Cook in Distress

[tbasinger]

Ok, I have to admit, I am not a refrigeration engineer. I am simply a cook that has found myself in a pickle. I am working at a new resturaunt and we are having difficulties in with our walk in cooler. Ice is forming on our refrigerator coil and on the two pipes leading to and from the unit. At first we thought the cooler was set too cold so I adjusted the dial on the back of the refrigerator coil and we unplugged the unit and let it defrost. Then I plugged it back in. Low and behold even though the temperature inside the walk in was well above freezing ice was still forming on the unit. I went to the roof and inspected the condesor. It seemed alright but the heat radiating surface was dented about as big as a football but from what I could tell it was not leaking. I know I am a newbie and this stuff is well beneath you refrigerator studs but any ideas would be great.

[The Viking]

Ok,
You done all that can be expected from the end user, time to call in a professional.

[tbasinger]

Thank you viking, and we did call in the people who installed the unit. He talked to the owner and was told it was an electrical problem. The electrition came in and supposedly fixed the problem but it is still here. From your expertise do you have any idea what the problem may be or is there just too many variables to even take an educated guess. In addition I am in LA and I was wondering if there was a refrigerator specialist that anyone might recomend.

[BigJon3475]

How anyone can say it's an electrical problem from the phone is a mystery to me. have you tried any other companies? Things off the top of my head are low air flow or.......low on refrigerant charge or....a restriction in the refrigerant circuit. Seems like you need to call and actual company cause the one that "installed" it is crap if they can't send a ref. tech out to look at it and instead sent a electrician

[The Viking]

Just too many options and whichever one it turns out to be the likelihood is that you will need a fridge guy to sort it anyway.

I don't know if there is anyone on this board from LA, otherwise, if you pay my expenses, I will come over and have a look

Another way of finding a reputable engineer (or technician, as you seem to call them "over there") is to ask your competitors (other restaurant owners) what company they use and if they are any good.

[taz24]

. I know I am a newbie and this stuff is well beneath you refrigerator studs but any ideas would be great.

Hello.

The problem you have explained could have one of a few faults causing it.
With the information you have given it could be norrowed down to a refrigerant issue.

Now then!! You want solutions to your answers.
In your description you state that both pipes to the evaporator are icing up

This is unlikly except for two reasons

1 The two pipes are very close together and the ice is coming from one pipe (the suction) causing both to look like they are iced.

2 The problem is with the supply of liquid refrigerant going to the evap which is causing the ice.

Unfortunatly for you the only way of finding the solutionis is to fit gauges and use specialist tools (that only a refrigeration engineers would have) to evaluate and find the fault.

Good luck

taz.

[chillin out]

Ok, I have to admit, I am not a refrigeration engineer. I am simply a cook that has found myself in a pickle.

But it is not you who is in a 'pickle', is it?

Get the restaurant owner to call a professional in to do the job properly.

Cooks - cook
Refrigeration guys - fix fridges

You would never want your dishwasher to make the 'soup of the day' would you?

I don't mind helping homeowners diagnose there fridges because a lot of the time they are not worth repairing.
But in your case, the equipment is quite expensive and is worth getting repaired. Also, there are a lot of peoples health at risk if it breaks down.

Chillin

[PaulZ]

I agree with tas24 and chillin out get a fridge mechanic to look at it. There could be several caused and it is very hard to diagnose unless you investigate the problem using the right equipment. A good start would be to get the owner to look in the phone book under Refrigeration Service Commercial.

[tbasinger]

Thank you guys for all your help, the advice was good. I will keep you posted with what the refrigerator repair man has to say about the problem to see if you all think that it is reasonable.

[Peter_1]

Fans not running or not continuous running, blocked evaporator coil (dirt),...

[Bones74]

Sounds like a " Friend " put it in. Probably installed wrong. Get a pro to look at it, and please not a " Friend"

[The captain]

The electrition came in and supposedly fixed the problem but it is still here.

Lol.......