Noticed your fridge freezing food or other items? Here’s a few of the most common reasons why it might be happening and how you can prevent it.
Picture this:
You’re opening up shop for the day, and about to take stock of your refrigerator. Only to find that all your items are frozen solid.
It happens more than you might think, and there are several reasons why it could be happening.
Here, our commercial refrigeration experts run through some of the most common causes of frozen fridges.
1. Incorrect temperature
Perhaps the most common cause of fridges freezing up is the thermostat being set at the wrong temperature.
9 times out of 10, this happens accidentally when you’re stocking items inside or cleaning, for example.
Of course, if the temperature is colder than it needs to be (around 5◦C), items may freeze.
To avoid this issue, be sure to check the thermostat is set to the right temperature after each restock or clean-out.
2. Faulty temperature sensor
If you’ve got your refrigerator set to the optimal temperature, but you’re still noticing items inside freezing up, it could be that the temperature sensor itself is faulty.
If you suspect this is the problem, you can check your fridge’s temperature manually by placing a glass of water, with a cooking thermometer inside, on the top shelf.
Leave it to sit for 24 hours, then check the temperature. If it’s reading outside 2 degrees of the set temperature, then this is a surefire sign that there’s a problem with the sensor.
3. Dirty coils
All commercial refrigerators have a condenser coil mounted on the outside of the unit and an evaporator coil on the inside.
The refrigerant liquid passes through these coils to facilitate heat exchange, and if either of the coils gets dirty, your unit will have to work harder to sustain the optimum temperature. Which, sometimes, can lead to overcooling and your goods inside freezing up.
Coils are super easy to clean, and you should be able to locate further instructions in your owner’s manual.
4. Dodgy gaskets
Gaskets are the rubber linings of your refrigerator doors and create a tight seal to prevent heat from being exchanged between the room and the inside of your fridge.
If they get damaged and begin to leak, your unit will overcompensate, resulting in everything on the inside starting to freeze.
To test if you have a bad gasket, close a piece of paper in the door and attempt to pull it out without opening the door again. If the paper slides out seamlessly, with no issues, it’s likely your gasket needs to be replaced.
5. Blocked air vent
Air vents are what help cold air circulate in your refrigerator, and they ensure the internal temperature stays consistent.
If anything blocks the air vent, not only can it prevent air from reaching other parts of the unit, but direct exposure to the cold air can cause food and other contents to freeze.
Solving this problem is simply a case of rearranging your refrigerator – redistributing and removing items to make sure nothing is blocking the air vents to improve airflow.
Preventing accidental freezing
Frozen produce can be disastrous for businesses, but there are many things you can do to prevent it, including:
- Check your fridge settings – the majority of the time, people find that their fridge is freezing up because it’s set to the incorrect temperature, so make sure to adjust it accordingly if it seems a little off.
- Make sure your unit is well stocked – a fully stocked fridge can actually keep things from freezing up, as it helps to distribute the cold air evenly among everything inside, rather than just sinking to the bottom and freezing everything there. Doing this will also help maintain optimal temperatures and, as a result, your unit will use less energy!
- Book a refrigerator service – Booking a refrigerator service with a licenced professional will help identify any problem areas that could be causing your fridge to freeze up. When you work with a professional, they’ll be able to diagnose and repair everything to get you back up and running as soon as possible.
Book a commercial refrigerator service with J&M Refrigeration!
Here at J&M Refrigeration, we offer a range of maintenance contracts to help keep your commercial refrigerator in the best possible shape.
Our contracts can be tailored to your specific needs, and can greatly reduce the risk of problems, like freezing, from occuring and ensure optimal performance.
Working with some of the most skilled engineers, you can be confident that your refrigerator, and ultimately, your business, is in the best hands and we aim to get you back up and running as soon as possible.
To learn more about our planned and reactive maintenance services, give us a call today on 0121 544 0555 or email us at admin@jamrefrigeration.co.uk and we’ll get back to you shortly!