Are your cooler doors sweating? The condensation that forms on the glass doors of reach-in refrigerator and freezer display cases in convenience and grocery stores – when the cold, dry air inside the case meets the warm, humid air from the stores – creates several problems for store owners:
- Reduced product visibility for shoppers, potentially decreasing sales.
- Increase energy consumption to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels.
- Accelerated compressor wear due to added workload.
- Potential mold and mildew formation on gaskets, and corrosion of door frames.
To combat these issues, most reach-in display case are equipped with anti-sweat heaters (ASHs), strategically located in three areas:
- Along the edges of glass doors to prevent condensation.
- In the door frames to prevent fogging and keep doors from freezing shut.
- Within the case frame to prevent moisture build-up.
While ASHs are effective, they don’t need to run continuously. Much like a car’s windshield defroster, which is used only when necessary, ASHs should operate only when condensation is present. This is where ASH controls come into play.
Implementing automatic ASH controls can significantly reduce energy costs:
- Reduce energy usage: Turning off ASHs when they’re not needed cuts the number of kilowatt-hours consumed.
- Reduce demand charges: Business owners who pay demand charges on their electric bills can benefit from not having ASHs running during peak periods.
- Minimize refrigeration costs: The heat produced by ASHs must be offset by the display cases’ refrigeration system; turning off ASHs when unnecessary reduces this additional load.
- Extend compressor life: Compressors can last longer when they’re not working overtime to counteract the unneeded heat generated by ASHs.
Anti-sweat heaters are vital for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of your refrigerator and freezer display cases. However, integrated controls with these heaters ensure they operate only when necessary, helping to keep your energy costs in check.