A commercial fridge that's stopped cooling is a race against the clock — every hour warm is stock at risk. Before you write off a load of food, here are the seven most common causes, and which ones you can check yourself.
1. Blocked or dirty condenser
The condenser coil sheds heat. Caked in dust and kitchen grease, it can't — so the fridge runs constantly and still won't reach temperature. This is the single most common cause, and a clean often fixes it.
2. Faulty door seals
Perished or torn gaskets let warm air leak in. If the seal doesn't grip a sheet of paper shut in the door, it needs replacing.
3. Iced-up evaporator
A failed defrost or airflow problem ices over the internal coil and chokes cooling. Switching off to defrost may give a temporary fix, but the underlying fault needs diagnosing.
4. Refrigerant leak
Low refrigerant means weak cooling and a compressor running non-stop. Leaks must be found and fixed by an F-Gas certified engineer — never just topped up.
5. Failed fan, thermostat or compressor
A dead evaporator/condenser fan, a faulty thermostat, or a failing compressor will all stop a fridge cooling properly — these are engineer jobs.
What you can do now
Check the condenser isn't choked, the door seals grip, and nothing's blocking the internal vents. If it's still warm, don't gamble with stock — arrange a fridge repair callout. Most Pembrokeshire breakdowns we attend the same day. Regular servicing catches most of these before they cost you a fridge full of food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I keep the fridge door shut if it stops cooling?
Yes — keep it shut to hold temperature as long as possible and move the most at-risk stock to a working unit while you arrange a repair.
Can I just top up the gas myself?
No — handling refrigerant requires F-Gas certification by law, and a leak that's only topped up will simply fail again. It needs finding and fixing.