How To Quickly Troubleshoot Issues With Your Commercial Fridge

A commercial fridge is built for the purpose and should usually work without issue, so long as you pay reasonable attention to its maintenance. Here, consistency is key, and you should also bring in a service technician at predetermined intervals so they can carry out some proactive work. Yet occasionally, issues can arise, and when they do, you'll need to take prompt action as there is a lot on the line. After all, if your commercial fridge were to fail altogether, you may be facing business disruption and an expensive bill associated with spoiled food or drink. So, where should you look first if things are not quite right?

Power Supply Issues

If you have no power to the unit, begin by checking what seems to be relatively obvious. For example, if the power cord is plugged in correctly, use a voltage detector to make sure that the outlet itself has voltage present. And a word of advice: never plug a commercial refrigerator into an extension cord, as this is asking for trouble. Instead, bring in an electrician to add receptacles to your circuit.

Evaporator Fan Icing

If the fridge is freezing up, leading to an accumulation of ice, you need to check to see if the evaporator fan is running as it should. If it is caked with ice, you must turn the unit off and let it melt. It shouldn't take long to do that, but you should clean the evaporator's coils in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Occasionally, you may have a low charge, which means you need to get the pressures checked by a certified technician.

Drain Line Issues

Next, look at the drain lines. These need to be as clear as possible, as if not, the water will drain more slowly and will be more prone to icing up. Eventually, the drain lines could become completely clogged, which would cause the unit to overheat. Water may then back up into the unit to cause damage elsewhere. So, pay close attention to the drain lines at all times.

Incorrect Defrost Cycle

Double-check the defrost cycle if there is an accumulation of frost within the unit. You can adjust this by moving the timer unit within the fridge. The defrost cycle timer is separate from the actual temperature control, so don't mistake the two devices. Instead, ensure that the unit is set to defrost more often than before and see if this addresses the problem.

Turn To The Experts

Occasionally, the defrost cycle timer may develop a fault. In this case, it doesn't matter how much you adjust, as you will still notice a heavy frost accumulation. For this and any other issues you cannot quickly address yourself, ensure you bring in a commercial fridge repair technician to carry out the necessary repairs.