A walk-in freezer is one of the most important appliances in a commercial kitchen. It is designed to store several types of food items unless customers put an order down for them. Sooner or later, these machines experience problems that can be frustrating. If your freezer is not able to maintain the temperature, you will need to act immediately to perform walk in cooler repair. Therefore, we are going to discuss the probable causes of the issue along with troubleshooting tips.
Temperature Control
Sometimes, the first possibility is also the simplest. You might have noticed that walk-in freezers have a lot of settings. And with all the foot traffic in the kitchen, it is highly likely that someone bumped into a button and tempered the temperature. Not only is it one of the most common reasons for walk-in freezers not maintaining temperature but also the most overlooked.
Furthermore, it might also be that the thermostat needs calibration. A thermostat may lose its calibration due to several reasons and you might find out when the food starts to expire. Therefore, it is important that you check the temperature settings and make sure they are properly adjusted.
External Blockage
If you have closely observed commercial kitchens, you must have observed that each item is placed at a particular location. For instance, freezers are not placed close to ovens and frying pans, etc. since they generate heat and can influence the performance of the freezers.
Similarly, walk-in freezers need some space to breathe. As the freezer maintains the temperature inside, it expels heat that needs dissipation. If there is some blockage, the heat will not be able to dissipate properly, causing the unit to overheat.
That said, you should make sure that your walk-in freezer has enough space to breathe and is not being blocked by the wall or any other item.
Fan Issues
If you weren’t aware, walk-in freezers come with fans installed that serve different purposes. For instance, the condenser fan helps cool down the coils. Once the freezer detects the coils are getting hot, the condenser fans start working to help cool them down. If they tend to malfunction, the coils will get extremely hot and might get damaged as well.
With the coils getting hot, do not expect the freezer to maintain its temperature. In such a case, you will need to find out if the fan is faulty. And if it is, you will need a replacement.
Dirty Coils
As mentioned previously, commercial kitchens experience a lot of foot traffic during the day. On top of that, all the dirt, dust, oil, and grime tend to settle on the components which can impede the performance of the unit. That said, coils tend to be one of the most important components when it comes to the walk-in cooler maintaining the temperature.
If there is dirt, dust, oil, and grease accumulation on the coils, they won’t be able to dissipate heat. This impedes the performance of the walk-in freezer and will not be able to maintain its temperature. The good news is that you can clean the commercial refrigerator coils on your own or ask a staff member to do it.
All you need to do is use a chemical specifically made for removing oil and grease accumulations and use a soft cloth to wipe away.
Refrigerant Issues
Even if everything happens to be working fine, a refrigerant leak or loss will not allow the unit to maintain its temperature. A refrigerant leak usually takes place when the technician does not fix the unit back properly after servicing it. It might also be that there is a leak as the unit has gotten older.
In such a case, you will need to consult an expert who will fix the issue for you. Unfortunately, this is not something you can fix on your own and will need an expert’s guidance.
Conclusion
Your walk-in freezer not maintaining its temperature could be both an easy and complicated fix. You should regularly inspect your freezer for any unusual signs or activities and fix them immediately. And follow the tips mentioned above to prevent expensive repairs and replacements and call in commercial refrigerator services when needed. topac