Why Is My Commercial Fridge Not Cooling?

Commercial refrigerators and freezers might appear to be frightening, intricate machines, and many people find it difficult to comprehend them.

Fortunately, we're on hand to help when things go wrong. If your industrial refrigerator isn't keeping its cool, we've got you covered — with a checklist of things to look for before calling in the pros.

Beginning with the basics

• On and off switch
  

It may seem self-evident, but in the rush of a fast-paced kitchen, it's easy to overlook the basics. Check around the rear to make sure the plug is in the wall — and that it's all the way in if it is. Then, make sure the fridge's power switch is turned on.

Whether the plug is plugged in and the switch is turned on but your refrigerator still won't turn on, check with a voltmeter to see if power is flowing into the appliance. Continue if you've done so (or if you don't have a voltmeter):

Are they correctly closing? Something inside the door could be obstructing the seals, preventing the door from closing. Perhaps the seals or hinges have deteriorated due to wear and strain. Give them a thorough examination.

If everything appears to be in order, the issue could be a recurring one. Consider this: your employees may simply be leaving your refrigerator doors open for too long.

Commercial refrigerators are built to be sturdy and strong, but they are not air conditioners and cannot chill a room. Turn the fridge off and get the door fixed as soon as possible if it's the door that's letting you down. If that's not the case, keep reading:

As you use your fridge, it's easy to nudge or bump into temperature gauges, which could have shifted the gauge too much one way or the other. Make sure your fridge's temperature is set to its ideal. Do you have any doubts about what that ideal is? Check the manufacturer's guidelines and the owner's handbook for more information.

Is there enough space for outside air to flow, or is your appliance suffocating against the wall?

It's possible that your refrigerator is suffocating. It's important to remember that some of the cooling components work by sucking air in from the surrounding environment. If your fridge is too close to a wall or another appliance, the vents may struggle to cool the contents; if they struggle too much, they may give up the ghost far sooner than they should. Give that machine some breathing room. A good 10cm should suffice.

Is it being treated well?

During peak periods, it's all too simple to cut corners. However, making costs by putting hot dishes straight into the refrigerator to chill down is a no-no. If you develop a bad habit like this, your commercial refrigerator will not appreciate it.

Your refrigerator will have to work extra hard to chill those hot plates, and hot food will generate condensation, which can harm components and conceal presentation if the device is being used for display purposes. If you put too much strain on your refrigerator, it will eventually fail you.

Maintenance

• Are the components clean?

The vent on the underside of the fridge Your refrigerator's vents, filters, condensers, and coils must all be kept clean in order to function properly. The refrigerator's efficiency will be severely diminished if they become unclean - or if they freeze over.

In the long run, permanently unclean components can shorten the life of your refrigerator since the accumulation of dust forces your machine to work harder and harder until it eventually stops working.

So, every six months or so, get them spic and peppered to keep up with the seasons.

To prepare for cleaning, empty the fridge, turn it off, and review your handbook - each piece of commercial refrigeration is unique, and component locations may differ from device to appliance.

For example, your filter could be on top of your refrigerator, necessitating the use of a step ladder; or it could be around the back behind a panel, necessitating the use of tools.

Clean your components with a soft bristles brush and a vacuum cleaner once you've gotten them out of the way.

If cleaning doesn't work, there's a good chance you're missing anything important:

Commercial refrigeration is engineered to work in a certain temperature range. These temperature ranges, also known as climatic classes, will be displayed on their rating plates or in their manuals, and will tell you where the manufacturer advises you store your refrigerator.

Normal (N), Tropical (T), Sub-Normal (SN), and Sub-Tropical (ST) are the four basic climatic classifications, with a few variants (N-ST, N-T, SN-T, and SN-ST) used to label both residential and commercial fridges and freezers with their correct working temperatures.

We'll concentrate on the extra features of climate class that only commercial units have: the numbers. The maximum ambient temperatures and relative humidity (RH) that the appliance can handle are indicated by the class numbers 3, 4, and 5.

If your appliance has a Class 3 rating, which many commercial storage fridges have, make sure it's set to a maximum ambient temperature of 25°C and a relative humidity of 60%. (RH). If you have a Class 4 single or double door catering fridge, it should not be kept in a room with an ambient temperature of more than 30°C and 55 percent relative humidity. Class 5 catering fridges must be kept below ambient temperatures of 40°C and 40% relative humidity.

Use the climate classes to match your refrigerator to its location in your kitchen, taking into account the temperature of the room and the immediate surroundings of your equipment.

If you've double-checked that your catering fridge is a Class 5 for kitchen usage and that your storeroom cooler is a Class 3, but you're still having problems, it's time to call in the experts. They can look at the more complicated issues, such as whether your gas is running short or whether your refrigerator's components are malfunctioning.

T : 1300 885 693
E : info@ozcoolers.com.au
W : www.ozcoolers.com.au