If you’ve ever opened your commercial refrigerator and it seems like it isn’t cooling, even if you can tell there isn’t enough cold air circulating in your refrigeration system, this doesn’t necessarily mean your system is broken. There are many reasons why this might be the case, and there are some things you should check first that may solve the problem. Here are three things to check if it’s not cold enough in your commercial refrigeration system in Delaware.
The door
It may sound silly or obvious, but if your refrigerator is not cooling, one of the first things you should check is the door. Is everyone who uses it closing it properly? Is everyone who uses it making sure not to leave it open for too long?
If you answered yes to these questions, is the door itself closing properly? Here are a couple things to check. Those elastic strips (gaskets) around the refrigerator door can get damaged by wear and tear over time. That might lead to open spaces around the door, even when it looks closed, and cold air can escape through there. It’s also a good idea to take a look at the hinges on the door—if they are damaged, the door may not align properly.
Spacing
Do your mushrooms have much room? Is your squash squished? Is your beef blocked in? That could be a problem beyond just being able to reach everything comfortably.
If your refrigerator is too full, it might make it tough for the air to circulate properly. Even if it feels cold when you open the door, that cold air might not be reaching all places inside the unit. There may be boxes blocking fans or vents. Items should have three to six inches of space between them to allow for maximum airflow.
Also, if your refrigerator is close to other equipment, or pressed against a wall, this might create airflow problems. There has to be enough air for the refrigerator to expel the warm air and draw in ambient air from outside.
Mechanical parts
The way your refrigerator knows how cold to keep itself is via the temperature gauge. If that gauge (or the thermostat) is broken, there’s no way for the refrigerator to know if it’s doing its job. You can check the refrigerator’s temperature with your own thermometer and compare it to the temperature gauge in the unit. If they’re significantly different, you may have a problem with the gauge, or you may just need to make sure the gauge isn’t obstructed by anything inside the unit.
Another mechanical part to check is the condenser coils, which you can find at the bottom of the refrigerator. Over time, they can get dirty and clogged, which can have an effect on cooling capacity. If this is the case, simply clean them according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
If you have any mechanical or other problems with your commercial refrigerator unit not cooling, call Commercial Equipment Service Inc. for help in Delaware.