The Art of Buying an Appliance

Troubleshooting Temperature Control in a Busy Commercial Refrigerator

Your commercial refrigerator is a lifesaver—literally—as it keeps food at a safe temperature. If you find the temperature inside the compartment is becoming too high and thus unsafe, you need to take action. First, you need to look at whether the temperature rise is due to a mechanical issue or one of access, meaning that maybe the door is open too much or air can't circulate well. Then you need to look at the immediate seals—the gaskets and latch. Many temperature issues are due to problems with those, but you may need a repair company to look at the problem.

Mechanical Problem or Access Problem?

Just as the temperature in your home refrigerator rises when you keep the door open, so does the temperature in your refrigerator. And because you often have to keep the door to a commercial appliance open for longer as you put in and take out large amounts of food, the temperature differences can be drastic even if the refrigerator is functioning normally. Try to consolidate trips into the refrigerator so that the door is kept closed as much as possible. If that doesn't stop the temperature from getting too high, then you're likely looking at a mechanical issue and not just one of access.

Gaskets and Latches

The gasket around the door can loosen and develop gaps and small rips over time. These let warm air in and cold air out, and a damaged gasket is a cause of many temperature issues. You should have a commercial refrigeration repair company replace the gasket if needed; this isn't something you should do yourself on a commercial fridge. Also, look at the door latch; sometimes that can become stuck and prevent the door from staying fully closed.

Poor Air Circulation

The spacing between items in a refrigerator affects how well the interior of the appliance cools. That goes for both your home fridge and your commercial store or restaurant refrigerator. If too much is packed into the refrigerator, then cold air can't circulate properly. You may find that your commercial refrigerator has areas where goods are stacked together so closely that the temperature rises as cold air can't reach everything. This can be fixed by rearranging things, but you'll have to do it quickly. You can't let food sit at unsafe temperatures.

Because working commercial refrigerators are so integral to customer and employee safety, you have to tackle temperature problems immediately. After looking at the gaskets, locks, and distribution of items in the refrigerated section, call a repair company that handles commercial refrigeration. Don't let those perishables actually perish.