In part three of our six part Polar King maintenance series, we will examine the refrigerant charge of your Walk-In Cooler or Freezer Unit and detail the possible reasons for a low charge as well as how to check the sight glass. A qualified refrigeration service technician should perform any refrigerant charge or maintenance to ensure safety and proper operation. In this continuation of our six part series, we will cover what to expect from your service technician and what steps will be taken to optimize your unit’s efficiency and overall performance.

Step 3: Check refrigerant charge

The third step of the Polar King annual maintenance plan is to ensure your Walk-In unit has the proper refrigerant charge. Failure to inspect and maintain the proper refrigerant levels can cause performance issues or potentially damage your unit.

Signs your Refrigerant Charge is Low

Due to the design of the cooling system, a leak is generally the only way a unit could become low on refrigerant. If the refrigerant charge for your Polar King unit is low, there are a few warning signs that could indicate a low charge or potential leak. If there is a slow leak, the first sign of low refrigerant is typically erratic temperature behavior. If there is a large refrigerant leak, the refrigeration or freezer unit would simply not run. In the event your Polar King unit exhibits any of the following warning signs, contact a qualified refrigeration service technician.

• Your refrigeration or freezer unit is not holding the preferred temperature or displays erratic temperature behavior.
• Unit does not run.
• The compressor stops running before the unit completely cycles and shuts down.
• The sight glass gauge is not green or bubbles can visually be seen.

Checking the Sign Glass and Freon Lines

When examining your Polar King for a leak or low refrigerant charge, a qualified refrigeration technician will inspect the entire unit including the Freon lines and sight glass. The sight glass is a gauge located on the compressor that indicates a full or partial refrigerant charge. The refrigeration or freezer unit has to be running in order to properly use the sight glass. While the unit is running, if the cooling system is fully charged, the sight glass will appear to be full. If the cooling system is low on refrigerant, you will see that it is only half full and the refrigerant rushing through the sight glass.

Additionally, the refrigeration service technician will thoroughly inspect all of the units Freon lines for evidence of a leak or other damage. If a refrigerant leak is present in a visible area, there could be oil on or around the pipe, valve, control, or other nearby components. If a leak or other damage is found, proper repairs can be made and the refrigerant recharged.