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REFRIGERATION

Troubleshooting

Outside of the cabinet sweating

A well-insulated cabinet should feel close to room temperature on the outside. When droplets form on the sides, top or door frame, some part of the outer skin has become colder than the dew point of the air around it. That can happen briefly on a sticky monsoon day without any fault, especially near the door opening, which is why many cabinets have perimeter heaters or a warm refrigerant loop in the frame. Persistent sweating, or sweating in one patch, often points to a door leak, a failed frame heater, or insulation that has become wet or damaged.

First, check these

  1. Map where the sweat is: only around the door frame, along one seam, or a patch on a side wall.
  2. Check the door closes and seals evenly; feel for cold air escaping at the gasket.
  3. Note the weather and room conditions. Is the unit near an open door, wash area or steam source?
  4. Check whether a heater or energy-saving switch has been turned off.
  5. Run a thermometer check inside. If the cabinet is also running warmer than normal, the sweating and the temperature problem probably share a cause such as a door leak.

Likely causes

  1. 1. High humidity near the unit

    You can check this

    Signs: Light, even sweating that comes and goes with weather; worse in coastal cities or monsoon months.

    Fix: Improve ventilation, move the unit away from dishwashers, steamers and open doors, and keep the room as dry as practical.

  2. 2. Door gasket leaking cold air

    You can check this

    Signs: Sweat concentrated around part of the door frame, frost on the inside of the gasket at the same spot.

    Fix: Clean and re-seat the gasket, check door alignment, and replace the gasket if torn or hardened.

  3. 3. Frame or perimeter heater not working

    Technician job

    Signs: Door frame or mullion feels cold and wet all the way round, problem started suddenly.

    Fix: Check that any heater switch is on. If it is, a technician needs to test the heater or warm loop.

  4. 4. Damaged or wet insulation

    Technician job

    Signs: One patch of the side wall stays cold and wet, sometimes with rust, bulging or a soft spot.

    Fix: Insulation damage may follow a dent, a leak into the foam or age. A technician should assess it; panel repair or replacement may be needed.

  5. 5. Unit placed against a cold surface or in an AC draught

    You can check this

    Signs: Sweating on the side facing an AC outlet or touching another cold unit.

    Fix: Redirect AC airflow and leave space between cold units so air can circulate.

When to call a technician

If sweating continues in dry weather, is confined to one patch, or is accompanied by rust, bulging walls or rising cabinet temperatures, call a technician. Water running down cabinets onto floors can damage wiring and cause slips, and over time it corrodes the outer skin, especially near the coast. Tell the technician exactly where the sweat appears and in what weather; photos help.

Isolate power before cleaning around door frames or near electrical parts, and dry the area before switching back on. Do not cut or drill into cabinet panels; refrigerant lines and heater wires may run inside, and hydrocarbon (R290 or R600a) refrigerant is flammable.

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