An ice build up in my walk in freezer

[nealo]

Can anyone offer advice on my ICY problem -

I'm trying to solve an ice build up in a walk in freezer room, the ice builds up on the ceiling and in the corners of the room around the evaporator.

A lot of ice is also building up around the implosion port which is a three flap type and has an operational heater.
The room has been shut down twice over a short period to let the ice melt, and the room be resealed inside and out.

All panels are in good condition and the defrost is operation correctly with drip times and fan delays after defrost.

The room is 3.2 wide x 7 deep with a single fan evap installed at the end of the room blowing towards the door.

The room has curtains for when the door is open, has operating low voltage floor heating and is installed in a shed with no exposure to the sun ????905190529053

[chemi-cool]

Panels are not tight enough, air is leaking in.
Best is, defrost and dry the room, seal all the gaps with polyurethane.

[Rob White]

.

I would agree with Chemi-cool and say it is obvious you are getting moist air in there somehow.

You need to find out where the air is coming from.
Obviously check the door and seals and also the vent
which you seem to have already.

Again check all defrosts are ok but the snowy ice on the
ceiling is clasic symptoms of warm moist air getting into the room.

You say there is a single evap so that should not be an issue.

The only thing you don't say is how long the door is open
and what happens to the doors curtains while the door is open.

Do not trust the people who go in and out to always close the door
and do not trust them not to wrap the curtain over the door while working in the room.

Rob

.

[Rob White]

.

What you need to do is stand inside (make sure it will open from inside)
and close the door. Check to see if the room is totaly dark. If you see light around
the door or any where else then air will get into the room through the same gap.

Even though you say you have checked it my money would be on the door not sealing
or the door being kept open too long - often.......

Regards

Rob

.

[smpsmp45]

One mroe reason could be that the wall panels / ceiling panel joint needs conduction cutting on the wall panel sheet.

I think that is not done & hence there is a ice built up & ofcourse the sealing may be questionable as well

[mikeref]

Check your condensate drain has a trap installed.

[nealo]

thanks for all of your input,
Rob,
I have carried out he dark room trick and there is no light that i can see right around the door so I'm confident that it is sealing,
The question is as you say how can i trust the people entering the room, Its in a supermarket so a lot of young night slaff use the room and I have been told that the curtains do get james open along with the door.
I have asked in the past that this dose not happen but of course we are talking about juvenile delinquents:D

Mikeref,
Yes I have already checked the drain, trap and drain heater but thanks for the pointer.

Chemi-cool
thanks for the heads up but the room has been shut down and dried out twice on separate occasions and resealed inside and out, inside all of the internals have been redone and resealed, I have also spoken to the room installer as the room is not all that old and they promise me that the room footprint capping's have also been sealed.

You all have the same idea as I that it is warm air and not something i am over looking.

The room also is running low voltage floor heating, has anyone ever had a problem with ice buildup?

The implosion port dose seem to remain open for a long time after the door has been re-closed,
I was thinking of replacing the port with a spring pressure type, Will this help?

Cheers

[Rob White]

.

I would be looking towords the staff as the problem not the vent hole.

I bet you a pound to a penny the door is left open and the curtain is pushed
out of the way when the staff are inside.

Put a batery operated door switch that counts how often the door is open
and for how long. I bet you will be shocked by how often it opens and stays open.

Regards

Rob

.

[Grizzly]

.

I would be looking towards the staff as the problem not the vent hole.

I bet you a pound to a penny the door is left open and the curtain is pushed
out of the way when the staff are inside.

Put a battery operated door switch that counts how often the door is open
and for how long. I bet you will be shocked by how often it opens and stays open.

Regards

Rob

.

Wise words there Rob!

As an ex coldstore engineer I have seen first hand just how devious the cold store operatives can be.

Really bad door usage was stopped overnight by use of a data logger much the same as you suggest.
And excessive door damage was stopped by damages being taken out of the staff bonus pot!
Grizzly

[Rob White]

Wise words there Rob!

As an ex coldstore engineer I have seen first hand just how devious the cold store operatives can be.

Really bad door usage was stopped overnight by use of a data logger much the same as you suggest.
And excessive door damage was stopped by damages being taken out of the staff bonus pot!
Grizzly

I might not understand a lot of things in life but I understand the
mentality of a member of staff who is working inside an air tight box
at -20degC.

"They don't like it up em" as Cpr Jones would say.

Given the choice of working inside with the evap tingling
your ears with the cold or leaving the door jammed open
with the curtain over the top, I know which most choose :D

Regards

Rob

.

[nealo]

I might not understand a lot of things in life but I understand the
mentality of a member of staff who is working inside an air tight box
at -20degC.

"They don't like it up em" as Cpr Jones would say.

Given the choice of working inside with the evap tingling
your ears with the cold or leaving the door jammed open
with the curtain over the top, I know which most choose :D

Regards

RobR

.Good idea On the door switch Rob, I'm all over it
Thanks

[nealo]

I might not understand a lot of things in life but I understand the
mentality of a member of staff who is working inside an air tight box
at -20degC.

"They don't like it up em" as Cpr Jones would say.

Given the choice of working inside with the evap tingling
your ears with the cold or leaving the door jammed open
with the curtain over the top, I know which most choose :D

Regards

RobR

.Good idea On the door switch Rob, I'm all over it
Thanks

[benijoseph]

Mr Neal,

Have u ever noticed what sort of items r stored ! it is a super market , they might be keeping wet items which should be kept in a sealed container, look for such activity,

regds,

[padraic]

we had the same problem and fitted a door switch and a very very loud siren..! if they left the door open for 40second or more the siren would deafen them.. the staff gave out stink for the first few days but havent heard a word since.. the staff are very aware of it now and just out of habit keep it closed and they just got used to it and i have a very happy customer with alot smaller electricty bill

[jdunc2301]

we had the same problem and fitted a door switch and a very very loud siren..! if they left the door open for 40second or more the siren would deafen them.. the staff gave out stink for the first few days but havent heard a word since.. the staff are very aware of it now and just out of habit keep it closed and they just got used to it and i have a very happy customer with alot smaller electricty bill

brilliant :)

[Rob White]

we had the same problem and fitted a door switch and a very very loud siren..! if they left the door open for 40second or more the siren would deafen them.. the staff gave out stink for the first few days but havent heard a word since.. the staff are very aware of it now and just out of habit keep it closed and they just got used to it and i have a very happy customer with alot smaller electricty bill

Was it owt like this alarm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFoUL_bIotw

Regards

Rob

.