What causes condensation in cold rooms?
Condensation in cold rooms can be a persistent and problematic issue. It’s caused when warm, humid air from outside the cold room comes into contact with the cool surfaces of cold room doors, door frames and metal fixtures. Condensation should never be ignored in cold rooms, as it can cause a multitude of issues including the growth of mould, costly damage to the structure of the cold room, and may breach health and safety regulations. Identifying and resolving the root cause of condensation in your cold rooms is, therefore, very important.
The Causes of Condensation in Cold Rooms
Before you take steps to eradicate condensation from your cold room, it’s important to identify the cause, and there are several possible reasons for its appearance:
1) Humid Air Getting In
The main cause is warm, humid air getting into the cold room or settling around it. When that air meets a surface colder than its dew point, the moisture condenses on panels, door frames and the floor. Poor ventilation in the area around the cold room lets humidity build up, and water pooling close to the cold room is often a sign of it.
2) Warm Ambient Temperature
Warm, humid conditions outside the cold room increase the risk, because warmer air carries more moisture into the room whenever it gets in.
Incorrectly sealed panels will let air out of the cold room, which can negatively affect temperature control – your refrigeration system will have to work harder, increasing energy usage and costs. For optimal performance, it’s important that cold room panels are properly insulated.
Opening cold room doors frequently can cause temporary fluctuations in the internal temperature that may lead to condensation appearing – this is normal. However, persistent condensation close to the cold room door can indicate a problem with the door seal that must be resolved. It could also indicate the cold room door is being left open for long periods, and / or is being opened frequently.
How To Solve Persistent Cold Room Condensation Problems
Depending on the cause of the problem, several solutions could resolve the issue:
1) Check The Cold Room Door Seal
If condensation is concentrated around the door, check the door seal first and replace it if it is damaged or no longer sealing all the way round to ensure internal temperatures within your cold room are being maintained efficiently and effectively. Replacing the door seal ensures the cold room is airtight all the way around the frame, so that warm air from outside the cold room can’t seep in when the cold room door is closed. MTCSS has spares & parts available on our e-commerce shop, click here to see more!
2) Secondary Barrier
If the cold room door is being constantly used, opened frequently, or left open, during operation – then a secondary barrier could help prevent warm air ingress. PVC strip curtains and insulated strip curtains can help stop warm, humid air getting in and cold air escaping the cold room when the door is in the open position. You can order them on the MTCSS shop!
3) Make Some Minor Adjustments
If the cold room door seal appears to be intact and in good condition, adjust the door handle strike so that a tighter fit is achieved when the door is closed. This is a simple yet potentially effective solution to the problem of persistent condensation in a cold store.
4) Increase Cold Room Ventilation
Poor air flow can be addressed by increasing ventilation in the vicinity of the cold room, or by installing an extractor fan or dehumidifier to remove some of the excess humidity from the air. If left unresolved, water pools on the floor can pose a slip hazard to operatives.
Professional Cold Room Installation & Support From MTCSS
Fortunately, a cold room condensation problem is not always difficult to resolve, although ignoring it could prove costly in the long-term. Professional design and installation of your cold room is essential to help prevent the issue from occurring – and to ensure your cold room is designed with your business in mind.
If you want to find out how MTCSS can help your business and its cold storage today – get in touch with our team! Call us on 01886 833381, email us at sales@mtcss.co.uk, or fill an enquiry form here!
