How to Troubleshoot Walk-In Boxes

Frozen meat in storage can spoil if the refrigeration unit malfunctions.

Walk-in refrigeration boxes are widely used in business, particularly by the food industry and restaurants. They allow large quantities to be stored in a controlled environment. However, the perishable nature of the goods that are usually kept within these units makes good maintenance and troubleshooting essential. A box that is broken or not functioning properly may lead to the contents becoming spoiled and unusable. Therefore, it is important to be able to spot the signs that the unit may be malfunctioning at an early stage.

Instructions

1. Check if the evaporator coil is frozen, which is a common problem with walk-in freezer boxes. If it is, check that the door seals and gaskets are in good condition and are preventing air from seeping into the box. If you see a build up of frost inside your unit, that is an indication that you may have a leaking door gasket or a hole in a panel letting air in.

2. Ensure that all evaporator fans are the correct size, installed properly and are all turning at the correct speed and in the right direction. Any faults here will increase the power consumption and reduce the effective capacity of your unit.

3. Check for a build up of ice on evaporator coils or in the bottom pan, either of which may indicate a heater element is faulty or that the drain line needs clearing. Water dripping from the condenser unit is another sign of a blocked drain line. Make sure the drain line heater is constantly on.

4. Look for water build-up inside the light fixtures. If any is present, seal all the conduits leading into them.

5. Check that the defrost timer is working properly. If in doubt, set the timer to perform a short defrost cycle and check that it works as programmed.

6. Check that the unit is cooling properly. If not, check to determine if the pressure in the system is normal and look for any signs of a refrigerant leak. Ensure that the oil is filled to the correct level. If it is low, that may mean there is a leak within the oil system.

References

• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Guide: Freezer Repair
• Imperial Manufacturing: Installation, Maintenance and Troubleshooting Manual for Walk in Coolers and Freezers