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REFRIGERATION

Troubleshooting

Ice on cold room floor or panel joints

This is general guidance for any walk-in cold room or freezer room. Ice inside a cold room has to come from water somewhere: humid air leaking in, water dripping from the evaporator, or water carried in with stock and cleaning. In a freezer room any moisture freezes where it lands, so ice on the floor, on panel joints or around pipe and cable entries is a map of where warm air or water is getting in. Beyond wasting energy, floor ice is a serious slip hazard, and ice in panel joints can gradually damage insulation and panel locks. India's humid monsoon months make every leak worse.

First, check these

  1. Note exactly where ice forms: a line along a panel joint, a patch near the door, a ring around a pipe entry, or under the evaporator.
  2. Look at the evaporator drain pan and line for ice, overflow or dripping.
  3. Check the door seal, the strip curtain and the door closer.
  4. Check whether water is being used for cleaning inside the room, or whether wet crates or produce are brought in.
  5. Check the room temperature and how often the evaporator defrosts. Very frequent defrosts or long recovery times suggest a large moisture load from somewhere.

Likely causes

  1. 1. Warm air entering through door and curtain

    You can check this

    Signs: Ice and frost heaviest near the door, on the floor just inside, and on the first few metres of ceiling.

    Fix: Keep doors closed, repair strip curtains, fix door closers and gaskets. In busy rooms an air curtain or anteroom can help.

  2. 2. Evaporator drain frozen or overflowing

    Technician job

    Signs: Ice directly under the evaporator, icicles from the drain pan or line.

    Fix: A technician should check the drain pan and line heaters and the drain slope, and clear any ice blockage.

  3. 3. Failed sealant at panel joints or penetrations

    Technician job

    Signs: Frost or ice in a straight line along a joint, or a ring around pipes and cables passing through the wall.

    Fix: Have the joints and penetrations resealed with suitable low-temperature sealant by an installer. Damaged panel locks may need adjustment.

  4. 4. Water brought in by staff or stock

    You can check this

    Signs: Ice in walkways and under pallets, especially after cleaning or receiving washed produce.

    Fix: Never wet-mop or hose a freezer room in use. Drain and dry crates before bringing them in, and clean spills immediately.

  5. 5. Pressure relief port or door heater fault

    Technician job

    Signs: Ice on the door frame and threshold, door hard to open, relief port iced.

    Fix: A technician should test the frame and threshold heaters and the relief port heater.

  6. 6. Damaged panel skins or doors from impact

    Technician job

    Signs: Ice or frost at a dent, split or gouge in a wall panel or door, often where trolleys and pallet jacks turn.

    Fix: Have the damaged panel repaired or replaced and fit kick plates or bump rails where traffic hits the walls.

When to call a technician

Call a technician or installer if ice keeps returning along joints, around penetrations or under the evaporator, if the floor shows cracks, lifting or bulging, or if door heaters seem cold. Floor heave in freezer rooms built without proper underfloor protection is a structural problem that needs specialist assessment, not more scraping.

Clear floor ice with plastic scrapers and grit or anti-slip mats, and wear non-slip boots and warm clothing. Never chip near panels, pipes or the evaporator. Make sure the inside door release works before anyone works inside. Electrical and refrigeration repairs are for trained technicians only.

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