Most refrigeration breakdowns in commercial kitchens don’t happen out of nowhere. They build up over weeks: dusty condenser coils, worn door seals, blocked drains. In a UAE summer, equipment that was just coping in April can fail in July.
Here’s the checklist we recommend to kitchens we look after. Your team can handle the daily and weekly items; the rest is for a qualified technician.
Daily (kitchen team)
- Record temperatures of every fridge, freezer and cold room at opening and closing. Chilled units should hold 5°C or below and freezers -18°C or below.
- Check doors close and seal properly; a door left ajar is the most common cause of warm units.
- Don’t overload: keep air vents inside units clear so cold air can circulate.
- Look for ice build-up on evaporator coils or frost around door frames.
Weekly (kitchen team)
- Clean door gaskets with warm soapy water and check for tears or gaps.
- Wipe down interiors and check drain pans are not overflowing.
- Make sure nothing is blocking the airflow around condensing units: boxes, crates, cleaning equipment.
Monthly (technician or trained staff)
- Clean condenser coils. In kitchens, grease and dust clog coils fast; a dirty coil makes the compressor work harder and run hotter.
- Check and clear condensate drain lines.
- Check that fans (condenser and evaporator) run smoothly without noise.
Our maintenance contracts cover scheduled visits, coil cleaning, gas and electrical checks, with a service report for every site.
Get a free quote → WhatsApp usQuarterly (qualified technician)
- Check refrigerant pressures and look for signs of leaks.
- Inspect electrical connections, contactors and compressor amp draw.
- Test and calibrate thermostats, controllers and alarms.
- Check defrost operation on freezers and cold rooms.
- Inspect door heaters, hinges and closers on walk-ins.
Before summer (every year)
Book a full service in spring, before the heat arrives. Deep-clean coils, replace worn gaskets, and fix any marginal components while you still have time, not in the middle of a busy August service.
Warning signs to act on now
- Temperatures creeping up during service
- Compressor running constantly or short-cycling
- Heavy ice on the evaporator
- Water pooling under units
- New noises: rattling, buzzing or clicking
- Condensing unit hot to the touch or tripping the breaker
If you see any of these, call a technician before it becomes a breakdown. And if a unit does fail, our emergency checklist will help you protect your stock while help is on the way.