Commercial Refrigeration Repair Options

When you operate a business that deals with food, it’s important to set up reliable commercial kitchen equipment to ensure safety and quality.

Ensuring this reliability depends on maintaining your equipment, repairing it when necessary, and replacing it when required.

To help you better understand repair options when it comes to commercial refrigeration, here are some issues that can be repaired:

Industrial Refrigeration Issues That Can Be Repaired

Fortunately, there are a few refrigeration issues that can be repaired in order to maintain your refrigerator’s operations:

Temperature Issues

It’s important that your commercial kitchen refrigerator keeps food at the right temperature to prevent spoilage and health issues.

So when your unit is set to the right temperature and not keeping food cold enough, you know there is a problem!

Temperature issues could indicate a problem with the thermostat but can also be caused by dirty fans, faulty compressors, or blocked vents.

Compressor Issues & Blocked Vents

These two commercial refrigeration issues can lead to inconsistent or improper temperatures in your unit.

Dealing with blocked vents is an easy commercial refrigeration repair that can ensure your unit maintains the correct temperature.

Oftentimes, compressor issues are caused by the build-up of grease and dirt, which causes it to malfunction. A thorough cleaning may be enough to have this component up and running!

Ice Buildup

If you start to notice ice building up inside your refrigeration unit, there could be several causes that need to be addressed.

These causes include poor air ventilation, faulty door gaskets, or the doors being left open for too long, which will allow warm air to condensate and freeze inside the refrigerator.

Evaporator Fan

The evaporator fan can also be a cause of ice buildup in your commercial kitchen refrigerator. It could be that the coil is not working or that the whole fan is malfunctioning.

This is the type of issue that requires the professional skills of a certified technician.

Lighting Issues

Lighting issues are common commercial refrigeration repairs and can be easily fixed by changing the bulb or ensuring the light isn’t disconnected.

If you do need to change the bulb, make sure you use one that is recommended by the manufacturer, so you don’t damage or burn out the sockets.

Odd Noises

By now, your commercial kitchen refrigerator’s usual sounds have probably become background noise during your day.

However, if your unit starts to make unfamiliar noises you have never heard before, it may indicate an issue.

Odd noises can be caused by problems with motors, fans, or other components of your fridge. Your best bet is to call a certified technician to diagnose the issue.

When to Replace Your Commercial Fridge

Unfortunately, commercial refrigeration units do have a lifespan and, at some point, may need to be replaced.

Leakage

While dealing with leaks is often a simple commercial refrigeration repair, such as replacing a door seal or emptying a full evaporator pan, sometimes they are caused by the fridge itself.

If your refrigerator’s leaks cannot be diagnosed or repaired, it’s time for a new commercial fridge.

Spoiled Food

Food that spoils more quickly than it should is likely caused by fluctuating temperatures inside your fridge.

If issues with your refrigerator’s temperature cannot be repaired, you will have to replace the unit.

Increased Energy Bill

Older commercial kitchen refrigerators experience a lot of wear and tear, and sometimes joints, hinges, and other components stop working as they should.

This can lead to cold air escaping your fridge or your fridge working harder to maintain the proper temperature.

All of this can lead to an increase in your energy bills. If your bills are skyrocketing and you have an older unit, it’s time to get a new one.

Excessive Heat

It’s normal for the back of your refrigeration unit to feel warm, but if it is hot to the touch, there is a bigger problem.

Sometimes excessive heat can be caused by dirty condenser coils, but it is likely an indication that your fridge is close to breaking down.

Expensive Repair Costs

For commercial kitchen fridges that are over 10 years old, it’s important that you keep an eye on repair costs and energy usage.

If the cost of commercial refrigeration repair is more than half the cost of a new unit, it’s best to invest in a new fridge.

Preventative Maintenance

Of course, the best way to prevent repairs and replacement is to consider commercial refrigeration maintenance.

Preventative maintenance will help you routinely maintain your commercial refrigeration to prevent unnecessary breakdowns and repairs.

Here are some preventative maintenance tasks you can do yourself:

Keep the equipment clean. Uncleaned spills and drips can lead to mold growth and compromise the safety of your food.
Check the settings. Take a look at your temperature settings every day to ensure the system is not overworking to maintain a proper temperature.
Defrost your unit. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for defrosting and how often you should do it.
Keep the unit clear to maximize airflow. Your fridge should have plenty of space inside and outside to allow for airflow. Otherwise, your unit may have to overwork, which can limit its lifespan.
Inspect the unit. Take a look at the fridge’s seals and gaskets to ensure no air is escaping the unit.

Other than performing your own maintenance, you can always take advantage of a Maintenance Program!

Advantage Refrigeration’s Maintenance Program offers peace of mind when it comes to the well-being of your commercial kitchen refrigeration.

We tailor the program to suit your refrigeration equipment needs, including walk-in and reach-in coolers and freezers, refrigerated display cases, and more.

Click here to learn more about our program!