As part of a comprehensive maintenance plan, Polar King recommends several service functions that are to be performed at least once a year by a qualified refrigeration technician. In this six part series, we will cover what to expect from your service technician and what steps will be taken to optimize your unit’s efficiency and overall performance.

Polar King

Step 1: Clean condenser coil

The first step of the Polar King annual maintenance plan is to clean and inspect the condenser coils located on the top of the unit. Cleaning and maintaining the condenser coils on your walk-in cooler or walk-in freezer is an important step in optimizing your systems performance as well as prolonging your Polar King unit’s life span. Failure to properly maintain the condenser coils can result in system failure or compressor malfunction. Your refrigeration technician will perform the following steps to ensure the condenser coils are clean and operating properly.

Tools used to clean condenser coils: Commercial Condenser Coil Cleaner, Soft Bristle Brush, C02 Canister, Shop-Vac, Mild Detergent, and Hose or Water Supply.

1. Shut off the circuit breaker to your Polar King unit and verify power is disconnected.

2. Remove fiberglass condensing unit cover.

3. Using a CO2 Canister, carefully blow the dirt out of the condenser coils and between the fins. This will ensure that deeply imbedded dust and dirt that builds up inside the condenser coils is removed. The service technician will need to make sure that debris does not enter the kitchen or food storage areas.

4. Use a Shop-Vac to sweep the exterior of the condenser coils, making sure to remove any large debris deposits.   

5. Liberally apply a commercial grade condenser coil cleaner and use a soft bristle brush to clean the fins. Make sure to clean from top to bottom rather than side to side. This can damage the fins and affect the performance of the condenser coil. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and specifications for application and dilution recommendations. The condenser coil cleaner will break down oil, grease, and dirt, as well as remove tarnish and corrosion deposits. (Never use acid based or corrosive cleaners)    

6. Using water, thoroughly flush the cleaner from the condenser coils and let air dry. It is important to leave your unit off while the condenser coils dry.

7. With a mild detergent, clean and wipe off the housing and compressor. 

8. Check for and remove any obstructions such as plants and weeds, or anything that can block the condenser coil airflow.

9. Restore power to the unit and verify proper operation.