How To Troubleshoot A Faulty Commercial Refrigeration System

There are many reasons organisations own and operate their own refrigeration units. These range from fast food outlets needing to keep food chilled at the right temperatures to hospitals and care homes running cook-chill catering operations.

One thing all these businesses have in common is that their daily operations rely immensely on the refrigeration units in place. If your commercial refrigeration system is not working properly, there are some DIY troubleshooting actions you can carry out before opting for commercial refrigeration repair services.

1. If Your Refrigerator Is Powered Down And Won't Turn Back On

Some things to check if your refrigerator is off and not accepting power are:

• Check that the power switch for the unit is switched to ‘on’.
• Check that the electricity switch is turned on.
• Has a cable come loose or is it frayed or splitting?
• If your commercial refrigeration unit is plugged into an extension lead, perhaps it has fused – these types of heavy-duty appliances are not recommended to use with refrigerator units.

2. The Refrigerator Is Not Getting Cold Enough

If the refrigerator is not getting to a low enough temperature this could be caused by a fault with the temperature gauge or a faulty door seal. Sometimes simple factors like employees opening and closing the door too often can result in refrigerators failing to chill food properly. It can also be a result of an overly full fridge which is stopping the chilled air circulating correctly around the unit. Another common reason for faulty chilling is when the unit is installed too close to a wall or equipment that blocks air flow. Refrigerators need to be fitted in a fairly open space so that the air can cool the refrigerant and warm air can be expelled into the surrounding environment. Other cooling issues can be caused by a faulty compressor or dirty condenser coils.

3. Ice Is Building Up Inside The Refrigerator And It Is Getting Too Cold

Faulty seals or the refrigerator door closing incorrectly can cause it to work harder to compensate for fluctuations in temperature and this can lead to a build-up of ice. These kinds of fault will also decrease the lifespan of your commercial refrigerator and result in higher electricity costs. Your maintenance schedule should include regular visual checks to see if all the hinges and gaskets are aligned correctly because this can help prevent units from getting too cold. Other things to check include the evaporator and whether the auto-defrost function is working correctly.

It's important to identify a faulty refrigeration system at the earliest opportunity

Ensuring you are compliant with health and safety requirements is vital for any hospitality outlet, so it's important to identify faults with your refrigeration unit at the earliest moment.

If you can't fix the fault, Password Services can provide expert and affordable commercial refrigeration repairs to ensure your business remains fully operational. Get in touch to find out more.