Den Appliances Cold Room Not Holding Temperature? Causes and What to Do
When a cold room or walk-in freezer starts warming up, every hour matters. Here's what to do straight away, and what's usually behind it.
For food businesses, a cold room fault is urgent. Chilled stock generally needs to stay at about 0–5°C and frozen stock at −18°C or colder. Follow your own food safety procedures to decide what stock is still usable.
| Symptom | Likely causes |
|---|---|
| Temperature slowly creeping up | Dirty condenser; low refrigerant; worn door seals; overloaded room |
| Thick ice on the evaporator coil | Defrost heater, timer or controller fault; door left open |
| Evaporator fans not turning | Failed fan motor; fan iced up; controller fault |
| Water on the floor | Blocked or frozen drain line; failed drain line heater |
| Condensing unit running non-stop | Low gas; dirty condenser; poor door seals; unit undersized |
| Condensing unit not starting | Electrical fault; tripped breaker; high-pressure cut-out; failed contactor or compressor |
| Alarm going off | Temperature out of range; door open; sensor fault |
What to Do Right Away
- Keep the door closed as much as possible.
- Record the temperature and the time, and keep checking it.
- Check the door closes and seals fully, and that strip curtains are in place.
- Check the breaker and isolator for the condensing unit and the evaporator.
- Look at the outdoor condensing unit. Is it running? Is the fan turning? Is it blocked by boxes, rubbish or dust?
- Move high-value or sensitive stock to another fridge or freezer if the temperature keeps rising.
- Call a refrigeration technician with the make of the unit, what you've seen, and the temperature readings.
Don't chip ice off the evaporator coil with a sharp tool. It's easy to puncture the coil and cause a gas leak.
Preventing Breakdowns
- Service the system regularly, typically every three to six months for busy commercial kitchens.
- Keep the condenser clean and clear. Outdoor condensing units in kitchens pick up grease and dust fast, and at the coast, salt.
- Replace worn door seals and strip curtains promptly.
- Don't block the evaporator fans with stock stacked too high.
- Keep a temperature log. Gradual changes are an early warning.
When to call a technician
- The temperature keeps rising after you've checked the door and breaker
- The evaporator coil is heavily iced
- The condensing unit won't start, or runs non-stop without cooling
- There's water on the floor or ice around the drain
- An alarm keeps going off
Call or WhatsApp 064 067 4863 with the make and model, the symptoms, any error code and your suburb. More than 10 years' experience across Cape Town and Gqeberha.
FAQs
Why is my cold room not getting cold?
Common causes are worn door seals or a door left open, an iced-up evaporator from a defrost fault, a dirty condenser, a failed fan motor, a refrigerant leak, or a controller fault.
Why is there ice on my cold room evaporator?
Usually the defrost system isn't working, or warm, humid air is getting in through the door. The defrost heater, timer or controller needs checking.
How often should a cold room be serviced?
Every three to six months for most commercial kitchens and shops, and more often for busy sites or units near the sea.
Do you install new cold rooms?
Yes. We repair and install cold rooms for restaurants, shops and other businesses.
Book a repair or request a quote
Call or WhatsApp with your appliance type, make and model, the fault or error code, and your suburb. More than 10 years' experience across Cape Town and Gqeberha.