Walk-in cooler went from 38F to 28F after I cleaned the condenser coils last week

I put it off for 6 months thinking it couldn't make that big a difference, but the compressor was running almost nonstop. Has anyone else seen a huge temp swing just from basic maintenance like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

harpercampbell10d ago

Did you check the defrost settings or the evaporator fan after you cleaned it? Sometimes those coils get so packed with dust that the airflow changes EVERYTHING once they're clear. I had a similar situation with my prep table where it dropped from 40F to 32F just from vacuuming the coils and making sure the fan blades were spinning freely. It's wild how much a little maintenance can wake up an old system like that.

young.ryan10d ago

Did you make sure the fan motor wasn't dragging or binding up too?

pat_murray539d agoMost Upvoted

Westinghouse fan from 1987 still runs in my buddy's garage. Bearings are shot though. Sounds like a garbage disposal full of spoons. Had a walk-in cooler years back where the fan blade was just barely hitting the housing. Couldn't hear it over the compressor. Drove me nuts for a week. @young.ryan is spot on though. A dragging motor will trick you into thinking the whole system is shot when really it just needs a little grease or a new blade.