A walk-in that won't hold temperature puts inventory and food safety at risk fast. Some causes are things your staff can check in a few minutes; others need a refrigeration technician. Start here.
Check these first
- The door: is it closing fully and sealing? Look for torn gaskets, a door that bounces open, or a strip curtain that's missing. A door left open even briefly during deliveries can push the temperature up.
- Ice on the evaporator: the fan coil inside the box. Heavy frost or a block of ice means air can't move across it. That often points to a defrost problem or a door that isn't sealing.
- Airflow inside the box: product stacked against the evaporator fans blocks the cold air.
- The condenser: the unit outside or on the roof. If its coil is caked with dust or grease, or the fan isn't running, the system can't get rid of heat.
- The thermostat or controller: make sure the setpoint hasn't been changed.
Signs it needs a technician
- The compressor or fans aren't running, or they hum without starting
- Ice keeps coming back after the door is fixed
- The system runs constantly but the temperature keeps climbing
- A breaker keeps tripping
Protect your product while you wait
Keep the door closed as much as possible, move the most temperature-sensitive product to another cooler if you have one, and keep a log of temperatures with times. Your health inspector and your insurer may both want it.
Prevent the next one
Regular maintenance (cleaning condenser coils, checking defrost, door gaskets and refrigerant operation) catches most of these before they cost you a box of product. See our post on commercial maintenance plans.
For a walk-in running warm, call 805-965-6326. After-hours emergency service is available by phone.