Your commercial refrigerator icing up is not a normal situation. It could be due to several reasons. If you regularly come across certain components that are covered with ice, you might want to shut down the unit and try to diagnose the problem or use commercial refrigerator services. To help you out with the process, we are sharing a checklist that will most probably fix the issue. Let’s begin!

Temperature Control Thermostat

Although commercial refrigerators are quite smart and intelligent, but there is no saying when a temperature control thermostat gives up. If that is the case, you will observe that your refrigerator is freezing food. The reason is that the thermostat acts as the brain of the unit. It keeps track of the temperature inside and then communicates with components like the evaporator fan and condenser fan to reduce or increase the temperature.

A malfunctioning thermostat will trick the unit into thinking that the desired temperature is not being achieved. As a result, the refrigerator will continue to work and will utilize comparatively more energy, leading to high energy bills. At the same time, you should also check the thermistor. It is basically a sensor that is designed to read the air temperature and then passes on the information to the main control panel.

With that said, the refrigerator may cool or not cool if the thermistor happens to be faulty.

Temperature Control Board

Even though the temperature control board going faulty is a rare occurrence, especially in modern refrigerators, but some factors can damage it as well. However, in that case, the replacement will be covered by a warranty.

On the other hand, if you have an older unit, the chances of the temperature control board malfunctioning are relatively more. The reason is that with time the seals and other components blocking moisture, dirt, dust, etc. become weak, which impedes the performance of the control board.

If the problem turns out to be a faulty control board, you will need to replace it. Make sure that you opt for an exact replacement as these things are not cheap. Plus, you should hire a professional for the task as others will simply rip you off. Control boards may look the same from the outside but will burn or damage as soon as they are installed as each varies based on several factors such as the voltage handling capacity.

Dust Buildup On Components

Commercial refrigerators like many other restaurant kitchen appliances require maintenance. This is done to remove any accumulated dust, dirt, and grime along with ensuring there are no cracks or damages. Proper maintenance goes a long way in ensuring that the refrigerator runs for years without any problems as these machines do not come cheap.

Therefore, it is important that you clean your commercial refrigerator at the end of each working day and train your staff as well. Once you get used to it, cleaning a refrigerator is not complicated. One simply needs to remove the trays and racks and ensure there are no spillages or leftover food items.

Furthermore, a deep clean at least once every six months is also necessary to inspect the unit for any potential repairs and replacements. This helps you avoid an expensive problem later down the road as the professional is able to identify it beforehand.

Components with accumulated dirt and dust find it hard to disperse heat. As a result, they work harder than usual, consume more electricity, and ultimately give up when you need them the most. This is why it is important to provide your refrigerator with a deep clean at least twice a year to keep it running as smoothly as possible.

And finally, always be on the lookout for unusual sounds that might indicate a problem. A lot of restaurant owners ignore this factor and end up with expensive bills. However, you should immediately get down to fixing the issue if something seems or sounds fishy.

Final Word

Your commercial refrigerator will run trouble-free for years to come as long as you follow the maintenance schedule and the tips mentioned above, should a problem arise. If the problem is relatively complicated to troubleshoot, do not hesitate to call in a commercial refrigerator repairs Northern VA expert.