The Impact of High Temperatures on Grocery Stores: Ensuring Refrigeration Reliability

As a heat dome grips much of the United States, the stress on our infrastructure will be immense. Grids will be working overtime to accommodate a massive spike in energy use to keep air conditioners running and people safe. Grocery stores will be hit especially hard, with operational status and efficiency of refrigeration systems being at the very top of mind for Facility Operations teams. Extreme temperatures will put unprecedented stress on these systems, increasing the risk of equipment failure and higher operational costs.

Strain on Refrigeration Systems

With outdoor temperatures expected to soar above 95 degrees in many areas across the US, refrigeration systems will work harder than ever to maintain safe temperatures for perishable goods. Key impacts include:

• Higher Energy Consumption: A 10-degree increase in outdoor temperature can lead to a 5% or more rise in energy use, significantly boosting operational costs.
• Increased Equipment Stress: Refrigeration units will be pushed beyond their usual capacity, heightening the risk of mechanical failures.
• Critical Equipment Reliability: High temperatures reduce the time and flexibility to respond to issues, making equipment reliability more important than ever.
• Service Technician Response: Response times to events will often be delayed due to the increased number of repairs directly caused by the extreme stress being placed on refrigeration systems. This can result in grocers incurring additional costs from measures required to preserve food quality and safety.

Risks of Equipment Failure

Extreme heat can lead to overheating and increased maintenance needs for refrigeration systems. Without proactive measures, the likelihood of catastrophic failures rises, potentially causing significant financial losses and food spoilage.

Axiom Cloud’s Offerings

Axiom Cloud’s predictive maintenance capabilities help grocery retailers maximize equipment uptime year round. Our advanced monitoring solutions identify potential issues before they escalate, ensuring your refrigeration systems remain reliable and efficient under extreme conditions.

Preparing for the Heat Wave

As the heat dome settles across the US, grocery retailers should:

• Conduct Preemptive Maintenance: Ensure all refrigeration units are serviced and in optimal condition.
• Monitor Systems Closely: Use advanced monitoring tools to quickly address any anomalies.
• Implement Energy-Saving Practices: Optimize cooling schedules and improve insulation to reduce the load on systems.

Heat waves will continue to challenge grocery and cold storage operations through the rest of the Summer, the year and beyond. Stay prepared, stay cool, and trust Axiom to keep your refrigeration systems running efficiently during this intense heat wave.

Contact Axiom Cloud for more information.