Fridge and freezer door fogging is a problem that has plagued retailers for years. As consumers open and close doors, fog can quickly build up on the inside of the glass. Not only does it negatively impact the customer experiences, but businesses can find that it pushes up their energy consumption and electricity bills.
However, applying an anti-fog coating inside the doors can quickly and effectively solve this problem – but how exactly does it work?
Why do freezer doors fog up?
Condensation causes freezer doors to fog up, as the warm, moist air comes into contact with a colder surface. As a glass freezer door is colder than the air in a shop or business premises, when the warmer air meets the cold glass, the temperature difference causes the moisture in the air to condense into water droplets. These water droplets scatter light, creating a foggy appearance. The warmer a space is, the quicker the freezer doors will fog up, and the denser it appears.
Supermarkets and grocery stores in particular tend to be humid as there’s a constant flow of customers coming in and out of the shop, as well as refrigerated products that release moisture into the air. The more moisture in the air, the more fog will appear. Environmental factors like changes in weather or air conditioning can impact the levels of condensation on the glass doors.
How does anti-fog film stop freezer doors from fogging?
As condensation is caused by the interaction between warm air and a cold surface, anti-fog film is designed to change this behaviour. Anti-fog film is hydrophilic, which means that it attracts water. Whilst this might sound like the opposite of what you need, a hydrophilic surface will actually cause the water molecules to spread more evenly across the surface, rather than grouping together as water droplets. As there aren’t any fog droplets to scatter light, the glass will remain see-through.
The anti-fog film also works to change the surface energy of the freezer door. As hydrophilic coatings love water, the film contains anti-fog additives that reduce surface tension, which essentially causes the moisture to form a thin, transparent layer. Some types of film can absorb small amounts of moisture, which is released back into the air once the temperature and humidity is more stable. This means that a freezer door that is constantly being opened and closed can stay clear.
It’s worth remembering that anti-fog film doesn’t get rid of moisture entirely, and it won’t stop ice from forming in particularly low temperatures, but when it is installed and maintained properly, anti-fog coating is a very effective option for commercial freezers and fridges.
Why is it important to prevent fridge and freezer doors from fogging?
Aside from being irritating for customers who can’t see any of the products on display, foggy fridge and freezer doors can be a real financial drain. Some supermarkets and shops rely on door heaters that are fitted around the door frame to keep the glass clear, but these can be very expensive to run.
Each time a freezer door is opened, the cold air rushes to escape. In a busy shop where freezer doors are opened countless times a day, the refrigeration system has to work even harder to maintain its temperature. We know that electricity costs are a major overhead for business owners, and we are all more conscious than ever of how much energy we are using. Research has shown that in supermarkets and other types of food shops, refrigeration consumes around 30-50% of the total energy of the site, with shops that primarily sell frozen food at the top of that range.
Plus, not only are electricity bills higher, but foggy doors with poor visibility can drive away customers. If products aren’t immediately obvious to passing consumers, there’s a higher chance they will walk straight past. Shoppers that are pushed for time are far more likely to make a purchase if they can easily find what they are looking for, so retailers could easily lose out on a significant number of sales.
Installing anti-fog film
Installing film with anti-fog properties is a simple and effective way for retailers to prevent their glass surfaces from fogging. Especially when compared to costly heating systems, applying an anti fog treatment to freezer and fridge doors will incur significant cost savings over time. Unlike using heated doors, a film with anti-fog properties is a passive energy-saving option that doesn’t require any energy consumption at all.
When installed correctly, anti-fog film is extremely durable and gets to work straight away, meaning there is no downtime. It’s also easy to maintain, as it is designed to be durable, resistant to scratching and can be cleaned using standard products.
Prevent freezer door fogging with OVAGLAS
If you’re looking for an anti-fog solution for commercial freezer doors, Clarifoil® Anti-Fog film is proven to prevent fogging and maintain glass transparency. Plus, Clarifoil® anti-fog window film has saved businesses over 148,881 metric tons of CO2, which equates to £68 million of savings on energy bills.
We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about anti-fog window film or our professional installation services – get in touch with the OVAGLAS team.
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