A layer of frost or ice inside a commercial walk-in cooler is one of the most common call-outs we get from restaurants and bakeries — and it's never just cosmetic. Ice buildup means the system isn't defrosting properly, and left alone it gets worse and starts affecting temperature control across the whole unit.
A faulty defrost timer or heater. Most commercial coolers run scheduled defrost cycles to melt any frost that naturally forms on the evaporator coil. If the timer or the defrost heater fails, that frost never clears — and it builds up fast.
A door seal that's not sealing. Warm, humid kitchen air getting into the cooler through a worn door gasket is one of the most common causes. The moisture in that air freezes the moment it hits the cold coil.
Low refrigerant. A slow leak drops the system's operating pressure, which can cause the coil to run colder than it should and frost over even during a normal defrost cycle.
Blocked airflow. Stock stacked too close to the evaporator fan restricts airflow, which can cause uneven cooling and localized icing.
None of these fix themselves, and a cooler that's fighting ice buildup is using more power and putting more strain on the compressor. If you're seeing frost forming faster than usual, it's worth a call before it costs you stock.
Not sure if this applies to your fridge? Ask us.
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