in Delaware? Would you believe that even five seconds might be too long? The five-second rule is good to keep in mind when working around a walk-in cooler door, because you could see a bunch of walk-in cooler issues if it’s left open too long.
Yes, there are times when you’ll need to keep your walk-in cooler door open for longer—when receiving a delivery, for example, or stocking the shelves in the cooler—but when possible, it’s best to minimize the time the door is left open. It’s a different system than a home refrigerator, and there are many reasons why leaving the door open can be detrimental to the cooler’s overall functionality.
Why keep it closed?
Walk-in coolers make cold air as needed based on a thermostat setting. This is done in a similar way to air conditioners, with fans and a condenser that cycles on and off to maintain the temperature.
When the walk-in cooler door is opened, cold air escapes and warm air rushes in (per the laws of physics). If enough warm air replaces the cold air in the walk-in cooler, the temperature will rise and kick the condenser on to begin a cooling cycle. After all, it’s got a thermostat level to keep, and it’s just doing its job!
The problem is that this starts a new cooling cycle, and causes more wear on the condenser. It forces the whole system to be engaged when the door is open for long periods of time, too. If anyone’s ever shouted at you to “close the door, you’re letting all the heat out!” then you’ll be familiar with this principle. It’s the same idea, but instead of heat, you’re letting the cold air out.
Stay cool
What’s cooler than being cool? Keeping the walk-in cooler door closed, that’s what! But adhering to that five-second rule can be easier said than done. While keeping it in mind can help with avoiding absentmindedly leaving the door open for extended periods, it can’t help the times when necessity dictates that it remain open for longer. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help keep that cold air in.
One thing to try is strip curtains. Those clear, fettuccini noodle–looking plastic strips can keep cold air from escaping so fast, and keep you from having to open and close the walk-in cooler door if you plan on going in and out a lot in a short amount of time. They can also help if someone needs to be in the walk-in cooler for an extended period of time, because even if you aren’t claustrophobic, nobody really wants to be in there with the door closed!
In addition to training your staff to adhere to the five-second rule, it’s a good idea to get in touch with a professional for more solutions to keep your equipment cool and help you avoid walk-in cooler issues in your Delaware establishment. Call Commercial Equipment Service Inc. for your walk-in cooler and refrigeration needs.