Beverage cooler not cooling? Check these before you call

A glass-door beverage cooler earns its keep every day. It chills your stock, shows your products and brings in impulse sales. When it stops cooling, you lose all three. The good news is that many drink-cooler problems are simple and cheap, and some you can sort out yourself in a few minutes. Work through this list in order, easiest first.

1. Is it actually getting power?

Check that the plug is in, the socket is working and the switch or breaker has not tripped. Look at the display or the internal light. Extension leads and multi-plugs are common culprits, especially when a cooler shares a socket with other equipment. A cooler needs its own good, properly rated socket.

2. Is the thermostat set correctly?

Staff, cleaners and customers sometimes bump the dial. Check it is on the setting you expect, and that the controller is not in defrost or standby. A typical drinks setting is around 2 to 5 degrees Celsius.

3. Is the condenser clogged?

This is the most common cause of a cooler that runs all the time and still gets warm. The condenser is the finned coil, usually at the bottom or back, where the system gets rid of heat. Dust, grease and packaging blocks it, and the compressor overheats.

• Switch the cooler off and unplug it.
• Remove the grille at the bottom or back.
• Brush and vacuum the coil gently, going with the fins, not across them.
• Never use a pressure washer on the fins or the electrical parts.

Cleaning the condenser every few months is the best prevention. In a dusty or greasy shop, do it monthly.

4. Is the airflow blocked inside?

Coolers rely on a fan to circulate cold air. If the shelves are packed tight against the back, or boxes cover the air vents, the air cannot move. Leave gaps at the back and the top, do not push cartons against the vents and do not overload the shelves.

5. Is the fan working?

There are usually two fans: one inside blowing air across the evaporator and one outside cooling the condenser and compressor. If either has stopped, the cooler will warm up. You can often hear or feel them. A fan that is silent, slow or noisy needs replacing.

6. Is the door sealing?

Check the gasket around the glass door for tears, hardening or dirt. Make sure the door closes fully, and that the self-closing mechanism works. Do not let staff prop the door open during restocking. A door that does not seal also causes condensation on the glass and ice on the evaporator.

7. Is it iced up?

If the evaporator at the back is covered with ice, the defrost has failed or the cooler is being overloaded with warm stock. Turn it off, empty it into another fridge and let it defrost fully. If ice comes back quickly, the defrost heater, timer or sensor needs checking.

8. Is the room too hot?

A cooler in direct sun, next to a kitchen or in a tiny stockroom has to work much harder. Check the ambient temperature and move it if you can. Leave space on all sides for ventilation, as the manufacturer recommends.

9. Did you load a lot of warm stock?

A fresh delivery of warm drinks can take hours to chill. Load in stages, and where possible keep a second cooler or fridge for pre-chilling.

When it is time to call a technician

If you have worked through the list and the cooler still will not cool, the cause is probably one of the following:

• A failing compressor or starting parts.
• A refrigerant leak.
• A faulty controller, sensor or relay.
• A blocked or damaged evaporator.
• A failed defrost heater or timer.

These need proper tools and testing. Early help is cheaper, and it protects your stock and your sales.

Keep it running

• Clean the condenser every one to three months.
• Check the door gasket weekly and wipe the glass.
• Keep the temperature log and check the display each day.
• Have the cooler serviced at least twice a year, more often in a busy shop.
• Keep your technician's number near the cooler.

We repair and service beverage coolers, display fridges and cold rooms for shops, restaurants and bakeries across Durban and the surrounding suburbs. If your cooler is warm, call 083 538 5106 and we will help you work out what to do next.