Cold room not cooling: what to do?
The right reflexes to protect your products, the checks you can make safely and the information to have ready for the refrigeration engineer.
- Right reflexes
- Safe checks
- Fast response
- Certified refrigeration engineerBrussels Environment & Wallonia
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A cold room that stops cooling puts your products at risk. First of all, keep the door closed: a well-insulated room holds the cold for some time. A few simple checks can then sometimes reveal the cause, or at least save time during the call-out.
Information checked in October 2026. Rules and grants change: before deciding, check the official sources listed on this page.
Safe checks
- Power supply: circuit breaker, unit switch, controller display.
- Settings: temperature set point changed by mistake, or defrost in progress (the temperature rises briefly, which is normal).
- Door: fully closed, damaged seal, strip curtain unhooked, door left open for a long time.
- Loading: a lot of warm products brought in at once, or evaporator vents blocked by boxes.
- Outdoor unit: dirty condenser or one clogged with leaves, fan not running, plant room too hot.
- Controller: note the alarm or error code displayed.
What not to do
- Do not break the ice off the evaporator with a pointed object.
- Do not open the refrigeration circuit or add refrigerant: this is reserved for certified refrigeration technicians.
- Do not switch the unit off and on repeatedly: you could damage the compressor.
- Avoid opening the door unless necessary.
Protecting your products
- Note the temperature and time at regular intervals: useful for your traceability.
- Move the most sensitive products to other refrigerated equipment if the breakdown lasts.
- Follow your self-check plan to decide what happens to products that have been out of temperature for too long.
Preparing your call to the engineer
- Make and model (rating plate on the condensing unit or evaporator).
- The displayed temperature and since when it has been rising.
- The error code, noises or ice you have noticed.
- Photos: you can attach them directly to the request form.
Call us for a refrigeration repair: we respond quickly in Brussels and Brabant.
Avoiding the next breakdown
Regular maintenance (cleaning the condenser, checking fans, defrost and seals) limits breakdowns. For systems covered by an environmental permit in Brussels, the operator must also carry out a monthly visual check.
Frequently asked questions
Can I top up the refrigerant in my cold room myself?
No. In Brussels, any work on the refrigeration circuit (topping up, repair, leak check) must be done by a qualified refrigeration technician from a registered refrigeration company.
The evaporator is covered in ice, can I break it off?
No, do not use a knife or any pointed object: you could pierce the tubes and cause a leak. Switch the unit off if needed and call us: heavy icing often points to a defrost, fan or door problem.
What should I do with my products?
Keep the door closed, note temperatures and times, and move the most sensitive products to other refrigerated equipment. Whether to keep or discard products is decided according to your food safety self-check plan.
Need a quote or a repair?
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