DETECTING COSTLY REFRIGERANT LEAKS

An average food retail store leaks an estimated 25% of its refrigerant supply per year. The majority of refrigerant leaks, which are caused by a number of factors, occur in racks and cases. For an individual store, this loss can add up to a sizeable annual expense; for a regional or national chain, the costs can be even more substantial. Additionally, associated labor costs and the potential loss of business because of service disruptions when fixing a leak should be factored in.



An effective refrigerant leak detection program can help with cost savings throughout a retail chain. Leak detection strategies can help to avoid costly EPA examinations and, as most commonly used refrigerants today are greenhouse gases — and some are ozone-depleting substances — they also can have a significant impact on the environment.



To avoid preventable losses, retailers should install automatic leak detection, or ALD, equipment to ensure ongoing, proper procedures. Using an automated system can reduce inefficiencies and potential errors from manual inspections. ALD equipment is critical to detection of leaks, notification alerts and continuous system monitoring and reporting. Integrated into a facility management system, remote monitoring can assist with the management of refrigerant leak notifications, as well as incorporate preventive maintenance practices.



With leak detection technologies, retailers can use that data to correlate the leaks with specific equipment or sites and then apply focused efforts to improve specific issues. Analyzing the system data can help retailers to identify areas where they may need to inspect further, uncover trends and understand the overall impact on their business.