ACR Journal

August 2022 | September 2022 SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE 22 By Dave Richards, UK head of sales at Climalife. Why preventative maintenance plays an important part in system e ciency Volume 8 No.5 With today’s buzzwords being energy e ciency due to rising energy costs, there are also signs that our industry is starting to consider lifetime ownership costs, which includes the often overlooked cost of running the equipment in favour of only considering the initial capital expenditure. With this in mind, there are some very simple good practices for existing equipment that can save a lot of money in the long run. For example, money spent on a reliable service and maintenance contract is more than recouped by the energy savings from a clean and cared for system. Regular servicing and maintenance are essential One of the basics of servicing is a regular routine oil test. In much in the same way that a car’s moving parts benefit from an oil in good condition, so do those in a refrigeration system. When I first entered this industry, one of the first challenges I had was talking to a successful multi-store fast food franchisee, who had never had his equipment serviced. He happened to drive a smart Jaguar car and I asked him if he had it serviced every year to which he replied ‘of course I do’ seemingly shocked that I had even asked this question. I then asked why he didn’t treat his refrigeration equipment in the same way, which did make him think and after some discussion about prolonging the equipment life and saving him money on his electricity bills, he realised the potential benefits of a service and maintenance contract. The use of a good quality lubricant in a refrigeration system is imperative to its successful operation and optimum performance. Oil keeps the parts moving, controls wear, reduces friction, absorbs and dissipates heat, as well as sealing and protecting systems from corrosion. Regular oil testing can help prolong the life of equipment and keep the system operating correctly, playing its part in ensuring the energy e ciency of the system is maintained. Failure to keep the system in good condition will lead to changes in the oil properties and can lead to an increase in energy consumption, greater wear, and reduced compressor life. If the oil has become contaminated or degraded then the source of the contamination or the reason for the degradation should be found and corrected before a new oil charge is used. Another good practice is to include an oil change when retrofitting the refrigerant, as the recovered refrigerant will contain some of the oil at the very least it will need to be topped up, so it makes good sense to make a little extra e ort and perform an oil change whilst the system is empty. The choice of oil will depend on the refrigerant, compressor type and design temperatures. Compressor manufacturers will specify which oil and viscosity to use; usually approving specific brands to suit the application and installation but Climalife can also make a recommendation based on the system requirements. Oil is defined by several key properties: The viscosity of oil defines its operating capability at high or low temperatures and its ability to reduce friction within a system and minimise wear and tear. Dave Richards