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REFRIGERATION

Troubleshooting

Fridge vibrating or wobbling

A commercial refrigerator should stand firm and run with only a gentle hum. Wobbling and vibration usually come from the floor or the feet: Indian kitchen and shop floors are often uneven, sloped for drainage or tiled with gaps, and castors are frequently left unlocked after cleaning. A unit that is not level also has knock-on effects, including doors that do not close by themselves, gaskets that do not seal and water that will not drain. Less often, vibration comes from a fan or compressor mount and is an early warning of wear. Check the simple, physical causes first; they account for most cases and need no tools beyond a spirit level and a spanner for the feet.

First, check these

  1. Push gently on each corner of the cabinet. Does it rock?
  2. Place a spirit level on the top or a shelf, side to side and front to back.
  3. Check that castors are locked and adjustable feet touch the floor.
  4. Check that nothing is leaning against the unit or stacked on top.
  5. Note whether vibration happens only when the compressor or a fan runs.

Likely causes

  1. 1. Uneven or sloped floor

    You can check this

    Signs: Unit rocks diagonally, gap under one foot, floor sloped towards a drain.

    Fix: Adjust the levelling feet so all four bear weight. Most cabinets should sit level side to side and very slightly back-tilted so doors close.

  2. 2. Castors unlocked or worn

    You can check this

    Signs: Unit moves when doors are opened, castor brakes off, castors flattened or cracked.

    Fix: Lock the castors after positioning. Replace damaged castors with the correct load rating.

  3. 3. Items touching or stacked on the unit

    You can check this

    Signs: Rattle from objects on top or against the sides; vibration stops when they are removed.

    Fix: Keep the top and sides clear, and leave space between units.

  4. 4. Internal shelves, panels or grilles loose

    You can check this

    Signs: Buzz or rattle from inside the cabinet or the front grille that changes when you press on a shelf or panel.

    Fix: Re-seat shelves on their supports, tighten accessible grille screws, and replace missing shelf clips.

  5. 5. Fan blade damaged or out of balance

    Technician job

    Signs: Vibration only when a fan runs, sometimes with a ticking sound.

    Fix: Isolate power and look for debris or ice on the blade. A damaged blade or worn motor should be replaced by a technician.

  6. 6. Compressor mounts or pipe clips worn

    Technician job

    Signs: Vibration and rattle from the machine compartment when the compressor runs, knock at start or stop.

    Fix: A technician should replace rubber mounts and secure pipes. Pipes vibrating against each other can crack and leak refrigerant.

When to call a technician

Call a technician if vibration continues after the unit is level, castors are locked and nothing is touching it, if the noise comes from the machine compartment, or if it is getting louder. Persistent vibration can crack refrigerant pipes, so do not ignore it. A short phone video of the vibration helps the technician understand the problem before arriving.

Isolate power before tilting the unit to adjust feet or castors, and get help; commercial refrigerators are heavy and can tip. Keep fingers clear of fans. Hydrocarbon refrigerant (R290 or R600a) systems must only be worked on by trained technicians.

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