Commercial refrigeration is a complicated system that requires specialized knowledge to troubleshoot and repair. The following blog post will give you tips on how to troubleshoot the most common commercial refrigeration problems, what needs to be done when your unit malfunctions, and when its time to call for help from a professional.
How do commercial fridges work?
Before starting to troubleshoot any problems, you must understand how your commercial fridge works. This way when the unit malfunctions, you know what part of the system is failing and where to begin looking for a solution .
The refrigeration cycle has four main components: compressor , condenser coil (outside), evaporator coil (inside) and the fan .
The compressor is what pressurizes the refrigerant gas. The condenser coil (outside) dissipates heat , and allows the cool air to enter into the fridge through vents . After it passes over the evaporator, which absorbs heat from inside of the unit, it turns again into a liquid before exiting out on top of your unit. The fan is what circulates the cool air inside of your fridge and also helps dissipate heat for more efficient cooling.
What are two basic problems of refrigeration systems?
The most common problem of commercial refrigerators is that the unit stops cooling, which can be caused by several reasons. One reason may be that there’s an obstruction in your condenser coil (outside), causing it to overheat and malfunction . Another issue could be a clog in one or more of you hoses, preventing coolant from flowing throughout the system.
How do you troubleshoot a refrigeration system?
There are several things that need to be checked when your commercial fridge malfunctions. Troubleshooting a refrigerator can get complicated, but here is what you should do:
-Turn the power off and on again for about 30 seconds to see if it fixes the problem . If its a minor issue this may help in fixing it. Some problems may be that the unit has lost power, or a fuse needs to be replaced .
-Check your thermostat. A technician should check all of this for you but it can’t hurt if you do some basic troubleshooting on your own first. If the fridge is constantly running and never seems to get cold, then its time to call a technician.
-Check the condenser coils and evaporator for dirt, dust and debris. If your unit is dirty it may be losing efficiency or not working at all . A professional will use an electronic device to check airflow so they know where there’s a problem in the system. You can also feel if they’re cold indicating that the refrigerant is passing over them and working properly.
-Check your thermostat settings if everything else seems to be okay with your fridge . If you notice that the temperature inside of it goes up when its running, then perhaps there’s a problem with either the compressor or fan setting on your thermostat control board .
Finally, when your commercial refrigerator malfunctions, its time to call a professional. A qualified commercial refrigeration repair technician will know what needs to be done and how it can be fixed quickly.
A professional will know how to quickly determine what is wrong with your system and fix the problem before it causes more damage.
