Commercial refrigerators protect food and other perishables from spoilage, but leaks can cause severe disruption to a business and cost thousands of dollars in wasted food. Often, these leaks can be identified by puddles of water on the floor or a thin stream of water trickling down. Don’t let it become a liability! Here are some reasons why your commercial refrigerator is leaking and what you can do about it.
Loose Screws
If your refrigerator is leaking water, it is likely due to loose screws or a damaged gasket. A gasket is the thin rubber seal that is around the door, where the door meets the refrigerator, or around the refrigerator door.
Check to see if loose screws are causing the leak. Remove the screws and tighten them. If they are not the source of the leak, then your gasket is damaged, and you should replace it.
Worn Out Gaskets
Speaking of damaged and worn-out gaskets, if your refrigerator leaks and you’ve tightened the screws and you’ve checked for any other leaks in your refrigerator, you may have a damaged gasket. Gaskets become brittle and worn out over time, especially if your refrigerator is old. This can cause excessive leaks.
You can order a replacement gasket online at home depot or contact a refrigeration specialist to come to your location and help you repair it.
Dirty Condenser Unit
The condenser unit is where the cold air leaves the refrigerator and enters the room. It is not uncommon for this unit to accumulate dirt, dust, and grime. This can cause the evaporator coils to clog and prevent cool air from leaving the refrigerator. This can cause the refrigerator to not cool or your refrigerator to over-cool.
Clean the condenser unit with a long, narrow brush to loosen the dirt and grime that might be clogging the unit.
Damaged Waterline
If your refrigerator is leaking water around the waterline, this indicates a problem with the water line itself. Often the water line is old, damaged, or has been in place for an extended amount of time. This can cause the water line to freeze, clog, and leak.
Replacing the waterline will fix the problem. This is a job that a refrigeration specialist can do on-site.
Broken Pressure Valve
A pressure valve is a device that regulates the pressure in your refrigerator to ensure that the refrigerant and water are balanced properly. If the pressure valve is broken, the water pressure in the refrigerator can become too high. This can cause water to leak from the refrigerator.
Check to see if the pressure valve is broken. If it is, contact a professional refrigeration specialist to replace it.
Damaged Insulation
If your refrigerator is leaking water after you’ve taken a look at the other sources of your leak, it may be the insulation of the refrigerator is damaged. This is a job that an expert can do on-site. If you have the money, the time, and the presence of mind to do it, you can replace the insulation on your refrigerator.
Conclusion
If you’re noticing water on the ground under your commercial refrigerator, don’t ignore it. These leaks can be prevented and repaired by a trained professional or by you, with the right tools and knowledge. If you can’t resolve the problem, it never hurts to call a professionally trained refrigeration technician to assess the problem for you.
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