Imperial commercial stand up freezer #UL2494ECW8 - only the top shelf is cooling suddenly and frosting over

[KimKugs]

Model Number

UL2494ECW8

Age

More than 10 years

This is an imperial standup commercial freezer with the shelves coil cooled. It looks as though it is a closed cooling circuit of the coils leading from one shelf to another. the problem: only the top shelf is cooling suddenly and frosting over. the lower shelves have not been cooling. you can see the below before I defrosted, and after I defrosted the unit where the frost is starting to build up again on the top shelf but not the bottom shelves and they are not very cold . Any idea how to troubleshoot this?

 

[Dan O.]

The lack of frosting shows a refrigeration system problem. It is either short of refrigerant or there may be a problem with the compressor itself. It will need a trained refrigeration service technician to look into it further to see if it's worth repairing.

If it was left running while frosted up like in those pictures, my guess is that it damaged the compressor which now likely needs to be replaced. In that case it is probably not worth repairing.

JMO

Dan O.

 

[KimKugs]

The lack of frosting shows a refrigeration system problem. It is either short of refrigerant or there may be a problem with the compressor itself.

Thank you for the advice. Is there a way that I can determine if it’s one or the other prior to a service call?

 

[Dan O.]

Refrigeration equipment is required and the system has to be tapped into.