A cold storage warehouse will display certain signs that you’ve got problems. Those problems can be caused by a variety of issues, from dirty evaporator coils that contribute to excess moisture, to defective or malfunctioning doors that allow air to leak out. Whatever the cause, you could be facing significant losses if you don’t act quickly.
If it’s the door to your Sacramento commercial cold storage facility, you could be looking at a installing a new one. Restaurants and laboratories, especially, rely on these specialty doors and air curtains to keep critical supplies at a safe temperature. They can’t afford to constantly worry about whether biological materials or foods are staying at a consistent temperature.
Some major issues involving malfunctioning or poorly installed freezer doors:
- Condensation (and mold)
- Inefficient cooling, driving up utility bills
- Insect infiltration
- Crop spoilage, due to lower temperatures
Solutions for a Malfunctioning Commercial Cold Storage Door
It may be possible to repair your door, but if it’s taken too much of a beating, the best solution may be a replacement. A properly installed, good quality, high-speed cold storage door will help regulate the temperature, keep out vermin and moisture, and help keep your frozen goods frozen. Look for a door with a tight thermal seal, insulated barrier between freezer and door tracks to minimize drafts, and high R-value for insulation. Check for durability of design in a warehouse environment; your new door should be designed to resist impact and stand up to frequent use.
Types of Cold Storage Doors to Consider for Your New Commercial Door Install
- Manual single swing doors – Used for personnel and hand truck traffic. Designed for interior or exterior use where environmental control is desirable.
- Horizontal manual slide doors – For traffic handling goods and materials, and for personnel. This is a good option if there’s no space for swing doors; for large doors, these provide a good seal. For interior or exterior use.
- Traffic swing door – Self closing, these are double doors that allow two-way traffic in either direction for greater efficiency. They may also be impact traffic doors that open in either direction. For freezer use, they will offer thick insulation in the form of a full perimeter, front-to-back thermal break, and dual perimeter gaskets so there are no hard-to-seal hinges or cutouts.
- Vertical lift door – A good solution for areas that have several openings in close proximity, or where there’s minimal room at the sides, such as loading docks. For interior or exterior use. Sectional overhead doors are another option for these conditions.
- Push-pull gear-drive door – Designed to prevent cold air loss, some models come with an air curtain heating system to prevent condensation and frost. For interior use.
It’s always recommended to install strip curtains to freezer doors. Made of PVC, the strips reduce air loss and help to regulate the freezer temperature.