Condensation is a normal part of life, especially during the harsh Australian summers. A little bit of liquid isn’t much to worry about; however, if you’re having problems with excessive levels of condensation on the outside of your commercial cold room, there may be a larger issue. In this article, we’re taking a look at the causes of excessive moisture and how you can prevent it.
What Causes Condensation?
Condensation is a battle between warm air and cold air. The ‘dew point’ is the temperature at which the air becomes too saturated to hold any more water. Typically, the dew point is lower or equal to the external air temperature.
When warm, humid air touches a cold surface, the excess vapour turns into a liquid. That liquid is condensation, and you’ll often find it on your fridge and freezer doors.
Why Do I Have Excess Condensation?
There is a higher rate of condensation in rooms that are too humid, and excessive moisture can affect businesses in a few ways. Condensation blocks the view on glass fridge displays and in commercial cool rooms with glass doors. It can also lead to peeling paint, rotting wood, mould, mildew, and more.
Excess condensation can be caused by opening the cool room or freezer door too often. It can also be caused by damaged gaskets (seals) that are allowing the cold air to leak out. Another reason might be that the temperature of the cold room is set too low.
Solving Your Excessive Moisture Problems
The first thing you can do to reduce the amount of moisture on your commercial cool room is to balance the internal humidity. Setting your thermostat to a slightly higher temperature will raise the surface temperature of the doors, reducing the likelihood of condensation. You could also lower the temperature of the air in your building to create balance.
Keeping the air conditioning on cold will remove excess humidity by drawing the moisture out of the air. You could also use a dehumidifier in the room to control moisture in the air.
Problems with the Cold Room
Unfortunately, the issue could be with the cold room itself. If you have damaged door seals, they’ll need to be replaced. You may also be leaving the doors of your cold room open for too long. Talking to your employees about the issue may provide a simple solution.
Staying on top of your regular maintenance requirements will help, too. Keeping your equipment in the best possible condition will minimise your difficulties with keeping stable temperatures. Excess moisture or leaks in the unit will contribute to problems with humidity, so ask a technician to check over every inch of your cool room.
Call Cold-Rite for Commercial Fridges and Freezers
The Sydney team of specialist technicians at Cold-Rite can take care of your commercial and industrial cold room maintenance and servicing needs. We can also design and manufacture a cold room that perfectly suits your business requirements. Contact us online for more information.
