Laboratory refrigerators serve the important purpose of maintaining a controlled environment for various lab samples and materials in order to keep them in good condition. Even small malfunctions or losses of power could cause an entire fridge’s worth of samples to become compromised, thus delaying tests, experiments, and processes significantly while also wasting a considerable sum of money. As such, keeping them running smoothly and continuously should be a top priority. To learn how to prevent issues from occurring with this critical device, consult this guide on preventative maintenance tips for your lab refrigerator.

Implement Proper Storage Practices

To keep your laboratory refrigerator working properly, it’s essential to implement proper storage practices. For example, you should avoid storing materials on top of your fridge or near venting units. Doing so will restrict airflow and cause warmer air to become trapped within the area. As a result, your lab refrigerator’s compressor will have to work harder to maintain the correct storage temperature, ultimately placing added strain on the unit and shortening its lifespan. For optimal airflow, keep materials off the top of your fridge and utilize racking systems to store your samples.

Clean the Refrigerator’s Coils

A crucial laboratory refrigerator maintenance task that many people forget to perform is cleaning the system’s coils. The condenser coils are located on the outside of the lab refrigerator and must remain clean. If dust or other debris begins to accumulate on the coils, the refrigerator may not be able to exchange heat properly, which may result in higher energy costs and poor performance, as well as a shorter system lifespan. To avoid such consequences, make sure to vacuum and wipe down the condenser coils of your lab refrigerator on a regular basis.

Clean the Lab Refrigerator’s Door Gaskets

Speaking of cleaning, another preventative maintenance tip for your lab refrigerator is to clean its door gaskets regularly. The gaskets on a lab refrigerator help create a tight seal along the edge of its doors. In doing so, they prevent cold air from escaping and warm air from entering. If these gaskets accumulate dust, ice, or other debris at their weak points, leaks in the door can occur, which will warm the air inside the refrigerator.

In addition to potentially compromising samples, such leaks will likely cause the refrigerator’s compressor to work much harder to cool the system, which can lead to premature wear and tear. As such, you should wipe down the gaskets on your refrigerator’s door to prevent such leaks from forming.

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