How to Troubleshoot a Walk-in Freezer With a Fan That's Not Running

How to Calculate the Starting Amps for a Compressor on a Freezer
Written By
Paul Bright
Paul Bright
Published: Dec 14, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Step 1

Look for freezing on the evaporator coil if temperatures are above 20 degrees, which is when the fan is supposed to come on and prevent water from refreezing. If there is freezing, the fan cycling control switch could be broken.

Step 2

Turn the power off to your walk-in freezer, and unplug it. Failure to do so can cause electrocution during troubleshooting.

Step 3

Examine the wiring connections from the fan motors to the timer switch and motors. Look for any obvious damage like tears or arcing.

Step 4

Disconnect the fan motor wiring using your screwdrivers. Set your multimeter to test for ohms resistance and place the probes on the fan motor terminals. If you receive a zero reading with no activity, the fan motor could be shorted out.

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Step 5

Inspect the timing switches to ensure they are in the open position. When the thermostat reaches the set temperature, the switch should close and signal the fan to operate.

Step 6

Check the thermostat for continuity as performed in Step 4. If the thermostat has short-circuited, it won’t be able to signal the fans to come on.

Photo Credits

Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images

Paul Bright

Paul Bright has been writing online since 2006, specializing in topics related to military employment and mental health. He works for a mental health non-profit in Northern California. Bright holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from…

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