If your retail business uses display or sales-floor walk in freezers, you’re probably vexed by the problem of freezer doors fogging up. Foggy doors don’t look good, and they block products from the customer’s view. Condensation is natural, but it’s bad for business. Luckily, there are a few strategies you can adopt to stop this from happening so frequently.
Use the Right Cleaning Supplies
Windex just won’t do the job when it comes to freezer defogging. Try using a mixture of cold water, professional cleaning soap, and methyl hydrate (an alcohol solution you can find in hardware stores). This will add a film to your freezer doors that resists condensation buildup.
Try an Anti-Fogging Film
Companies such as SunRay manufacture an anti-fogging film that can be applied to the inside of freezer doors. These films prevent fog, while also reducing the energy expended by your freezer’s compressor, which works to balance temperatures. It’s a double-whammy – you avoid fog covering your merchandise, while also saving a bit of energy costs.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Raising the thermostat inside your walk in freezers will reduce the contrast between inner and outer temperatures. A greater contrast means more condensation buildup when the freezer door is opened. If you bring the temperature inside the freezer up (closer to the temperature existing outside of the freezer, but still acceptable for proper cooling purposes), you’ll minimize fogging.
Beware of Damage Components
If your door gasket is damaged, it will allow warm, moist air into your walk in freezers. This, of course, increases fog levels on the open glass door. Be wary of the gasket’s functionality, and replace it if it’s out of whack. If you use heated doors, make sure the heat wiring is fully functional – excess fog may mean they need replacement.
These approaches will help save your customers the frustration that comes with trying to see through a foggy freezer door.
Thanks to Vilhjálmur Ingi Vilhjálmsson for the freezer photo.