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Delfield Undercounter Refrigerator Troubleshooting

Delfield Undercounter Refrigerator Troubleshooting

It can be a serious emergency when refrigerator units are not working properly. Malfunctioning refrigeration could mean having to throw out food products if the temperatures are out of range. Below we will help you with some Delfield undercounter refrigerator troubleshooting, so you can resolve issues before they become a bigger problem. That way food products can stay safe and unspoiled. 

The following guide is for Delfield compact refrigerators & freezers including the 400P & 4000P series units. 

Cabinet Not Running

If the cabinet is not running properly it could be one of the following issues: 

  • Fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped - Replace the fuse or reset the circuit breaker
  • Power cord unplugged - Plug the power cord into a functional outlet
  • Thermostat set too high - Set the thermostat to a lower temperature
  • Main power switch turned off - Turn on the main power switch
  • Cabinet in defrost cycle (freezer models) - Wait for the defrost cycle to finish to see if the machine starts up again

Condensing Unit Runs For Long Periods or Continuously

Condensing units could have be having trouble with any of the following: 

  • Excessive amount of warm product placed in cabinet - Allow adequate time for food product to cool down
  • Prolonged door openings or door is ajar - Make sure the doors are closed when not in use and avoid prolonged door openings
  • Door gasket not sealing properly - Check the gaskets for any cracks or for improper seals. Adjust the door or replace the gaskets as needed
  • Dirty condenser coil - Clean the condenser coil 
  • Evaporator coil iced over - Turn the unit off and allow the coil to defrost. Make sure the thermostat is not set too low and check the gaskets for proper sealing

Cabinet Temperature is Too High

If the temperature is too high, check any of the following problems: 

  • Thermostat temperature set too high - Set the thermostat to a lower temperature
  • Poor air circulation in cabinet - Rearrange the food product to allow for better air circulation in the cabinet
  • Exterior thermometer is out of calibration - Recalibrate the thermostat and check to see if that resolves the issue
  • Excessive amount of warm product placed in cabinet - Allow food product to properly cool down
  • Prolonged door openings or door is ajar - Make sure the doors are closed when not in use and avoid prolonged door openings
  • Dirty condenser coil - Clean the condenser coil of any dirt or debris
  • Evaporator coil iced over - Turn the unit off and allow the coil to defrost. Make sure the thermostat is not set too low and check the gaskets for proper sealing

Cabinet is Noisy

  • Part is loose - Locate the loose part and tighten it, making sure not to over tighten anything

Refrigerator is Freezing Product

Freezing product could be one of three different issues: 

  • Thermostat temperature set too low - Set the thermostat to a higher temperature
  • Dirty condenser coil - Clean the condenser coil of any dirt and debris
  • Not enough cabinet clearance for operation - Either move the cabinet to allow for more clearance or make other adjustments to get the proper cabinet clearance

Compressor Will Not Start

  • Low voltage to cabinet - To resolve this issue, check and correct the incoming voltage to the cabinet 

For more information on your Delfield appliances, make sure you check out our extensive library of manuals and diagrams.

Please contact a factory authorized service agent who can help with these specific units and all your commercial kitchen equipment needs.