An artist wouldn’t go to work without paints. A carpenter wouldn’t open a shop without wood. Likewise, a restaurant would never think of opening its doors without ingredients. Even so, when restaurant owners are often forced into this position when their commercial refrigeration system experiences issues.
As challenging as a broken refrigerator can be, it’s still possible to navigate this tricky scenario. The first step is understanding the common causes of commercial refrigeration cooling issues.
Compressor Malfunction
A refrigerator’s compressor is what circulates the refrigerant through the system, so it makes sense that it is one of the more common causes of commercial refrigeration cooling issues. There are several factors that may cause a compressor to malfunction, such as
- Something blocking the airflow
- Dirty condenser coils
- Lack of lubrication
- Leaky discharge valve
Another common cause of compressor breakdown is frozen-over evaporator coils. This can be caused by a faulty defrosting system, accumulating debris, or turning the temperature settings too low.
Improper Airflow
Because refrigerators are sealed from the outside, we often don’t think that airflow is a factor in refrigeration temperature. But when there isn’t airflow, it leads to temperature and humidity stratification.
Restricted airflow can be caused by frozen evaporator coils, but just as often, it’s due to a spacing issue within your refrigerator. Try to adjust how to space your shelving and avoid overpacking the fridge with supplies. Also, keep an eye on the vents on the outside of the fridge and avoid placing other equipment over them.
Environmental Factors
When temperatures are high in the summer, our electricity bills climb because the air conditioning unit has to work harder to keep things cool. The same is true of your refrigerator when a kitchen is too hot. Be sure to keep the kitchen as cool as possible to take some of the strain off your refrigerator. Additionally, be sure the door isn’t being left open excessively.
Your refrigerator is essential to your restaurant. And at Jay-Hill Repairs, we provide reliable commercial refrigeration repair in NJ to protect your ingredients and keep your business up and running.
